Joseph Bailey
1867
Joseph Bailey.
How He Died
Manner
Homicide
Cause
Gunshot wound
Mechanism
Firearm
What Happened
Sheriff Joseph Bailey was shot and killed while attempting to arrest two brothers for hog stealing. The suspects robbed the Sheriff of his gun, horse, and money. Two of the suspects escaped, and a third suspect was lynched. A fourth suspect who escaped was later killed in May 1875 when he tried to attack a guard in a Lincoln, Nebraska, prison. Sheriff Bailey had served with the Vernon County Sheriff's Office for one year and previously as a Brigadier General during the Civil War. He was survived by his wife and four children. He is buried in section 3, lot 2 of Evergreen Cemetery, Fort Scott, Bourbon County, Kansas.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and four children.
Service Record
Also Served
Vernon County Sheriff's Office
Sheriff
In Our Keeping
Permanent identifier
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Record added
August 2, 2026
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Last updated
August 2, 2026
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