Joseph Bay owned a grocery store in Edinburg. Noel Cisco, descendant brought Mr. Bays' account book to the museum. Then his brother, Joe Cisco and his daughter, Sharon Parish brought in more material once belonging to Mr. Bay. Later in life, Mr. Bay was a school teacher, a Mason, and a newspaper correspondent.
A few weeks ago on a rainy Sunday afternoon I was looking through a box of articles which had belonged to my grandmother Lillie Bay Cisco. It contained mostly newspaper clippings of poems and verses, three silk hankies and four or five articles of special events pertaining to some of my relatives. In the very bottom was a notebook entitled War of 1812 and signed by J.R. Bay. The finding of this notebook began for me a journey back into the pages of my family history. After reading the handwritten notebook I called my father to see just exactly who J.R. Bay was. I learned he was my great grandfather. I then called Rachel Henry and explained to her the interesting things that were told in this personal notebook of J.R. Bay. You will find some of the pages of this notebook telling personal stories of the War of 1812 and Pigeon Roost Massacre following this article. Rachel encouraged me to find a little more information about J.R. Bay, such as his obituary, his parents' names, and his descendents. Remembering a scrapbook I had of old newspaper clippings I hurried off to see just what information could be found. The scrapbook was a treasure of clippings from The Courier, mostly Jolity neighborhood news. J. R. Bay's name was scattered liberally throughout. Stating such facts as "J.R. Bay is superintending a Sabbath school at Bengal", "In the reorganization of the Jolity Sabbath school last Sabbath the following officers' were chosen: Superintendent J.R. Bay, Assistant Thos Carter, Secretary Miss Flora Shipp, Treasurer J.V. Shipp." "J.R. Bay and Steve Williams are attending the teachers institute this week." One article stated "During the two weeks that we were away on our recent western trip the local columns of the courier were presided over by Joseph R. Bay and the mechanical dept. of the office by the Downs Brothers (John and Ora) and we must say in all fairness that the work in every particular was well done and to our entire satisfaction". Also news worthy was the fact that J.R. Bay along with Henry Shipp, Nathan H. Eller, W.T. Brockman, Samuel Rutherford, James Shipp Jr., and Thomas Cartey attended a Temperance revival at Jollity Church where J.R. Bay, C. Ditmars, E. Jeffery, Charles Riker, and Mr. and Mrs. James Bone were among the featured speakers. A little more research turned up some papers my father, Joe Cisco had, with information gathered by Grace Johnson (found while doing research for D.A.R.) and other information collected and handed down by the relatives of Mr. Bay. The library produced his obituary and a article on the same page stating Noel Cisco (Mr. Bay's grandson) was struck by a motor car driven by Mr. Voris while he was riding his bike to notify his father of his grandfather's death. Mr. Voris took Noel to Dr. Records office where he was treated for severe cuts. J.R. Bay was born in Johnson County, [IN] October 22, 1847. He was the grandson of Joseph and Judith Epperson Bay. Joseph and Judith came to Indiana by way of Kentucky from Pennsylvania and Tennessee respectively around 1820. They had 3 children, 2 daughters, Nancy Bay Jones and Hester Bay Warder Barnett and a son Charles Bay. Charles was born in Montgomery County, Kentucky, March 6, 1819. Charles resided in his native state until he was 15 years of age and in 1834 accompanied his father to Johnson county, Indiana. Joseph died in 1837 while on a trip to Kentucky. Charles and his mother, Judith, lived in a log cabin where Camp Atterbury is now. They built a frame house, 4 rooms downstairs and 2 rooms upstairs. It stood on a low hill facing Mauxferry road. This area was known as the Pisgah neighborhood. My Uncle Leon sent a newspaper article that told about the house catching on fire in May 1899. The home was built in 1863 and all the timbers came from the surrounding land. It was known as one of the most substantially built buildings in Blue River township. The fire began while Mr. Charles Bay was visiting his daughter, Mrs. Asbury (Mary) Henderson. This daughter was by Charles second wife, Kenturah Chenoweth. The neighbors were able to save the furnishings on the first floor, but everything on the second floor was destroyed including a Bible that was over 100 years old and contained family history reaching back to 1700's, mostly entries made by Charles's grandmother's people, the Eppersons. The house was insured by Matthew Duckworth, agent for Liverpool Co. of Edinburgh. The insurance was for $750 on the house and $500 on the furnishings. Although Mr. Bay was 80 years old he took his loss philosophically and said "It might have been worse." Charles' mother, Judith, died in 1851. Charles Bay married his first wife, Alice Ann Watts, on April 18, 1844. Her father was one of the first residents of Edinburgh, Israel Watts. He and his wife are buried on top of Thompson Hill. To Charles and Alice 3 children were born, Joseph Ross (J.R.), born November 11, 1847, Israel and a little girl that died when her mother died in 1850. His second wife was Keturah Chenoweth and one child was born, Mary Jane Bay Henderson. Kenturah died in 1855. His third marriage was to Mrs. Harriett F. DeHart, who had 5 children. J.R. Bay was 24 years old when he married Sara C. Brockman, Nov. 30, 1871. Seven children were born to them, Walter E., Lilly G., Clara Edell, Mary E., Charles Rosco, and 2 infants that only lived a few days. Rosco lived only 7 months. Sara died in 1887, leaving her husband J.R., Walter, Lillie and Edell. Edell died in 1817 at the age of 34. Walter married Cordelia Sheek Oakley and had 2 children, LeRoy Bay and Clara Bay Paris. Lillie married [David] Anson Cisco and had 4 boys, Noel, Donald, Leon, and Joseph. Mr. Bay was a pioneer teacher in Johnson County mostly around Blue River Township. My brother Richard has an honor certificate awarded to Lillie Bay, grade 4, by J.R. Bay, School District #3, Blue River Township. The superintendent was M.F. Rickoff. Mr. Bay attended and also taught at Marshill College, Marshill, Ind. (close to Lawrenceburg, Ind.) Uncle Leon also has a College Diploma from Brooksville College, Brooksville, Ind. stating that on June 16, 1869 J.R. Bay graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree. This diploma is printed on sheepskin. Also I have copies of several teachers licenses. One for Johnson County with his individual scores listed and a total of 92 percent giving him a license to teach for 18 months. If his score had been 95 his license could have been for 24 months. He was a member of the Edinburgh Masonic Lodge and around 1872, owned a grocery and a hardware store. I believe it was sold to the Breedings. When Mr. Bay was a very young man he had a sweetheart by the name of Clara Louise Bottsford, she lived at Williamsburg, which is now Nineveh. She moved to New Philadelphia near Greenfield, when she was 19 years old. She and Mr. Bay corresponded for many years and he encouraged her to become a teacher. She was betrothed to James Whitcomb Riley. Mr. Riley wrote a poem, The Rose and dedicated it to Miss Bottsford. Mr. Bay's obituary states that he was engaged in educational work throughout the community for 35 years, retiring because of ill health. He was a newspaper correspondent and always signed his name J.R. Bay. His signature was inside several books that had belonged to Mr. Bay and donated to the Franklin Library in the 50's. These books were about famous poets and some of their poems. I have not been able to locate these books and any information that anyone has would be deeply appreciated. J.R. Bay died September 22, 1920 at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Lillie Bay Cisco. His funeral was held at the home of his son Walter E. Bay. The Rev. J.A. Rhoades of the Jolity M.P. church officiated.
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I have enjoyed my short journey into the past and intend to make it again and again. There are several questions that I need to answer. Where are his books? Where is his grandfather Joseph buried? I know as I dwell deeper I will find answers, but there will also be more questions to make me want to return to the pages of history again tomorrow.
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In memory of J.R. Bay and his contribution to Johnson County, his grandchildren, Noel, Donald, Leon, and Joseph Cisco, and LeRoy and Clara Bay Paris have donated his school bell to the Johnson County Historical Museum.