Mary Ann Bayless LAST NAME: Bayless FIRST NAME: Mary MIDDLE NAME: Ann NICKNAME:  MAIDEN NAME:  AKA 1: Reynolds AKA 2:  AKA 3:  TITLE:  GENDER: F MILITARY:  BORN: Abt 1823 DIED: 24 Apr 1907 BURIED: 26 Apr 1907 ETHNICITY:  African American OCCUPATION:  Housewife BIRTH PLACE:  Bowling Green, Warren Co., Kentucky DEATH PLACE: Salem, Marion Co., Oregon NOTES:  1st MARRIAGE - to David Reynolds 2nd MARRIAGE - to Albert Bayless in Salem, Oregon, 18 Oct 1866 1880 OR CENSUS - Mary Bayless, age 55, b. Kentucky, is enumerated with A., male, age 59, b. Virginia, along with Geo. Drake, identified as nephew [of A.], age 14, b. Oregon, and Jas. Drake, identifed as nephew [of A.], age 13, b. Oregon. Also enumerated with the family is a boarder Jack Grubbs, age 22, occupation blacksmith, b. Oregon.  BIOGRAPHICAL:  "The only other neighbor I recollect was Mr. Bayless, the colored blacksmith, who worked at the shop just beside us on the corner. He was such a kindly old man, with his kinky locks, fast turning gray, and somewhere hidden about that old shop were sticks of red striped candy to give to the children who stopped to talk with him on their way from school. This little old colored man, with his good wife, so many shades darker than he and of ponderous build, will be remembered by all early Salem folk for their good deeds and Christian lives. In their hospitable home a white boy was raised to manhood. On Sunday morning they were welcomed to their particular corner, up near the pulpit and at the southwest side of the auditorium of the first M. E. church, of which they were acceptable members."  From: Steeves, Sarah Hunt, BOOK OF REMEMBRANCE OF MARION COUNTY, OREGON, PIONEERS 1840 - 1860, Portland, Oregon, The Berncliff Press, 1927, pg. 316. OBITUARY:  AGED COLORED LADY DIES OF BROKEN HEART. Widow of the Late Albert Bayless Goes to Join her Husband.  Mrs. Mary Ann Bayless, the widow of Albert Bayless, the colored man who died a few days ago, expired at her home in this city early yesterday morning. While she had been feeble for some months, the immediate cause of her death was grief over the death of her aged companion last week. She had reached the good old age of 84 years and 5 months. She was born in slavery at Bowling Green, Kentucky. When 16 years of age she was given her freedom by her master, and removed to Missouri, where she married David Reynolds. To this union four children were born, two girls and two boys. Her husband and her two daughters died there, and the widow and remaining children removed to Oregon in 1864, with the family of James Ord. On October 18, 1866, she was married to Albert Bayless, who passed away just a week ago. The funeral will occur from the home in North Salem, at 2 p.m. tomorrow, the Rev. W. H. Selleck conducting the services. Interment will be made at the I.O.O.F. cemetery.  Daily Oregon Statesman 25 Apr 1907 2:5 INSCRIPTION:  [marker dedicated May 2002 by FOPC and SCV] FRONT: Bayless Mary Ann 1823 April 24, 1907 Emancipated Slaves [shares marker with Albert] BACK: Mary Ann was born into slavery in Bowling Green, Kentucky. In 1839 when she was 16, she was freed by her master and moved with his family to Missouri where she married David Reynolds. There David and two of their children died. In 1864, she and her two remaining children moved to Oregon with the James Ord family . On October 18, 1866, in Salem, she married Albert Bayless, a blacksmith. On April 24, 1907, only days after Albert’s death, Mary Ann died of a broken heart and was laid to rest next to her husband. Mary Ann was born into slavery in Bowling Green, Kentucky. In 1839 when  she was 16, she was freed by her master and moved with his family to Missouri where she married David Reynolds. There David and two of their children died. In 1864, she and her two remaining children moved to Oregon with the James Ord  family . On October 18, 1866, in  Salem,  she married Albert Bayless, a blacksmith. On April 24, 1907, only days after Albert’s death, Mary Ann died of a broken heart and was laid to rest next to her husband.Mary Ann was born into slavery in Bowling Green, Kentucky. In 1839 when  she was 16, she was freed by her master and moved with his family to Missouri where she married David Reynolds. There David and two of their children died. In 1864, she and her two remaining children moved to Oregon with the James Ord  family . On October 18, 1866, in  Salem,  she married Albert Bayless, a blacksmith. On April 24, 1907, only days after Albert’s death, Mary Ann died of a broken heart and was laid to rest next to her husband. In additon, her name is engraved on the Salem Pioneer Cemetery Black Pioneer Omnibus dedicated by the Oregon Northwest Pioneers on 1 Feb 2007. SOURCES:  LR  OSBH DC (Marion Co., 1907) #3438 Saucy Survey & Photographs  1880 OR CENSUS (Marion Co., E. Salem, ED 80, pg 37C) Steeves, BOOK OF REMEMBRANCE, pg. 316.  DOS 25 Apr 1907 2:5 CONTACTS:  LOT: 369 SPACE: 2 NE LONGITUDE:  LATITUDE:  IMAGES: