Kentucky: A History of the State, Battle, Perrin, & Kniffin, 6th ed., 1887,
Shelby Co.

COL. JESSE BAYLES, an aged and prominent citizen of Shelbyville, is a
native of Monongalia County, W. Va., born November 16, 1801.  His parents
were David and Sarah (Thornton) Bayles, both natives of Loudoun County, Va.
The father was a soldier of the Revolution, served with Gen. Clark in his
expedition on the Ohio River, and was one of the early Indian fighters. In
1632 his paternal ancestors landed in Virginia, from England, and his
maternal ancestors were also of English origin.  Our subject had three
brothers who fought in the war of 1812, and a son, William W., who fell at
the battle of Buena Vista, in the war with Mexico.  Our subject remained
on the farm in his native county until he was six years of age, when he
moved with his parents to Champaign County, Ohio, and aided his father in
clearing up a farm.  In 1831 he removed to Lexington, Ky., and later to
Louisville.  When he came to Kentucky he engaged extensively in contracting
and built the Louisville Hotel and other noted buildings there.  He has
been four times married: first in 1823, to Miss Elizabeth Weaver, of
Champaign County, Ohio, who died in 1826; Julia A., wife of Dr. Tevis, of
Shelbyville, is a child by this marriage.  He next married Susan J.
Buchanan, of Balitmore, who died in 1831.  In December, 1833, he married
Rebecca Porter McNitt, of Lexington, who died in April, 1835.  His last
marriage was in 1838, to Mary J. Head, daughter of a prominent preacher
and lawyer of Kentucky.  Her death occurred in April, 1876.  In Louisville
in 1861, Col. Bayles raised a regiment for the Union cause and an
additional company also.  He was immediately elected colonel of the
regiment, but on account of ill health was obliged to resign his commission
in April, 1863.  He returned to Louisville, and engaged in contracting up
to 1866.  In 1877 he went to Shelbyville to live with his daughter, Mrs.
Tevis.  Col. Bayles is a member of the G. A. R. of Louisville.  He joined
the Methodist Episcopal Church in July, 1819, and has been a consistent
member ever since.  He is the father of nineteen children, five of whom
were born by his last live, viz.: Mary R., Edward O., Anna, Lucy M. and
Josephine C.  In 1844 he was president of the Clay Club at Lexington, and
was a personal friend of Henry Clay, by whom he was recommended for United
States marshal in 1849 to President Taylor.

Bayles Thornton Weaver Tevis Buchanan McNitt Head
=
Lexington-Fayette-KY Louisville-Jefferson-KY Monongalia-WV Loudoun-VA
Champaign-OH

http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/shelby/bayles.j.txt