File:Bailey-Michelet House (8617581385).jpg

The Bailey-Michelet House in Wilmette (1871). Mrs. Nancy McAllister Bailey immigrated to the United States in 1861. She worked in the household of John Evans, co-founder of Northwestern University and the University of Denver, namesake of Evanston, and Governor of the Territory of Colorado. She married william Roberts Bailey, who served in the 8th Illinois Cavalry during the Civil War. He worked at a local meat-packing company. As Evanston's population increased, so did the fortunes of Bailey, who moved operations to a brick building on Davis Street, Evanston in 1873. The house was probably built in 1871, either by the Baileys or by Luther L. Greenleaf. By 1887, the Baileys had purchased an opera house. Bailey was the first fire marshall of Evanston. Mrs. Bailey inherited the estate in 1890 upon the death of her husband. She died six years later on a trip back to Ireland. After an extended legal battle, Charles Jules Michelet became the heir of the Bailey fortune. Michelet was a lawyer who specialized in chancery matters. His wife was a founder of the Wilmette's Women's Club and was the sister of the President of the Illinois Senate Walter Warder. The house was occupied by members of the Michelet family from 1896 until at least 1982.

This is an image of a place or building that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places in the United States of America. Its reference number is 82002533.