Hachaliah Lyman Bailey (pronounced heck-a-LIE-uh; July 31, 1775 – September 2, 1845) was the founder of one of America's earliest circuses. In 1808, he purchased an Indian elephant which he named "Old Bet" and which was one of the first such animals to reach America. With "Old Bet" as its main attraction, he formed the Bailey Circus, which also included a trained dog, several pigs, a horse and four wagons. This was the impetus for what in time evolved into the Bailey component of what became the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Bailey also served two terms in the New York State legislature.
In 1845 Hachaliah returned to Somers for a visit and died from the kick of a horse while there. and building a statue in her honor.
Marriages and children
Hachaliah Bailey married his wife Mary Purdy when she was fourteen years old and he was twenty-three years old. Together they had five children:
- Calista Bailey (1800–1879)
- Lewis Bailey (1803–1870)
- Jane Bailey (1808–1882)
- Joseph Turk Bailey (1810–1881)
- Stephen Bailey (1814–1863)
Hachaliah Bailey then would split with Mary and later marry his wife Ruth Ferris Bailey where they had no children.