from The History of Hendricks County (Indianapolis: B.F. Bowen & Co., 1914)----pages 324-326
Among the native sons of Hendricks County, Indiana, who have spent their entire lives within its borders, is Robert Bayliss, a prosperous farmer of Liberty Township. He was born April 18, 1867, in the township where he has spent his whole life. His parents were John William and Frances (Brill) Bayliss. John Bayliss was born in 1829 in Virginia, and came to this county in 1859, with his wife and three sons. They drove through from Virginia, following the national road through Ohio and Indiana, and located at Center Valley, in Liberty Township, this county. A brother of Mrs. Bayliss, William Brill, was already here when Mr. Bayliss arrived. Here they farmed for several years on a tract of sixty acres. Later John W. Bayliss sold this farm and bough property near Hazelwood, where he spent his remaining days, his death occurring on September 30, 1909, at the advanced age of eighty-one years. He was a stanch Democrat all his life and held the office of township supervisor for several years. He was an ardent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Salem, Indiana, and was a man who lived a Christian life in every way. Frances Brill, the wife of John W. Bayliss, was born in Virginia in 1829 and is still living at the old home place near Hazelwood and, despite her years, can do a heavy day's work, either inside the home or on the farm. Mr. and Mrs. John W. Bayliss were the parents of nine children: William M., who lives in Clarence, Missouri; Marshall, of Clayton, Indiana; Edward, who died in 1911; John, a resident of Mooresville, Indiana; James, of Clayton, Indiana; Thomas, who lives in Seattle, Washington; Robert, with whom this narrative deals; Charles, who died at the age of three years; Ella, who stays at the old home place with her mother.
Mr. Bayliss was married March 25, 1893, to Lura Busby, the daughter of Smith and Adeline (Shipley) Busby, and to this union there have been born two daughters, Hazel and Helena, who are both at home with their parents.
Smith Busby, the father of Mrs. Bayliss, was born May 28, 1842, near Hazelwood, Indiana, and was the son of Miles and Ellen (Harrison) Busby. Miles Busby and wife were the parents of eleven children, all of whom are deceased but Rachel, Smith and John Thomas. These children, in the order of their birth, are as follows: William, Margaret, Mary, Rachel, Susan, Lucinda, Smith, Elizabeth, John Thomas and Rebecca. Mrs. Rachel (Busby) Busby lives in this county; John Thomas is a resident of Indianapolis and is employed by Kingan and Company.
Smith Busby was married in 1863 to Adeline Shipley, the daughter of James and Mary (Borders) Shipley, and to this union were born three children: Lura, the wife of Robert Bayliss; Anda, deceased, and Elvin, who lives with his father. Mrs. Busby died in April, 1910. Mr. Busby has been a keen business farmer and now is the owner of one hundred and seventy-nine acres of excellent farming land in Liberty Township, this county. He has been a life-long Democrat and a loyal member of the Missionary Baptist Church from earliest manhood.
Robert Bayliss has followed agricultural pursuits in this county all his life. His boyhood days were spent in Liberty Township, where he attended school and before reaching manhood he lived in Center Township. He then spent one year in Marion Township, where he rented a farm, and later returned to Liberty Township and remained there for seven years. While in Liberty Township he was married and in the same year moved to Franklin Township, on his father-in-law's farm, and here he remained until 1903, when he returned to Liberty Township and bought his present farm. He has forty-nine acres of excellent farming land, valued at one hundred and fifty dollars an acre. He keeps everything about his place in excellent repair and his place presents a very attractive appearance at all times.
Mr. Bayliss is a member of the Improved Order of Red Men, at Hazelwood, and of the Pocahontas Lodge of the same place. Politically, he is a Democrat, but has never been active in his party. He and his wife are loyal members of the Baptist Church at Hazelwood, and Mr. Bayliss has been a deacon in the church for the last two years. He and his wife are both faithful workers in the church and give liberally of their time and money to further the interests of the Gospel and the church in this community. Mr. Bayliss is congenial in his manner and has won a host of friends in this community. He is honest, frank and unassuming and is a man who is admired by everyone with whom he comes in contact.