About Us and the characters that shaped our community

About Bailey's Prairie
An extraordinary cowboy

The Bailey’s Prairie Kid

Beginnings

Beginning with his first rodeo in Clute, Texas with many awards won in between, including  performing at Madison Square Gardens in the 1950’s. His first rodeos, paid in experience rather than a monetary reward. Bailey, as he is called upon by his friends, admitted he didn’t know what he should be doing. He was just happy to be participating, learning as he went along  and learn he did. Proving himself to be a quick study. Beginning with sneaking out of his home, while still living with his mom and dad to ride bulls at night in local rodeos.

Career Highlights

Bailey could do it all and did it well enough earning many titles ad awards. Riding broncs, and earning championship recognition, both with a saddle (1966) and without, (1968). Versatile in his storied career, again winning championship recognition for Steer Wrestling in years 1972 and once more in 1973. In 1975, he earned championship recognition for Bull Riding. 1978 brought All Around Champion in Saddle Bronc, Bareback, Bull riding,  and Steer Wrestling.

Accolades and Awards

From championship belt buckles, twice winning saddles in 1973 and 1975, along with earning the title of all around cowboy by the Southwest National Cowboy Association. It is noted that the Southwest National Cowboy Association underwent a name change after segregation. Changing from Southwestern Negro Cowboys Association becoming the Southwest National Cowboy Association. In 2001, the Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame inducted Taylor Hall Jr better known among the rodeo circuit as Bailey’s Prairie Kid into their Hall of Fame. 2019 brought a Certificate of Appreciation from the City of Houston during Black History Month for being an All Around Cowboy and preserving heritage. Also recognized in 2019 National Multicultural Western Heritage Museum Hall of Fame Greater Houston Area inductee. In July 26  and July 27, of 2019, he was inducted into the National Multicultural  Western Heritage Museum during the annual National Day of The American Cowboy Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.

A haunted stretch of highway

A Ghost with a Never Ending Thirst

It is said that the highway that connects Angleton and West Columbia (and also runs through Bailey’s Prairie) is haunted by the ghost of one James Briton Bailey – for whom the area was named. According to legend, the ghost, carrying a lantern, roams across the flat land of Brazoria County – at night, constantly searching for a jug of whiskey.

It appears as a bouncing, white ball of light floating about four to six feet off the ground occasionally making an appearance somewhere between West Columbia and Angleton. A large number of folks have seen the phenomenon known as “Bailey’s Light.”

According to The Handbook of Texas, James Briton Bailey was part of Stephen F. Austin’s Old Three Hundred colonists. He was born in North Carolina in 1779. Bailey was married at a young age and the couple had six children. After his first wife died, he married her sister and fathered five more children.

Bailey, known as “Brit,” moved his family from North Carolina to Kentucky and apparently served in the legislature of that state. He was a very controversial figure and obtained a bad reputation.

The story goes that he was prosecuted for forgery before he left the state. After leaving Kentucky, Bailey turned up in Tennessee. He lived there for a number of years and later fought in the War of 1812. When the war was over, Bailey moved his family and six adult slaves to Texas. He settled on land that would later become part of Brazoria County. That specific area is known as Bailey’s Prairie.

Bailey allegedly bought his land from the Spanish government. After Mexico won its independence from Spain however, the Mexican authorities refused to recognize his claim that the land belonged to him. Bailey would not give up his home even though Stephen F. Austin ordered him to leave the Austin colony.

Although Bailey and Austin apparently disliked one another, Austin finally recognized Bailey’s squatter’s claim to the land. He was given a league and a labor of ground on the east bank of the Brazos River. Brit Bailey was later commissioned as a captain in the local militia. At that time, Texans were loyal Mexican citizens and Bailey took the oath to defend the Mexican Constitution of 1824.

Bailey gained a reputation as being a troublemaker – he regularly engaged in brawls and evidently was a constant thorn in the side of Stephen Austin. Some were probably relieved when he finally died. Those who knew Brit Bailey may have thought that he died of just plain meanness, but history says that the tough old man succumbed to cholera on December 6, 1832.

In his will, Bailey demanded that he be buried standing straight up and facing the West. According to legend, he also wanted his rifle at his side and a jug of whiskey at his feet. The slaves who were digging the grave stole Bailey’s jug of whiskey.

Nobody knows what causes the light to appear over Bailey’s Prairie.

The vision of Bailey’s Light has been prevalent in Brazoria County for years and the folks there are probably convinced the old Brit is never going to find that jug of whiskey and that’s okay.

The light has been known to “chase” vehicles traveling on the highway late at night or in the early morning hours.

There have been various articles written about our whiskey hunting specter:

 

A Historical Cemetery

Historical Markers

James "Brit" Bailey Historical Commission marker
James “Brit” Bailey Historical Commission marker
</p> <p>Munson Cemetery Historical Commission marker
Munson Cemetery Historical Commission marker
</p> <p>Munson Cemetery Historical Commission marker
Bailey Plantation Historical Commission marker
Munson Cemetery on Texas State Highway 35

Village of Bailey’s Prairie Leadership