Bailey-Michelet House

About this property

The Bailey–Michelet House is a historic Italianate residence on Sheridan Road in Wilmette, Illinois. Originally built in Evanston, it was home to meatpacking businessman William Roberts Bailey and his wife Nancy. In 1896, the house was moved to Wilmette when it was sold to lawyer Charles Jules Michelet. Several generations of Michelet lived in the house. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. The Bailey–Michelet House was originally constructed on Ridge Avenue, north of Central Street at Maple Street; today the land is part of the Bahá'í Temple. The land was acquired by the William Roberts and Nancy (née McAllister) Bailey in 1872, and a house was built shortly thereafter. William Roberts Bailey came to Evanston shortly before he served with the 8th Regiment Illinois Volunteer Cavalry in the Civil War. After the war, he founded a meat-packing business on Davis Street. The business was very successful due in part to the rapidly growing Evanston population. In 1871, the Bailey–Michelet House was built, probably either by the Baileys themselves or local carpenter Luther L. Greenleaf. Bailey continued to prosper, purchasing the Jennings Opera House. Bailey was also the first Fire Marshall of Evanston and was a member of several local fraternal and business associations. He died suddenly in 1890 at the age of 46. Nancy Bailey was an Irish immigrant who settled in Evanston to work in the household of former Illinois governor and Northwestern University co-founder John Evans. She managed the Bailey household upon their marriage. Nancy Bailey inherited her husband's estate, valued at $150,000, upon William Roberts Bailey's death. She had a new house built for the family at 2907 Sheridan. Nancy Bailey died on August 22, 1896, while on voyage to Ireland. Shortly before her death, she sold the older family house to Charles Jules Michelet, who moved the house to its present site. The land was adjacent to the house of Michelet's brother. Michelet was an attorney who practiced in Wilmette. He was the brother-in-law of President of the Illinois Senate Walter Warder. He oversaw a case between the heirs of Nancy Bailey over her will. Bailey's will had been signed under duress from Chicago jeweler Charles Teufel. The estate would have passed entirely to Teufel. After two trials, the house and estate were instead awarded to Bailey's children. As a reward for his service, the children forgave the remainder of the Bailey–Michelet House payment for Michelet. His son Charles J. Michelet, a research engineer, inherited the house. Two subsequent generations of Michelets resided in the house. On August 12, 1982, the house was recognized by the National Park Service on the National Register of Historic Places.

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Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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