On the 1880 Lions City, Beaverhead, Montana Census he was listed ad a Mining Engineer, living with
Samuel H. Barber a Civil Engineer. Lodenwald@aol.com
Dr. Gilbert Ellis Bailey, dean of the geological department of the
University of Southern California, passed away suddenly last night at his
home, 9798 South Figueroa street. He was 72 years of age and had been
enjoying excellent health until his illness which lasted only four days,
originating in gall bladder trouble.
Dr. Bailey was the son of Gilbert Stephen Bailey d.D., Chaplain of
the Illinois Legislature when Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas were
members of the House. He was born April 27, 1852, in Springfield, Ill., in
a house that stood across the street from the Lincoln home. His scientific
career began at the age of 12 years when he discovered the first fossil
ferns in Illinois.
After graduating from the Chicago University in 1871 he went to the
University of Michigan and took his degree as doctor of Philosophy in 1874.
During that same year he became professor of natural sciences at the
University of Nebraska and as State Chemist made the first analysis of
sugar beets in America.
IN SOUIX WARS
In 1880 Dr. Bailey accepted the post of territorial geologist for
Wyoming. Later he was on the staff of Gen. Nelson Miles during the Sioux wars.
Following the Sioux wars he traveled through the Nicaraguan canal route
and then became president of the School of Mines at Rapid City, S.D.
Dr. Bailey acted as one of the commissioners of mines at the World's
Fair in Chicago.
Dr. Bailey came to California thirty years ago and has occupied the
post as dean of the geological school at the university for the last
twenty-five years. He was a thirty-second degree Mason and a member of the
Episcopalian Church.
He is survived by his widow, Reba Boston Bailey, whom he married in
San Francisco in 1903. Mrs. Bailey is a direct descendant of the Boston
family of Massachusetts. He also leaves a son, Oliver G. Bailey, an
attorney of Cincinnati; a sister, Mrs. E.A. Brink of Pomona, and three
brothers, Wayland Bailey, for many years associated with the Weather Bureau
in San Francisco; Dr. Charles A. Bailey, San Antonio, Tex., and Dr. William
Carey Bailey, 801 North Lafayette Park Place.
Announcement of the funeral arrangements which will be under the
direction of the Ruppe Mortuary, 842 South Figueroa street, will be made at
a later date.

Gilbert Bailey: Dr. Bailey was in the Death Valley region in 1901-02 looking for nitrates of soda. Gilbert was a commissioner for the World's Fair in Chicago in 1893 (geologial department)
He rode with General Nelson Miles during the Indian wars and was commended for rescuing two little girls the Indians had taken after killing the rest of the family. He reportedly knew General Custer and was in the Black Hills at about the time of the Sioux uprising that led to the battle of the Little Big Horn.
He also reportedly was in on the discovery of or at least studied the meteorite Bacubirito in Mexico. More in a folder on the Family disc under "More about Gilbert E. Bailey" in the Bailey Brink Rawson folder. Lodenwald@aol.com
This is from the National Cyclopaedia of American Biography (v. 22, 1932):
Bailey, Gilbert Ellis, geologist, was born at Pekin, Ill., Apr. 27, 1852, son of Gilbert Stephen and Sarah Eloise (Bunnell) Bailey. He was educated at select schools established by his father, who was a Baptist clergyman, and at the University of Chicago. The years 1870-72 were spent in surveying work on the Red River of the North and on railroad routes in Michigan. He was a special student at the University of Michigan in 1872-73 receiving the E.M. degree in the latter year and was graduated A.B. at the University of Chicago in 1874. For two years he was professor of analytical chemistry at the University of Nebraska. After taking the master's degree at the University of Chicago he was professor of geology at Franklin College, Indiana, one year and then continued his studies at Rochester (N.Y) Theological Seminary in 1879. He was geologist of the Territory of Wyoming during 1883-86. As superintendent of the Harney Peak Mining Co., S. D., he produced in 1886 the first bar of tin made from American ore the Etta mine in the Black Hills. When the Sioux war of 1890 began he at acted as correspondent of the Chicago "Interocean" and the following year was sent by that journal to Central and South America. While in Mexico in 1892 he discovered the Bacubirito meteor weighing thirty tons. (note: the Bacubirito was discovered much before then, but I believe the picture above is of him.) Lodenwald@aol.com Lecturing, journalism, geologic work in Death Valley and mining occupied him until 1909 when he became professor of geology at the University of Southern California, a chair he held until his death. His field work resulted in a number of patents for treating borax, explosives, tannic acid, and other products. Details of his gelogical work are recorded in his "Geology and Minerals of Wyoming" (1885); "Salines of California" (1902); "Origin Place Names in California" (1905); "California Soils" a textbook (1913); "Vertical Farming" (1915); "Arrowhead Springs" history and geology (1915); “Nnitrating Soils by Innoculating Legumes" (1915); and "Origin and Geology of Hot Springs of California (1919), most of which are bulletins of the California state mining bureau and University of Southern California. Prof. Bailey belonged to the Masonic, Phi Delta Theta and Skull and Dagger fraternities. He was twice married (1), June 26, 1876, to Martha, daughter of Oliver Perry Cobb, of Aurora, Ind., by whom he had a son Oliver Gilbert Bailiey, and (2) in 1902, to Reba, daughter of William Washignton Boston, of Newcastle-on-Tyne, England. He died in Los Angeles, Calif., Dec. 6, 1924.