And I am alone, "the last leaf on the branch," am left; but by my side the loving companion who sixty years ago, in the old home, plighted with me his wedding vows.

From The Ancestors of the Bayles Family in the United States 1617-1900 by Elizabeth Bayles St. John. This is a distant branch of the Bayless family tree so no particular affiliation here, just a striking little story of the pioneering spirit, geographically and commercially. And especially in the second paragraph, the pathos of transition as one generation cedes to another.

Aaron Bayles was Elizabeth Bayles St. John's father.

Aaron, the second son of Daniel and Polly Bayles, born April 4, 1783 and married Lydia Edmister, September 30, 1809, in Chicago Co., N.Y. He left New Jersey with his father's family and located in Conklin, Broome Co., N.Y., when young, teaching school in or near Binghamton, N.Y., where he made the acquaintance of and married Lydia Edmister, of that place, and where they lived until their first child was born, August 14, 1810, when they heard favorable reports of the central part of the state, and with his sister, Phebee and husband, Amos Rude, came to Hardenburg Corners, now Auburn, N.Y. Aaron leaving his family with brother-in-law Rude, went prospecting and bought a timbered farm twelve miles north of Auburn, N.Y. and four miles north of Seneca River, and following a pioneer life they lived and prospered with the country, and were parents of nine children, who grew to mature years. In later years he bought and shipped great amount of grain on the Erie Canal, keeping boats for that purpose, afterwards adding a dry goods and grocery store in Weedsport. He held the office of Justice for fifteen years, until they moved out of town to the village in 1836, as it was too hard to travel so much, and his store demanded so much of his time. It was said that he did more to build that town than any other dozen men. After many successful years, he was known as Squire Bayles, far and near. He was Captain of the Military Company of Cayuga County, and was very fond of his uniform plumes and ruffled shirt, and went by the name of Captain until his office of Justice changed it to Squire, by which title he went in after years. He closed up his business and moved to Rockford, Ill. about 1855, and lived with his children. In 1868 his dear companion, aged eighty years, left him for a better home. After a few lonely years he followed, dying as he had lived, honored and respected by all that knew him.

...My husband and I came to Rockford in 1853, and shortly after Caroline and her husband, Whipple Jilson. With Caroline came my father and mother. Jilson and St. John conducted, as partners, a business in this city, and my father often found great pleasure in being with them about the store. David Mills with his wife, Sister Parmelia, settled south of the city. Aaron finally made Milwaukee his home, and Lydia Jane followed her son to California, where she died. Sister Caroline and I lived on adjoining lots, and we often took our sewing and spent the days reading to mother, who enjoyed it greatly. As the evening of life grew on, both father and mother grew more and more feeble until, full of years, the passed away, -- mother, July 9, 1864; and father, May 11, 1875. The story of the full and happy years which were left to us children cannot be told here profitably. Aaron died in August, 1864; Permelia, December 4, 1887; Caroline, October 2, 1897; and I am alone, "the last leaf on the branch," am left; but by my side the loving companion who sixty years ago, in the old home, plighted with me his wedding vows.