Contact Mitch for more info on this person
e-mail mitchs@micron.net
Contact Mitch for more info on this person
e-mail mitchs@micron.netLewis M. Bacon Lewis M. Bacon, who has been actively connected with public life in Oskaloosa, being called to various positions of honor and trust, is one of the native sons of Mahaska county, born in White Oak township, December 6, 1856. He is also a representative of one of the oldest families of the county. His grand father, William Bacon, a native of England, came to this country at an early period in its development and here reared a large family of ten children. One of his sons, Martin Bacon, who was born in 1822, is now living in Oskaloosa, having made his home in Mahaska county for thirty-five years. He has reached the eighty-fourth milestone on life's journey and is therefore one of the oldest citizens of the county. John Bacon, father of our subject, was born in Ohio and became an early resident of Mahaska county, where he entered land from the government in connection with his brother, Rufus P. Bacon. They lived in White Oak township and held their land together for some time, but later sold out and bought other land in White Oak township, where John Bacon continued to carry on agricultural pursuits for many years. He was active and energetic in his work and through well directed labors attained to a position of affluence. He married Miss Nancy Wymore, who removed from the Hoosier state to Iowa and spent much of her residence in this state in Mahaska county. She had four brothers and two sisters who are yet living, namely: Robert E.; Jasper N.; Elam M.; Reuben; Amanda, the wife of James Hawkins; and Margaret, the wife of Dr. Garrett Elkins. Four of the family are deceased, there having been ten in all. John Bacon spent his last days in honorable retirement from labor in a pleasant home in Rose Hill, where he died in April, 1900, at the age of seventy-six years, having for about two years survived his wife, who passed away in 1898, at the age of fifty-six years. Lewis M. Bacon was a student in the common schools of the county and was reared upon his father's farm, where he remained until twenty-six years of age, early becoming conversant with all the work incident to the development of the fields and the care of stock. Thinking that he would find other lines of labor more congenial than farming, however, he in 1882 engaged in merchandising in partnership with C. L. Slatten, opening a drug store in Rose Hill under the firm name of Slatten & Bacon. Subsequently he was engaged in general merchandising as a partner of R. H. Stringfellow, under the firm name of Stringfellow & Bacon, and when his partner sold out, the firm became L. M. Bacon & Company. This firm dealt in groceries and men's furnishing goods. Later, under the firm style of Bacon & Bump, Mr. Bacon engaged in dealing in groceries and hardware for one and a half years. He next sold out, after which he conducted a hardware business alone in connection with the grain trade. In 1892, however, he disposed of his stock of hardware but continued in the grain business and was associated for a time in the lumber business with J. H. Augustine. This was in the year 1899 and in the same year he built the present grain elevator at Rose Hill. He thus became a prominent factor in the commercial development of the town, contributing in large measure to its business activity and consequent prosperity. While living in Rose Hill, Mr. Bacon was also called to various public offices, serving as mayor for one term, as township clerk for four years, justice of the peace four years, president of the school board and president of the city council. He was postmaster during President Cleveland's second administration and in all of these offices he discharged his duties with promptness and fidelity that reflected credit upon himself and satisfaction to his constituents. Removing to Oskaloosa he became engaged in the real estate and insurance business here as a member of the firm of Bacon & Winkleman, which relation was maintained for three years, at the end of which time Mr. Winkleman sold his interest to Newton Coxe and the firm name of Bacon & Coxe continued until about two years ago. In the fall of 1904 Mr. Bacon was elected justice of the peace of Oskaloosa, receiving a majority of seventy-seven although he was a democratic candidate and the county returned a strong republican majority for President Roosevelt. In connection with the duties of his office he has engaged in the settling of several estates and he owns eight-six acres of land, upon which are rich coal deposits, the mine being operated by the Atwood Coal Company. In December, 1880, Mr. Bacon was married to Miss Destia Stringfellow, a daughter of G. W. and Amanda (Dixon) Stringfellow, of this county,. They have one son, Pearly M., and they also lost a daughter, Effie, in 1889. Mr. Bacon, having spent his entire life in this county, is well known and his activity in public affairs has been of direct and permanent good to the localities which he has represented in office. Patriotism and progress may well be termed the keynotes of his record and as in business life, his public service has been characterized by keen discrimination and practical methods. (Note: William Bacon was born in New York City, not England. His father, John Bacon, Sr. was a native of England. - Mitchel Schwartz, 1999}
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from Past and Present of Mahaska County, Iowa by Manoah Hedge The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co. 1906
Past and Present of Mahaska County, Iowa
Mahaska County, Iowa Genealogy