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- PHINLEY V. BACON, a leading farmer
- and stock-raiser residing on section 36, La Prairie
- Township, was born on the 23d of August, 1824, in Franklin
County, Mass., and is a son of Adolphus and Sophia (NEWTON) BACON,
who were also natives of Franklin County, the father born of
Irish parentage, the mother descended from Scotch ancestry. They
had a family of three children - Adolphus N., a carpenter and
joiner, who died in Michigan in 1886; Lydia, who became the wife
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- of Harley HOOKER, a resident of Kansas City, Mo., and Phinley
V., of this sketch. The death of the father occurred in 1829,
being caused by the kick of a horse. His wife survived him many
long years, dying in 1882, at the home of her daughter in Kansas
City, at the age of eighty-seven years.
- Our subject received his education in the common schools.
His father being killed when he was
- but five years of age he went to live with an aunt, his mother's
sister, with whom he remained until the age of nine years. He
then returned to his native county, where he attended school,
but at the age of twelve years went to Livingston County, N.Y.,
making his home with an uncle until attaining his majority. In
1845 he started for Texas, but on reaching Rock County, where
his mother was living, she so opposed the plan of her son going
to that far distant State, that he resolved to cast his lot with
the early settlers of Wisconsin. During the summer months he
engaged in teaming in Beloit, and spent the winters in the pineries
of the State, working alternately at those occupations for about
six years.
- On the 26th of June, 1850, Mr. BACON was joined in wedlock
with Miss Julia BURNHAM,
- who was born July 9, 1826, in East Windsor, Hartford, Co.,
Conn., and is a daughter of Lucius and Permelia (GOODRICH) BURNHAM.
The BURNHAM family came to Rock County about the year 1837, locating
on the farm where our subject now resides. At that time but one
house marked the site of the present beautiful city of Beloit,
and between the farm on which Mr. BURNHAM located and that village,
there was also but one cabin. In 1852 he returned to his home
in the east, where he resided until death, though he again visited
his farm in this county. He died in 1884, at the age of eighty-two
years, and his wife departed this life in 1878, at the age of
seventy-four years. Mr. BURNHAM was an active worker in the Methodist
Church, and his wife a consistent member of the Baptist Church.
- Mr. and Mrs. BACON began their domestic life upon a rented
farm. The first crop of wheat that
- he raised he sold for twenty-nine cents per bushel, oats
brought eight cents, and corn sold from ten to twelve cents per
bushel. Many were the privations and hardships to be endured
in those pioneer days, yet happiness and pleasure were not wanting
in the little cabins. Though the country was so wild that the
deer yet roamed over the prairies and the howling of the wolves
often broke upon the stillness of the night, true hospitality
abounded in those days, and the traveler was always a welcome
guest. In 1854 Mr. BACON made his first purchase of land, consisting
of a tract of forty acres in the town of Bradford, and the following
year erected a little cabin, into which the family moved. A little
daughter came to bring sunshine to the home, and previous to
this time a son had been born. The latter, Frank J., who was
born in Beloit, Oct. 26, 1853, wedded Miss Mary J. HOLLY, and
is engaged in farming in Hamlin County, Dak.; the former, Hattie,
who was born Oct. 27, 1858, is now the wife of L. A. MELOY, a
resident farmer of this county.
- Until 1864 Mr. BACON remained upon his original farm, when
they removed to their present
- home on section 36, La Prairie Township. That same year he
erected the two-story house, their present home. Mrs. BACON's
father erected the first frame house in Rock County, which is
situated on this farm, and is still standing, one of the few
relics of pioneer days which has withstood the ravages of time.
The farm now comprises 126 acres of land under a fine state of
cultivation, and though beginning life in limited circumstances,
Mr. BACON is now regarded as one of the leading, well-to-do farmers
of the township, his competency having been gained by his own
honest efforts of industry and economy. He is a friend to all
social, moral and educational interests, and provided his children
with good educational advantages. His daughter is a graduate
of Milton High School, and for some years was a successful teacher
in this neighborhood. Both Mr. and Mrs. BACON are members of
the Congregational Church, and to its advancement have given
liberally of their time and means. He is a Republican in politics,
and for six years served as a member of the School Board, and
as a Road Supervisor. Honest and upright, genial in manner, he
has won the respect of all who know him.
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-
- Taken from "The Portrait and Biographical Album of
Rock County, Wis." (c)1889, pp. 216-217; lithograph from
same book.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
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