Lake County Ohio GenWeb

David Nelson Bacon

This biography is taken from Biographical History of Northeastern Ohio, Embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake; Lewis Publishing Company, 1893.

Transcribed and submitted by Becky Falin, 1996.

David Nelson Bacon, one of the oldest residents of Lake county, Ohio, now living retired at Painesville, dates his arrival in this county back in 1817 when he was in his second year. Of his life and ancestry we present the following resume:

David Nelson Bacon was born in Cayuga county, New York, May 9, 1816, son of David and Deborah (Bruntage) Bacon, the former a native of Montpelier, Vermont, and the latter of New York. David Bacon, left an orphan at the age of three years, was reared in Cayuga county, New York, and was there married. In 1817, with his wife and two children, he came out West to Ohio, journeying hither with an ox team and wagon. Arriving in Lake county, he first settled in the northern part of Perry township, where he built a cabin in the woods and developed a small farm of about forty-five acres. The Indians were numerous here then and there was plenty of wild game in the forest. On this farm Mr. Bacon lived for twenty-five years. Then he moved to Painesville township and developed another farm. His wife died at the age of forty-five years and he lived to be seventy-three. Both were members of the Disciple Church and were among the most highly respected pioneers of the community. The latchstring of their cabin door always hung out, and both friend and stranger received a cordial welcome. Politically, Mr. Bacon was a Whig. He and his wife reared a family of children, as follows: Adaline, David N., Charles T., Alonson, Orlis J., Austin, Aceneth and George B. David N. and Orlis J. are the only ones now living.

Amid these frontier surroundings David N. was reared, receiving his education in one of the log schoolhouses of that period. These schools were conducted on the rate-bill system, and the teacher "boarded around." David N., being the oldest son, worked out and helped to provide support for the rest of the family, for some time being employed in hauling iron ore and wood to Fairport on the lake. During those early years he saw some hard times. Letter postage was twenty-five cents. It took more than the price of a bushel of wheat to pay the postage on one letter. After his marriage in 1838, Mr. Bacon settled in Painesville. He had a farm of eighty acres near town and a year later moved to it, residing there ten years and at the end of that time going back to Painesville. For twelve years he ran a mill, located on the river, and after that he devoted his time exclusively to farming until 1889, when he sold his farm. He has since lived retired.

Mr. Bacon has been twice married. In December, 1838, he wedded Harriet Stever, who was born and reared in Pennsylvania. They had six children, five of whom reached adult years, namely: Harriet D., Elizabeth J., Charles N., Mary A., deceased, Madison H., deceased and Ester. The wife and mother departed this life February 12, 1851. In July, 1852, Mr. Bacon married Mary S. Chappell, who was born in New York State and who came to Lake county, Ohio, in October, 1829, when she was seven years old. Their only child is named Ella.

Mr. and Mrs. Bacon are members of the Discipel Church. In early life he was identified with the Whigs, and since the organization of the Republican party he has espoused its cause. As one of the oldest citizens of the county he has been an eye witness to most of the changes which have taken place during all these years; and, although well advanced in life, he is still active and interested in the further development of the town and county.