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NAVAGATION
Genesee County Biographies
Names A to B
Names C
Names D to E
Names F to G
Names H
Names I to L
Names M to N
Names O to R
Names S
Names T to Z
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Genesee County History
New York History
Erie County Biographies
History at Rays Place
Linkpendium Genesee County
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D. R. Bacon, an old resident of Le Roy, came here in 1839, and formed a law partnership with the Hon. Seth M.
Gates, then member of Congress. from this distirct. This partnership was continued through Mr. Gates's second term
in Congress, and until the latter's permanent removal from the village to Warsaw, N. Y. Mr. Bacon was born in Hamilton,
Madison County, N. Y., April 19, 1812. His residence here had been preceded by his father, Rufus Bacon, and his
brother, L. S. Bacon, in 1831. His father purchased a farm at the west end of the village, adjoining that of Capt.
Lent, where he built his home and occupied it as a family mansion until his removal to Rochester in 1850. D. R.
Bacon's early education was at Hamilton Academy, where he prepared for college, and was graduated at Union College
in 1831. His law studies were pursued in the offices of Hon. Joshua A. Spencer, of Utica, and Judge Philo Gridley,
and he was admitted to the bar in 1835. For a brief period after his admission he was engaged in the office of
Stephen G. Austin, of Buffalo. In 1836 the N. Y. & E. Railroad Co. was constructing the western division of
its road, and Mr. Bacon was employed by the company in obtaining the right of way from Olean to Dunkirk. In consequence
of this employment he removed to Olean, where he remained until, from want of State aid, the work was temporarily
suspended, when he removed, to and settled in Le Roy. Mr. Bacon married, in 1844. Elizabeth, eldest daughter of
Israel Rathbone, of Le Roy, and Lucy Anderson, nee Ganson. He was elected secretary of the Genesee Mutual Insurance
Co., which he held until his temporary removal to New York city. He also formed a law partnership with James Summerfield.
His residence in New York was but for two or three years, when, by a sudden affliction in the family of his brother,
L. S. Bacon, (resulting in the death of his children,) he returned to Le Roy to engage in his brother's extensive
stove manufactoring business, in which he became a partner, and resulted' in the relinquishment of his law business,
which was never afterwards fully resumed. On the removal of his brother to Rochester Mr. Bacon continued the business
in company with Harry Backus until its final discontinuance in 1853. His father also removed to Rochester, where
he died in 1854, at the age of 74 years, and was buried in Mount Hope Cemetery. Mr. Bacon purchased the homestead,
which was destroyed by fire in 1854, and rebuilt by him. He sold it to the late Rufus Palmer, and it is now owned
by Gen. Bissell. Mr. Bacon's present residence is on Trigon Prak, the former residence of Stewart Chamberlin.
In politics Mr. Bacon was an earnest and active supporter, by pen and otherwise, of the Whig party, and of the
Republican party from its organization, but was no seeker for political honors. He was appointed postmaster by
President Lincoln, which office he held during the war. Liberal and public spirited, Mr. Bacon is always ready
to promote social order and morality, contributing within his means to churches and schools. His tastes and pursuits
are essentially literary, and contributions from his pen in the public press for the past 30 years unfold a style
that is concise and vigorous, the result of careful study and preparation. Mr. Bacon early united with the Episcopal
Church in the village, and from his first residence here, except at brief intervals, has been chosen one of its
officers, and is at present one of its wardens. He has a family of four sons and one daughter. His eldest son,
Walter, has for the last 10 years been a resident of London, Eng., where he is president of one of the tramway
railroad companies. Edward is a leading railroad lawyer of New York city, and is the recently elected president
of the Baltimore and Ohio Southwestern Railroad. His son Lathrop is a stock broker, and John is at the head of
the Meriden Brittania Co's house in New York city. His daughter Mary married Oliver Allen, Jr., of the woolen manufacturing
firm of O. Allen & Son, of Mumford, N. Y. It is with his daughter that Mr. Bacon and his wife have their residence
in Le Roy.
Source:
Our Countty and it's people
a descriptive work on Genesee County, New York
Edited by: F. W. Beers
J.W. Vose & Co., Publishers, Syracuse, N. Y. 1890
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