Robert Bacon. Of the many English landowners who have made settlement in our State and have carried into execution the theories and practice of farmers in their native land, a prominent place belongs to the gentleman whose name heads this sketch. He is the owner of a fine farm located on section 30, South Otter Township, which has been highly improved under his careful supervision. He is of English parentage, his father, Richard Bacon, having been born in Norfolk, England, his mother, Mary K. (Sayers) Bacon, was also a native of Norfolk.
Our subject’s parents left England and emigrated to the United States at an early day. They first settled in Troy, N.Y., where they remained for two years. Then in 1837 they came to Macoupin County, and after spending one year in Carlinville Township, moved to Chesterfield Township, where the following year the head of the family passed away from earth. The mother died in Palmyra Township, this county, in 1863, leaving a family of eight children. Our subject, the second in order of birth, first opened his eyes in Norfolk, England, June 10, 1825. He came to America with his parents when a lad and grew to man’s estate in Macoupin County, of which he has been a resident since 1837.
The marriage of our subject and Miss Mary Ann Miller was celebrated November 18, 1849. Mrs. Bacon was born in Floyd County, Indiana, February 3, 1824. They settled soon after their marriage on section 30, South Otter Township, where they have since lived. Mr. Bacon has erected a handsome residence upon his place, which is a favorite resort of the best people in the township. It is made charming by the genial manners and hospitality of the owner and his amiable wife. Other fine and substantial buildings have been erected on the place. The farm comprises two hundred and forty acres of land which is under a high state of cultivation.
Our subject and his wife have welcomed four children to their household, Emily, Henry R., Mary A. and Thomas W. Of these the eldest became the wife of George M. Killam, and passed from this life in Bird Township, in August, 1878. A sketch will be found of her husband in another part of this volume. Henry R. was taken away from his parents while yet an infant. Mary A. is the wife of John C. Wiggins; and Thomas W. was united in marriage with Nancy J. Clark.
The original of our sketch has been honored by appointment to several offices in the gift of the township. He has filled the office of Supervisor of Otter Township for several years, and has served as Township Assessor and Collector, has been a member of the School Board for twenty years, and four years the title of Justice of the Peace has been his. he was appointed by Gov. Oglesby, Public Administrator and has filled the office for four years. He has been Treasurer of the Macoupin County Agricultural Board for a number of years. He has ever taken an active part in the local affairs of the township and casts his vote with the Republican party. he has now retired from the active proprietorship of farm life, renting his place to tenants, and only keeping a pleasant supervision over the whole. he is one of the leading men of South Otter Township, and no beneficent enterprise or movement for the improvement of the locality in which he dwells is complete without his name.
Source: Chapman bros. Portrait and biographical record of Macoupin county, Illinois. Chicago: Biographical publishing company, 1891.