LAKE COUNTY OHIO - BIO: David Nelson Bacon

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David Nelson Bacon

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.


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