Former
Norfolk Man Dies in Iowa
"Dan" Bacon was
born in the vicinity of Simcoe, 90 years ago. He was a connection
of the Forse family, Nelson Forse of Townsend is probably his
nearest surviving relation. Mr. Bacon must have left here a great
while since, but a younger generation will remember his brother,
John Bacon, who, 30 years ago, was in demand at local concerts as
an entertainer.
His wife, Mrs. Amanda
Culver, was the widow of an older brother of Mr. S. N. Culver's
father, the late George Culver. He was the owner of the farm, on
the east side of Norfolk Street, across the old Long bridge. The
farm buildings stood on the present site of of the High School.
Mr. Bacon died at Stuart,
Iowa, which had long been his home. The Stuart Herald published a
fine half-tone portrait of the old pioneer, and the following
obituary:
When the news of the death
of "Uncle" Daniel Bacon became known Sunday, many hearts
in Stuart and vicinity were saddened for Mr. Bacon has been a
familiar figure in Stuart for many years. Although of advanced
age, he retained all his faculties and until a few years ago, when
he sustained an injury to his leg, he was active for a man of his
years.
His life had been a long
and eventful one. Few men devoted so many years serving the
public, transporting passengers, first as driver of a stage, and
later as engineer on the Rock Island Railroad. In the early days
of his young manhood he had many thrilling adventures.
Daniel Ross Bacon was born
in Canada, 2 Nov 1829, and died at Stuart, 23 Oct 1920, aged 90
years 11 months and 21 days. He was married in Canada to Mrs. Amanda
Culver, in 1850.
In 1860 he freighted from
Brooklyn, Iowa to Denver, Colorado, and in 18[6]2 started driving a
stage out of
Des Moines to Council Bluffs. In 1865 he was manager
of a stage station 12 miles north of Guthrie Centre, then moved to
Panora in 1867. living in the vicinity of Panora until he came to
Stuart in the fall of 1[8]70, where he ran a hotel for a while. In
March 1871, he started work for the Rock Island Railroad Company,
and in 1872 he became an engineer. For 11 years he ran on the
Guthrie Centre Branch. He retired from the service of the Rock
Island about 1895.
Mrs. Bacon preceded him in
death, 11 Jan 1892, and since August 1917, when his daughter Alice
died, he had resided with his granddaughter, Mrs. O. A. Frieburg,
where his death occurred last Saturday.
There remain of his family
a son, Daniel T. Bacon of Lynndyl, Utah, who was present at the
funeral; a brother in Nebraska, who is two years older than Mr.
Bacon and who was unable to attend; a granddaughter,
Mrs. R. V. Emmert of Atlanta, Ga., and a granddaughter, Mrs. O. A.
Frieburg.
Funeral services were held
Monday afternoon at 2.30 from the Congregational Church, conducted
by Rev. Mr. Beale. The pall bearers were J. E. Myers, Andrew
Haynes, J. B. Little, G. W. Hackthorn, J. A. Swartz and Herbert
Smith. Interment was made in Oak Grove Cemetery.
Those from out of town who
attended the services were: Mr. and Mrs. M. C. Culver, Mr. and
Mrs. Frank Culver, Bert Culver and Mrs. Hunter of Panora; Mr. and
Mrs.
W. H. McBride and Mr. Oriel of Des Moines; Harry Swain and Mrs.
Hemphill of Guthrie Centre.
