My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in The History of Franklin County, Missouri published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1888.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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Thomas Bacon, general merchandise dealer of Pacific, was born in St. Louis County, Mo., December 2, 1838. His parents were Edward and Elvira (Hurt) Bacon, natives of Virginia and Missouri, respectively, who had nine children, of whom Thomas was the fourth. Edward Bacon, a farmer by occupation, was a son of Langston and Elizabeth Bacon. Mrs. Elvira Bacon was a daughter of Berry and Lucinda Hurt, of French descent. Thomas Bacon was educated at the common schools of his native county. He was reared on a farm until fifteen years of age (1853) when he moved to Pacific and clerked in a saloon owned by A. McClure about two months; he then secured a clerkship in the dry goods store of Mr. Watson, where he remained about five years. He subsequently began braking on a freight train on the Missouri Pacific Railroad, at which he continued about one year, and the following year took charge of a general store, owned by Reese & Morris, at Catawissa. In about a year he was appointed mail agent on the ‘Frisco Railroad (the first one on that road), at which he continued eleven months, being removed by President Lincoln. He then opened a general store in Pacific, which he sold to Mr. Northington in 1870, soon securing a position as bookkeeper for the Metropolitan Hotel, of Little Rock, Ark., remaining twelve months, when he went to New York City. After one and one-half years he returned to Pacific; in 1880 went to Alamosa, Colo., where he clerked in the Perry Hotel; in 18$1 went to Eureka Springs and acted as hotel clerk two years, then returned to Pacific, and established an auction business, which he conducted until 1883, since which time he has been engaged in his present business. He served in the Missouri State Militia during the late war. October 9, 1864, he married Mrs. Malinda Eoff, nee Pruitt, who died May 11, 1870. June 23, 1880, Mr. Bacon married Mary V. Dawes, a native of Franklin County, Mo., and a daughter of William and Mary V. (Triplett) Dawes, natives of Kentucky and Missouri. Mr. and Mrs. Bacon have three children, Bay E., Milton E. L. and Grover T. The parents are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Bacon is a Democrat in politics and a Royal Arch Mason.

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This family biography is one of 305 biographies included in The History of Franklin County, Missouri published in 1888.  For the complete description, click here: Franklin County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

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