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Another puzzler for GeneJ! JOHN F. BACON
My other solid brick wall is John F. Bacon (a distant cousin told me she believes the F stands for Frederick).
John was born 1869/70 in Texas, most likely San Antonio. He rode the range as a cowboy, eventually making his way to Mobeetie, TX (trivia: founders asked the local Indians how to say "sweetwater in their native language, only to later discover that Mobeetie means "buffalo dung".) where he began wotking at the Miller Ranch, eventully marrying the boss' daughter.
John and Sarah Frances Miller staked a claim in Oklahoma, living in a half dugout while John farmed and continued riding the range. They had four sons: Ralph, Zack, Roy and Armon(d). Sadly, Frances died in 1909, and the last we see of widower John is the 1910 Census, where he is living with the four boys in Oklahoma.
Now, here's where family legend takes over: John allegedly abandons his sons, leaving the older two boys to raise the youngest, and is never heard from again, presumedly dying on the trail. BUT...
I have uncovered photos and postcards of John from the late teens/early twenties, and it seems he is very much in touch with at least one of his sons.
Per this correspondence, he was working in Morris Ranch, TX, where they raised and raced throroughbreds at one point.
Other than this...nothing. Family legend also says John died in Texas, though the one John Bacon who died around the right time is NOT related.
So...trying now to find out what happened to John, and also searching for his parents.
A family of Bacons found in Bexar County in the 1880 Census can be traced to another line. However, on his WWI registration, oldest son Ralph lists his closest relative as an uncle Ralph Bacon, living in Arizon, presumedly John's brother.
Another tantalizing tidbit...a woman responded to a Rootsweb post, saying John was a relative of hers, that he worked as a jockey, and that she had photos of him! Sadly, she has never responded to my numerous emails.
I am especially interested in John Bacon, as I possess two of his trail dialries, and feel like I know this elusive cowboy personally.
Sorry for the lengthy tome...any help appreciated!
Jennifer
John was born 1869/70 in Texas, most likely San Antonio. He rode the range as a cowboy, eventually making his way to Mobeetie, TX (trivia: founders asked the local Indians how to say "sweetwater in their native language, only to later discover that Mobeetie means "buffalo dung".) where he began wotking at the Miller Ranch, eventully marrying the boss' daughter.
John and Sarah Frances Miller staked a claim in Oklahoma, living in a half dugout while John farmed and continued riding the range. They had four sons: Ralph, Zack, Roy and Armon(d). Sadly, Frances died in 1909, and the last we see of widower John is the 1910 Census, where he is living with the four boys in Oklahoma.
Now, here's where family legend takes over: John allegedly abandons his sons, leaving the older two boys to raise the youngest, and is never heard from again, presumedly dying on the trail. BUT...
I have uncovered photos and postcards of John from the late teens/early twenties, and it seems he is very much in touch with at least one of his sons.
Per this correspondence, he was working in Morris Ranch, TX, where they raised and raced throroughbreds at one point.
Other than this...nothing. Family legend also says John died in Texas, though the one John Bacon who died around the right time is NOT related.
So...trying now to find out what happened to John, and also searching for his parents.
A family of Bacons found in Bexar County in the 1880 Census can be traced to another line. However, on his WWI registration, oldest son Ralph lists his closest relative as an uncle Ralph Bacon, living in Arizon, presumedly John's brother.
Another tantalizing tidbit...a woman responded to a Rootsweb post, saying John was a relative of hers, that he worked as a jockey, and that she had photos of him! Sadly, she has never responded to my numerous emails.
I am especially interested in John Bacon, as I possess two of his trail dialries, and feel like I know this elusive cowboy personally.
Sorry for the lengthy tome...any help appreciated!
Jennifer
Views: 275
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Kate Steere on
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Hi Jennifer-
On FamilySearch, there is an extracted birth record for a "John Fernando Bacon" who was christened on July 21, 1867, in San Antonio, Bexar, Texas, appears the church was St Mary's- Catholic.
Parents are listed as Ralph Bacon and Mary McFarland. I wonder, could the Ralph that is on Ralph's WW1 draft card be his grandfather? -
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Permalink Reply by jennifer mclaughlin on
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Thanks, Kate!
I've seen this record, too, but attempts to track down the original church record have been fruitless. Interestingly enough, the Bacon children I have found in th 1880 Census were staying with an Hispanic man...perhaps that could account for the middle name! -
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Hi Jennifer, I also found a website for Morris Ranch which included some photos:
http://oak.cats.ohiou.edu/~gulino/ghosttown/morris_ranch_tx.htm -
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I love that site! My ggrandfather, Zack, worked the ranch as well. It makes sense that John Bacon was a jockey...just wish my "cousin" who has the photo would email me back!!!
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Hi Gene,
Just realized I misspoke (mistyped?) in my original post. The uncle Ralph Bacon lists in his WWI app is GEORGE Bacon, not Ralph Bacon.
And as for the Baptismal record, listing John Fernando Bacon and his father, Ralph, it would seem to make sense, as my John Bacon named his first son "Ralph".
It also seems possble there could be an Hispanic link (a la Fernando) in that I have since discovered John Bacon joined his inlaws, the Millers, in breeding and racing quarter horses, many obtained in Mexico. I have also found correspondence between John and a brother in law, written in Spanish!
I am uploading a photo sent by a "cousin" of John Bacon riding the quarter horse Nellie Miller.
Thanks! - Attachments:
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JohnnieBacon.bmp, 648 KB
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WOW...thanks, Gene! Let me try to answer everything:
Yes, I have John Bacon's homestead file. It did not reveal any biographical details, but a wonderful woman in Roger Mills Co, OK actually found the location for me. There is nothing left there, but it is still wonderful to know EXACTLY where we settled in Oklahoma!
The christening record from FamilySearch.org lists John Fernando Bacon, born 1867, Father Ralph L., Mother Alice (this would be Alice Opheila Bacon). Ralph's mother was Selena Bacon.
George WIlliam Bacon had a son named Ralph (as did my John Bacon) as well as a daughter named Selena. There is little doubt that THIS George W. Bacon is the same "uncle" Ralph Miller Bacon lists on his WWI form.
The only snag is this: there is no mention of a son named John in either the 1870 or 1880 Census for this family. It could possibly indicate John Fernando Bacon died as a toddler before 1870...which obviously means he can't be MY John Bacon. If so, was George somehow related to Ralph Bacon in some other way than uncle?
Moving on...
Here is my second candidate for John F. Bacon's father....Edmund Bacon and his wife Josephine Beckmann Bacon.
In the 1880 Census for San Antonio (see attached) there is a family of Bacon children, including a George and a John (this George, tho, is George HENRY Bacon) listed as living with a man named Epemnio Gonzales as "something other than a direct relation". The Census taker left a footnote on the bottom of the page stating that "these children belong to the family on page six". That family is the widow Josephine Bacon and her brother, Henry Beckmann.
Both families have connections to San Antonio and Kerrville, TX, as do my Bacons. I'm sure we must intersect somewhere!
It seems to me the more likely scenario is the first...Ralph and Opehlia Bacon. I just need another link besides the christening document.
I have read every death certificate for a John or J Bacon in Texas, and none is the right one. Seems like that's what I need to put these peices together!
Oh, one more thing...Ralph Lawrence Bacon is listed in Census and Civil War records as a "painter". Wondering if this means he was an artist or a house painter??? My John Bacon WAS an artist...I have several of his drawings. Interesting...
Thanks, again, for your excellent investigative skills!
Jennifer - Attachments:
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ViewOriginalRecord.url, 1 KB
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Updating to add obituary for Ralph L. Bacon. Sadly, it merely says he leaves behind three children, and does NOT list their names...
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RLbaconOBIT.pdf, 386 KB
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Hi Gene,
I was confusing my notes...yes, Mary McFarland is the wife of Ralph L. in the christening record, not Alice Ophelia.
As to Ralph being married more then once...that would make sense, given the information we have. His obit does not use his wife or children's first names (altho the author had no problem calling him an alcoholic!) so it's impossible to tell from that. I will explore Mary McFarland some more, and see what marriage records I can find.
As far as occupation goes...1880 Census calls him a house painter, so I guess that answers that question!!
I'm off to look for more...thanks so much for all your help and guidance! -
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Hi Gene,
I cannot find Civil War pension OR service records for Ralph Bacon. I'm attaching below the only document I've found. It lists him as a painter, as do the 1870 and 1880 Census.
Also an 1880 Census for his parents, Charles and Selena. Her birthplace is listed as England, his as Mass...see below.
Also...I've contacted some folks from Kerr Co, TX....hope to get responses!! - Attachments:
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RalphBaconArmy.htm, 31 KB -
SelenaCharlesBacon.mht, 1.1 MB
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A few more quick notes...
I contacted the three families listing Ralph L. Bacon in their family trees...here's hoping for a response!
I searched for other Bacons in the St. Mary's register, and the only other baptism listed is for a George Bacon, but he was born to different parents.
Finally.....I kept thinking the name Correvon rang a bell (as in the mysterious Lucille Corrigon letter).
I flipped thru John Bacon's trail diaries, and found, on a single page, the name "Mrs. Corrigon".
This could, of course, be a coinicidence, but the name IS rather unusual. Seems to me to most likely refer to his sister, Eliza Bacon Correvon. It is her daughter, Lucille, who wrote the letter.
I also found a reference to "going to Kerrville" which also reinforces my Bacon's ties to that community.
That's it for now...I'll keep on digging!
jenn -
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