MORRIS W. BACON, of New London,
now retired from business, has engaged in many enterprises which have left
lasting monuments along the road of progress in this city, and has won
renown in the sporting world, both through his horses and his fine yachts,
one of his boats a few years since taking the cup at New York City. He
was born in Middlefield, Middlesex County, Conn., October 11, 1830, a son
of William and Elmina (Johnson) Bacon, both of Middlefield.
His grandfather, John Bacon, who was the
fourth John in succession (see Bacon Genealogy, owned by Arthur W. Bacon,
of Middletown, Conn.), was born in Middlefield in 1779. He managed a farm
and kept a hotel in Middlefield, and at one period was considered wealthy;
but he lost some fifteen thousand dollars by indorsing notes for friends,
and had little to devise at the time of his death. His homestead, however,
is still in the family, owned by a female cousin of Morris W. Bacon. John
Bacon died in Middlefield, December 6, 1859; and his wife, Amy Coe, of
Middlefield, a noble woman, strong in the Methodist faith, died October
30, 1865, over fourscore years of age. They were the parents of the following
children: Curtis, United States Marshal in Middletown; William, father
of Morris W.; John L. and Lucy, twins; and George W.
William Bacon, second son of John, was born
in Middlefield, near his son's birthplace, July 20, 1805. He began life
"even with the world," so to speak, he and his brother Curtis purchasing
a farm of one hundred acres for twelve hundred dollars, giving a mortgage
note for the purchase price. Energetic and capable, this farm they paid
for in a short time. On April 18, 1839, Mr. William Bacon took charge of
the Bacon Hotel in New London, which was owned by his uncle Matthew; and
in this sphere of action he was successful and very popular. Large-hearted
and whole-souled, he never turned a man away hungry because he had no money;
and he asked no favors himself, always paying one hundred cents on the
dollar. He died in Lyme, Conn., May 28, 1882, aged seventy-seven, and is
survived by his second wife, formerly Miss Anna M. Lay, of Lyme, and now
living in that town. Morris W. Bacon's mother, whose maiden name was Elmina
Johnson, was William Bacon's first wife, whom he married April 21, 1828.
Her parents were residents of Middlefield. Her father died in early manhood;
and her mother lived to be seventy, passing away in 1846. Mrs. Elmina J.
Bacon was one of six children, two sons and four daughters, all of whom
married and had families. She died July 22, 1866, aged fifty-nine, the
youngest of her family to pass away. She had but two children: Morris W.,
of New London; and Watson Coe Bacon, who died the day he was nine months
old.
Morris W. Bacon was born on the hundred-acre
farm purchased by his father and his uncle Curtis in Middlefield, and in
a district school in that town he acquired his primary education. He completed
his studies in the public schools of New London, and at the age of fifteen
went to work, engaging as clerk for Cady & Newcomb. With this firm
he remained three years, his salary being raised as his services became
valuable; and on November 22, 1849, he assumed the duties of passenger
clerk on the steamer "Connecticut." He remained in the employ of the steamboat
company until 1874: between 1855 and 1872 he was also a member of the jewelry
firm of Gordon & Bacon, whose place of business was at the corner of
Main and State Streets, New London.
He has engaged in some important transactions
in real estate that have caused a marked improvement in property in New
London. He erected a handsome marble block on State Street, containing
spacious stores and a hall; and for ten years prior to 1890 he managed
a billiard room in this block, which was one of the finest in this part
of the country. The room was eighteen feet in height and sixty-two by forty-one
feet in dimension, and not a post broke the harmony of the space. It was
fitted with seven billiard tables.
Mr. Bacon purchased a handsome residence
property on State Street in 1876, and, building a fine barn, bought a number
of thoroughbred horses. Some noted animals were bred on this place, and
at one time he was the owner of twenty-one. He brought out "William H.
Alien" and "Mary A. Whitney," and others known to the racing world. This
State Street property he sold in December, 1895, disposing of his horses
at the same time. Mr. Munsey, who was induced by Mr. Bacon to come to New
London, purchased the estate for thirty thousand dollars, and has erected
a magnificent brick block, costing four hundred thousand dollars, eight
stories in height, and one hundred and twelve by ninety feet in dimension,
and strictly fire proof.
Prior to 1877 Mr. Bacon was actively interested
in yachting; and he has owned a number of yachts, some of which he had
built. He was licensed as a captain while he was in the employ of the steamboat
company; and he always sailed his own boats, being his own pilot. In 1859,
with the sloop yacht "Rowena," he won the cup in the New York Yacht Club
regatta.
Mr. Bacon was married October 11, 1853, to
Jane E. Gordon, who died July 19, 1891, leaving two children — Charles
G. and Lizzie J. Charles G. Bacon was educated at Exeter, N. H., and is
now in business in this city. Lizzie J. Bacon, who is also in New London,
was educated at Auburndale, Mass., and is an accomplished artist. Mr. Bacon
contracted a second marriage, October 3, 1892, with Jane D., daughter of
the late William Carroll, of this city. Mr. Carroll, who was extensively
engaged in teaming, died in 1882. He left a widow, Mrs. Ellen Carroll,
and two children — Martha and Jane — all residents of New London. In politics
Mr. Bacon is nominally a Democrat, but he reserves the privilege of voting
for the candidate best fitted for the office. He has refused all offers
of public preferment.
(Photo attached)
Biographical Review Volume
XXVI
Containing Life Sketches of Leading Citizens
of New London County Connecticut
Boston
Biographical Review Publishing Company
1898
pgs 56 - 59
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