Person Page 1,011

John Henry Bacon was born on 22 Dec 1821 in Shelburne, VermontG.^4,5,6
     He was probably the male age 15 to 20 listed in the household of his father, Alpheus Bacon, in the 1840 Federal Census of Shelburne, Chittenden Co., VermontG.¹²
     He moved to New YorkG with his parents before 1850. He appeared on the 1850 Federal Census of Brighton, Monroe Co., New YorkG, in the household of his parents, Alpheus Bacon and Sarah Cobb.¹³
     He moved to Orleans Co.G with his father after the death of his mother. He appeared on the 1855 State Census of Ridgeway, Orleans Co., New YorkG, in the household of his father.¹⁴
     John married first Harriet A. Beals.^7,8
     John and Harriet appeared on the 1860 Federal Census of Ridgeway, Orleans Co., New YorkG, enumerated 10 Aug 1860, They were evidently living close to his father and sister as the two households were listed one after the other in the census. Their daughter Ida was listed as living with them.¹⁵
     His wife died on 30 Mar 1861.¹⁶
     John married second Sophia E. Belson, daughter of George H. Belson.^9,10
     John and Sophia appeared on the 1865 State Census of Ridgeway, Orleans Co., New YorkG, enumerated 30 Jun 1865, reporting he lived in a frame home valued at $1,000. Their son William and his daughter Ida by his prior marriage were listed as living with them, as were his father, her sister Ada, and Samuel Copeland, age 26, who appears to have been a farm hand.¹⁷
     John and Sophia appeared on the 1870 Federal Census of Knowlesville, Orleans Co., New YorkG, enumerated 28 Jun 1870, reporting real estate valued at $6,000 and personal estate of $500. Their children William and Clara and his daughter Ida were listed as living with them, as was his father, Alpheus Bacon.¹⁸
     He was a farmer.^{13,14,15,17,18}
     John died on 4 May 1874 in Ridgeway, New YorkG, at age 52.¹¹ He was buried in Bates Road Cemetery, Ridgeway, Orleans Co., New YorkG.¹¹

Mary E. Bacon was born on 23 Dec 1832 in Shelburne, VermontG.^4,5,6 She was probably the female age 5 to 10 listed in the household of her father, Alpheus Bacon, in the 1840 Federal Census of Shelburne, Chittenden Co., VermontG.¹⁰
     She moved to New YorkG with her parents before 1850. She appeared on the 1850 Federal Census of Brighton, Monroe Co., New YorkG, in the household of her parents, Alpheus Bacon and Sarah Cobb.¹¹
     She moved to Orleans Co.G with her father after the death of her mother. She appeared on the 1855 State Census of Ridgeway, Orleans Co., New YorkG, in the household of her father.¹² She appeared on the 1860 Federal Census of Murray, Orleans Co., New YorkG, in the household of her father.¹³
     Mary married William Wallace Gibson, son of William Gibson and Susan Burns.^7,8 She returned to Vermont with her husband after their marriage.
     Mary and William moved to Orleans Co., New YorkG, where she had been living with her father before they married, before 1870. They appeared on the 1870 Federal Census of Ridgeway, Orleans Co., New YorkG, enumerated 29 Jun 1870, reporting no real or personal estate. Their children Alpha and Gardner and his children by his prior marriages, Elizabeth, Katie, and William, were listed as living with them, as was James Harris, a 28-year-old farm worker.¹⁴
     Mary died on 8 Jan 1871 in Ridgeway, New YorkG, at age 38.⁴ She was buried in Bates Road Cemetery, Ridgeway, New YorkG.⁹

James Brewer Cobb was born about 17 May 1823 in Orwell, VermontG.^4,5,6
     His mother died on 19 Feb 1828, when James was about 4 years old.^11,12,13 He was probably one of the two males age 5 to10 listed in the household of his father, Horace Cobb, in the 1830 Federal Census of Orwell, Rutland Co., VermontG.¹⁴
     He moved to Brighton, New YorkG, with his father and stepmother between 1830 and 1840.¹⁵ He was probably one of the two males age 15 to 20 listed in the household of his father in the 1840 Federal Census of Brighton, Monroe Co., New YorkG.¹⁶
     James appeared on the 1850 Federal Census of Brighton, Monroe Co., New YorkG, in the household of Abigail W. Nichols, his step-mother.¹⁷
     James married Helen W. McCall, daughter of John McCall and Laura Rotel, about 1853.^7,8,9
     James and Helen moved to Kalamazoo, MichiganG, after their marriage. They appeared on the 1860 Federal Census of Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Co., MichiganG, enumerated 17 Aug 1860, reporting real estate valued at $7,500 and person estate of $300. Their children Anna, Gertrude, and Maude were listed as living with them, as were his half-sister, Jane, three farm laborers, Frederick Cook, age 19, and Benjamin and Henry Simons, both age 21, and Marinda Stack, a 25-year-old servant.¹⁸
     James served as commissioner of highways for Kalamazoo Twp.G in 1860.¹⁹ He served as a member of the MichiganG House of Representatives for the 1863-64 and 1865-66 terms and again in 1881-82 in 1863 in MichiganG.^20,21 He was appointed Treasurer of Kalamazoo Co.G, apparently to fill a vacated term, serving from Mar 1874 to Jan 1875.²²
     James and Helen appeared on the 1870 Federal Census of Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Co., MichiganG, enumerated 8 Jun 1870, reporting real estate valued at $20,000 and person estate of $2,400. Their children Gertrude, Maude, Charles, and Alice were listed as living with them.²³
     James and Helen appeared on the 1880 Federal Census of Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Co., Michigan G, enumerated 2 Jun 1880. Their children Gertrude, Maude, Charles, and Alice were listed as living with them, as was Susie Stewart, a 21-year-old housekeeper.²⁴
     He was a farmer, likely on his late father's farm, with his brother and step-mother in Brighten. He continued farming in Michigan.^25,26,27 In the 1860 census he reported having 120 acres of improved land and 30 acres unimproved, valued at $7,500, and $400 worth of tools and implements. He reported four horses, six milch cows, two working oxen, twelve other cows, 500 sheep, and ten swine, valued at $2,150. He reported that he had produced 630 bushels of wheat, 400 of corn, 200 of oats, and 1,500 lb. of wool. The page showing the remainder of his crops has not been found.²⁸
     In the 1870 census he reported having 170 acres of improved land and 24 acres unimproved, valued at $20,000, and $200 worth of tools and implements. He had paid $300 in wages in the prior year. He reported four horses, five milch cows, 200 sheep, and 13 swine, valued at $2,050. He reported that he had produced 1,000 bushels of winter wheat, 1,000 of corn, 150 of oats, and 40 of barley. The page showing the remainder of his produce, and it's value, have not been found.²⁹
     In the 1880 census he reported owning 160 acres of tilled land and 12 of woodland, valued at $15,000, tools and implements worth $600, and $1,150 worth of livestock. He reported that he had spent $100 in repairing fences in the prior year, $25 for fertilizer, and $850 for 100 weeks of hired labor. He reported six horses, three milch cows and three other cows which had dropped four calves and produced 500 lb. of butter the prior year, 95 sheep that had produced 450 lb. of wool, 12 swine, and 50 chickens that had produced 250 dozen eggs. He reported that he had produced 1,000 bushels of corn on 20 acres, 80 of oats on one acre, 1,200 of wheat on 47 acres, 150 of potatoes on 3 acres, and 200 of apples, worth $100, on 500 trees on 20 acres. He had also produced 30 tons of hay on 20 acres, with another 35 acres of grassland not mown. He had cut 30 cords of wood worth $40, for a total value of all products of $2,665.³⁰
     The Kalamazoo County Agricultural Society, the oldest in the state, was organized 1 Jan 1845 to "promote the more general dissemination of the true principles and science of Agriculture." The society hosted annual fairs for many years, but attendance fell off and in 1867 the officers decided to abandon it. In Jan 1873 a meeting was held in an attempt to revive it, and James' brother William was elected president. The fairs were resumed and became successful. By 1880 William was no longer an officer, but James was elected Treasurer.³¹
     He was an insurance agent by 1880, and a wool dealer at the time of his death.^32,33
     James died on 7 May 1899 in 530 S. Burdick, Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Co., MichiganG, at age ~75.¹ He was buried on 9 May 1899 in Mountain Home Cemetery, Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Co., MichiganG, with his wife and children.^1,10

William Henry Cobb was born on 1 Nov 1825 in VermontG.^4,5,6
     His mother died on 19 Feb 1828, when William was 2 years old.^10,11,12 He was probably one of the two males age 5 to10 listed in the household of his father, Horace Cobb, in the 1830 Federal Census of Orwell, Rutland Co., VermontG.¹³
     He moved to Brighton, New YorkG, with his father and stepmother between 1830 and 1840.¹⁴ He was probably one of the two males age 15 to 20 listed in the household of his father in the 1840 Federal Census of Brighton, Monroe Co., New YorkG.¹⁵
     William appeared on the 1850 Federal Census of Brighton, Monroe Co., New YorkG, in the household of Abigail W. Nichols, his step-mother.¹⁶
     William married Laura A. Wilson, daughter of Edwin Wilson and Harriet.^7,8,9
     He was a farmer, likely on his father's farm, with his brother and step-mother, in BrightonG in BrightonG.¹⁷
     William and Laura A. Wilson moved to Michigan some time in the early 1850s. By 1867 they lived on Portage Rd., Kalamazoo.¹⁸ They appeared on the 1860 Federal Census of Portage Twp., Kalamazoo Co., MichiganG, enumerated 23 Jul 1860, reporting real estate valued at $8,300 and person estate of $4,675. Their children Horace, Charles, James, and Harriet were listed as living with them, as was Laurence Wilkinson, a 16-year-old farm laborer.¹⁹
     William served as commissioner of highways for Portage Twp.G in 1869 and again in 1876-77.²⁰
     William and Laura appeared on the 1870 Federal Census of Portage Twp., Kalamazoo Co., MichiganG, enumerated 2 Jul 1870, reporting real estate valued at $16,800 and personal estate of $3,000. Their children Horace, Charles, James, and Harriet were listed as living with them, as were two laborers, Darius Burns, age 31, and Peter Degner, age 23, Mary Wadsworth, age 33, a housekeeper, and Emma Wadsworth, age 9.²¹
     William and Laura appeared on the 1880 Federal Census of Portage Twp., Kalamazoo Co., Michigan G, enumerated 18 Jun 1880. Their daughter Harriet was listed as living with them, as were Sidney Safford, age 74, identified as a boarder, Mary E. Wadsworth, age 43, a servant, and Oscar A. Andrews, age 20, a farm laborer.²²
     His wife died on 21 Mar 1892 in Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Co., MichiganG.^23,24,25
     William appeared on the 1900 Federal Census of Portage Twp., Kalamazoo Co., Michigan G, enumerated 23 Jun 1900, reporting that he owned his farm, free of mortgage. His half-sister Jane was listed as living with him, as was Devias Burns, age 65, a farm laborer.²⁶
     William continued farming in Michigan, though for a time in the late 1860s he operated a livery stable at 62 Water St., KalamazooG, with John Parker. It appears that farming became his full-time occupation after that.^{27,28,29,30,31,32} In the 1860 census he reported having 100 acres of improved land and 66 acres unimproved, valued at $8,300, and $555 worth of tools and implements. He reported six horses, five milch cows, two working oxen, three other cows, 468 sheep, and 20 swine, valued at $3,320. He reported that he had produced 444 bushels of wheat, 600 of corn, 175 of oats, and 900 lb. of wool. The page showing the remainder of his crops has not been found.³³
     In the 1870 census he reported having 210 acres of improved land and 30 acres unimproved, valued at $16,800, and $600 worth of tools and implements. He had paid $500 in wages in the prior year. He reported 10 horses, five milch cows, six other cows, 140 sheep, and 18 swine, valued at $1,930. He reported that he had produced 720 bushels of winter wheat, 600 of corn, 360 of oats, and 100 of barley. The page showing the remainder of his produce, and it's value, have not been found.³⁴
     In the 1880 census he reported owning 108 acres of tilled land and 12 of woodland, valued at $12,000, tools and implements worth $600, and $950 worth of livestock. He reported that he had spent $100 in repairing fences in the prior year, $10 for fertilizer, and $500 for 70 weeks of hired labor. He reported five horses, six milch cows and five other cows which had dropped six calves and produced 800 lb. of butter the prior year, 30 swine, and 70 chickens that had produced 300 dozen eggs. He reported that he had produced 800 bushels of corn on 20 acres, 1,000 of wheat on 40 acres, 50 of potatoes on one acre, and 200 of apples, worth $75, on 400 trees on 10 acres. He had also produced 25 tons of hay on 22 acres, with another 20 acres of grassland not mown, for a total value of all products of $3,200.³⁵
     The Kalamazoo County Agricultural Society, the oldest in the state, was organized 1 Jan 1845 to "promote the more general dissemination of the true principles and science of Agriculture." The society hosted annual fairs for many years, but attendance fell off and in 1867 the officers decided to abandon it. In Jan 1873 a meeting was held in an attempt to revive it, and William was elected president. The fairs were resumed, offering prizes in various categories, and became successful. At the 1878 fair William received the diploma for the best-cultivated farm. By 1880 William was no longer an officer, but his brother James was elected Treasurer.³⁶
     The Farmers' Mutual Insurance Company of Kalamazoo County was organized 17 Feb 1863. William became an officer, by 1880 becoming President and a director.³⁷
     William died on 2 Jan 1904 in Portage Twp., Kalamazoo Co., MichiganG, at age 78.¹ He was buried on 3 Jan 1904 in Mountain Home Cemetery, Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Co., MichiganG, with his wife and family.¹

Jane Thankful Cobb was born in Feb 1830 in VermontG.^4,5,6,7 She was probably the female under age 5 listed in the household of her father, Horace Cobb, in the 1830 Federal Census of Orwell, Rutland Co., VermontG.¹²
     She moved to Brighton, New YorkG, with her parents between 1830 and 1840.¹³ She was probably one of the two females age 5 to 10 listed in the household of his father in the 1840 Federal Census of Brighton, Monroe Co., New YorkG.¹⁴
     Her father died on 16 May 1848, when Jane was 18 years old.^15,16,17 Jane appeared on the 1850 Federal Census of Brighton, Monroe Co., New YorkG, in the household of her mother, Abigail W. Nichols.¹⁸
     She appeared on the 1860 Federal Census of Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Co., MichiganG, in the household of her half-brother James and his wife, Helen W. McCall. She reported personal estate of $1,200.¹⁹
     Jane appeared on the 1870 Federal Census of Brighton, Monroe Co., New YorkG, in the household of Elizabeth and James Dyer Cobb, son of her father's brother Gideon, and his wife. She reported a personal estate of $1,200.²⁰
     Jane appeared on the 1900 Federal Census of Portage Twp., Kalamazoo Co., Michigan G, in the household of her widowed half-brother William.²¹
     Jane died on 5 May 1904 in Portage Twp., Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Co., MichiganG, at age 74.^8,9 She was buried on 7 May 1904 in Mountain Home Cemetery, Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Co., MichiganG, in her half-brother William's lot.^10,11

Mary Ann Cobb was born about 1835 in Monroe Co., New YorkG.^4,5,6
     She was probably one of the two females age 5 to 10 listed in the household of his father, Horace Cobb, in the 1840 Federal Census of Brighton, Monroe Co., New YorkG.¹⁰
     Her father died on 16 May 1848, when Mary was about 13 years old.^11,12,13 Mary appeared on the 1850 Federal Census of Brighton, Monroe Co., New YorkG, in the household of her mother, Abigail W. Nichols.¹
     Her mother died in Jun 1852, when Mary was about 17 years old.^14,15
     Mary appeared on the 1855 State Census of Ridgeway, Orleans Co., New YorkG, in the household of Alpheus Bacon, widower of her father's late sister Sarah, listed as a servant.¹⁶
     Mary was living in Brighton, New YorkG, at the time of her death.¹⁷
     Mary died in Jan 1857 at age ~22.⁷ She was buried on 26 Jan 1857 in Mount Hope Cemetery, Rochester, New YorkG, in her family's lot.^8,9