DEATH OF A PIONEER
Transcribed from the Allegany County Democrat, July 29, 1895. Submitted by Richard Palmer.
Theodore S. Bacon, one of the early settlers of Allegany died at his residence a mile east of Canaseraga, July 19th, 1885.
Mr. Bacon was born at the foot of the Green Mountains in the town of Manchester, Sunderland Co., Vt., Nov. 22, 1815, and hence at the time of his death was in his seventieth year. When he was four years of age he removed with his parents to Candor, Tompkins Co., N.Y., where he grew to manhood and when he had about reached his majority he came up to northern Allegany, which was a that time very sparsely settled, being indeed an almost unbroken forest.
On June 13th, 1835, he was united in marriage with Miss Lucinda Dunning, who had also until about that time been a resident of Tompkins county. With her he endured the hardships and privations incident to a pioneer existence in a new country, and with her shared the losses and fortunes, the clouds and the sunshine of half a century and she still survives him.
The deceased spent most of his life in the town of Burns, but his first ownership of real estate was a piece of land on N. Almond Hill, which he took up and cleared, living thereon nine years. Previous to this time, however, and only a few days after his marriage he went back to Tompkins county with his young wife for a period of 16 months, during which time he was engaged in running a sawmill.
Returning to Allegany county, about his only earthly possession was a horse, saddle and three dollars in money. Possessed of robust health and a good constitution, and exercising industry and frugality, he acquired a competency for himself and family. Nineteen years ago he purchased the large farm in Canaseraga now owned by his son, Wm. Bacon. Some years later he removed to the pleasant farm residence below Canaseraga, which was his home during his last years.