Eponetus Reed Bacon (1840-1906)
 Dr. Bacon's house, 1898 |
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According to an Internet database on Illinois Civil War veterans, Epenetus R. Bacon was in Company C. of the 100th Illinois Infantry. (Note the different spelling of the first name.) His residence at that time was listed as Lockport.
The Lowell Star, Aug. 17, 1872, page 5, column 3, had a list of soldiers who were supporters of Grant in that election. Among them was E.R. Bacon of the 100th Ill.
This information comes from the Sept. 14, 1872, Lowell Star, page 5, column 2:
- Dr. Bacon will soon go to Chicago to attend another course of lectures this coming winter.
from the Lowell Star, October 12, 1872, page 5, column 1:
- --Dr. E.R. Bacon bid fairwell for a season to hosts of friends last Wednesday, and departed for Chicago, where he will remain during the winter attending medical lectures. We are sorry to part with our genial friend even for a season, but hope to welcome him back in the spring, with the most flattering and brilliant prospects for the future fully established.
According to a newspaper story, Dr. Bacon lost two barns worth $1,000 in Lowell's great 1898 fire in the business district.
From Ball, T.H., editor. Encyclopedia of Genealogy and Biography
of Lake County, Indiana with a Compendium of History 1834-1904.
Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1904. pp. 528-529:
- During the years which marked the period of Dr. Bacon's professional career he has met with gratifying success, and while a resident of Lake county he has won the good will and patronage of many of the best citizens of Lowell and the surrounding districts. He is a thorough student, and endeavors to keep abreast of the times in everything relating to the discoveries in medical science. Progressive in his ideas and favoring modern methods as a whole, he does not, however, dispense with the time-tried systems whose value has stood the test of years. He has a large practice, which is indicative of the trust reposed. In his professional skill, and so widely and favorably is he known that no history of the county would be complete without a record of his life.
- Dr. Bacon was born in Orleans county, New York, February 22, 1840. His father, Benjamin Bacon, was a native of Washington county, New York, and was a farmer by occupation. He died in the
Empire state in his seventy-fifth year. His wife died when the Doctor was only three years of age, and the boy was reared by B. G. Merrick. He pursued a common-school education and started out in life for
himself at a very early age. When a young man of twenty-one years he responded to his country's call for troops, enlisting on the 24th of April, 1861, as a member of Company G, Second Michigan Volunteer
Infantry. He was a private and with that command served for three months. In 1862 he re-enlisted in the One Hundredth Illinois Volunteer Regiment and served for three years. In 1864 he was transferred to
the regular army, as hospital steward, and thus continued his connection with the Union troops until the fall of 1865, when he was discharged on a general war order. His clothing was pierced by five bullets at the battle of Chickamauga, but he sustained no personal injury. During the years of his active service he was in many important battles, and never faltered in the performance of duty or in his allegiance to the old flag and the cause it represented.
- In May, 1866, Bacon came to Lowell, and here took up the study and practice of medicine. He had attended lectures at Nashville, Tennessee, during the war and had begun practice on his arrival in
Lowell, at the same time continuing his reading in order to perfect his knowledge of the healing art. He is a graduate of the Chicago Medical College of the class of 1873, and has been in constant practice in
Lowell for thirty-five years, during which time he has enjoyed a large patronage, and is now an extremely busy man. He is widely known as an industrious and ambitious student, and his professional career has
been marked by continuous advancement. He also has other interests in Lake county, being one of the directors of the State National Bank, of Lowell. He likewise owns farm property and real estate in Chicago.
- On the 3d of June, 1868, Dr. Bacon was united in marriage to Miss Martha B. Sanger, a daughter of James H. and Martha (Cleveland) Sanger. Mrs. Bacon was born in Lake county and by her marriage has become the mother of two children: Sylvia L., who is the wife of S. C. Dwyer, an attorney at law of Lowell; and Grace M., the wife of Dr. A. L. Spindler, a dentist of Chicago Heights.
- Dr. Bacon is a member of the Knights of Pythias fraternity, the Masonic lodge and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and is now one of the trustees of the first named. He has been active and influential in community affairs, was a school director for eleven years and is now president of the pension board, of which he has been a member for thirteen years. His first presidential vote was proudly cast for Abraham Lincoln in 1860, and since that time he has supported each presidential candidate of the Republican party. He belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church, takes a very active and helpful part in its
work and has served as one of the church trustees for thirteen years. Dr. Bacon has been the builder of his own character as well as his own fortune. He started out in life for himself at an early age, and is a
self-educated as well as self-made man. In his profession he has gained prominence and success and in private life he has won that warm personal regard which is the evidence of many sterling traits of character.
from Goodspeed, Weston A., ed. Counties of Porter and Lake Indiana. Chicago: F.A. Battery & Co., 1882. p. 637-638:
- E.R. BACON, M.D., was born in Orleans County, N.Y., February 22, 1840, and is a son of Benjamin and Louisa M. (Dodd) Bacon, both natives of New York. Benjamin Bacon was a farmer, and was twice married--first to Louisa M. Dodd June 9, 1828, by whom he had six children; she died in 1843. His second marriage, October 21, 1844, was to Sarah Curtis, by whom he had two children. Mr. Bacon died in New York in 1878, aged seventy-three years; his widow resides in Wisconsin. Dr. Bacon after his fifth year lived among strangers, with a man named B.G. Merrick, who reared him to manhood. After the usual school education in 1856, he went to Illinois, and, in 1858, to Michigan. In about 1861, he began the study of medicine, and, at the blast of war and call for troops, he enlisted in Company E, Second Michigan Volunteers. After his term of service, he re-enlisted in the One Hundredth Illinois Regiment, and was made Sergeant, and as such took part in the battle of Perryville, In 1862, he was made Hospital Steward at Bowling Green, Ky., and was afterward sent to Hospital No. 14, at Nashville, remaining until 1864, and continuing on hospital duty until his discharge to Lowell, Ind., and began the practice of medicine, having attended lectures at Nashville. In 1872-73, he attended the Chicago Medical College, graduating therefrom March 13, 1873. Dr. Bacon is a close student, and a successful practitioner, and has a lucrative practice. On June 3, 1868, he was married to Miss Martha B. Sanger, daughter of James H. Sanger, deceased. To this union were born two children--Sylvia L. and Mattie Grace. Dr. Bacon is both a Mason and an Odd Fellow, and, in politics, a Republican. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Obituary of Dr. E.R. Bacon, unknown source in Clipping Files at Lowell Public Library (LH--"Vital Statistics," Vol. 2, p. 46):
- Death of Dr. E.R. Bacon
- In the death of Dr. E.R. Bacon this community loses one of its most substantial and honored citizens. In his 40 years residence here he has always been an energetic worker for the upbuilding and best interests of Lowell and this part of Lake county. He was generous and charitable and no one applied to him for assistance and went empty handed away. It is largely due to him that Lowell now has such a fine school house, which was built during the time he was a school trustee. He took a great interest in the matter and personally superintended the construction of the building, the result being that Lake county has no better school house than ours. At the time of his death he was a member of the Lake County Pension Board and a Director of the State National Bank of Lowell. Whatever he did or whatever improvement he made he took great pride in doing his work well. He was one of our most courteous gentlemen and it was always a pleasure to meet him. He will be greatly missed and mourned by all.
Obituary
- EPONETUS REED BACON was born in Orleans county , N.Y., February 22, 1840. His mother died when he was three years old and he was reared by B.G. Merrick. He started out to make his living at a very early age. His school advantages were very meager, but he succeeded in getting a good common school education. When a young man he came to Michigan, when at the age of 21 he enlisted in Co. G, 2d Michigan Infantry in the war of the rebellion. After his discharge from the regiment he went to Illinois, where he again enlisted in the service of the U.S., this time enlisting in Co. C, 100th Ill. Inf. When he was discharged from this regiment he held the rank of hospital steward. His entire service embraced nearly four years. He passed through a number of hard fought battles, but luckily received no wounds, although at the battle of Chicamauga several bullets passed through his clothing. He was discharged from the army in the fall of 1865, and in May, 1866, he came to Lowell, where he engaged in the drug business, studying and practicing medicine at the same time. He completed his medical education at the Chicago Medical College, from which he graduated. His practice soon became so heavy that he had to dispose of his drug business. He was a very successful practitioner and he was called to attend patients many miles from Lowell. He was an active member of the M.E. church. He was also a Mason, K. of P., member of the G.A.R. and an Odd Fellow. He has been in poor health for several years, afflicted with diabetes. He fell off his porch and fractured his shoulder, which probably hastened his death, which occurred at 9:30 a.m., Monday, December 3, 1906. He was 66 years, 9 months and 11 days old at the time of his death.
- June 3, 1868, he was united in marriage with Miss Martha B. Sanger, only daughter of James and Martha Sanger. This union was blessed with two daughters, Sylvia, now the wife of Hon. Schuyler C, Dwyer, Lowell, and Grace, wife of Dr. A.L. Spindler, of Chicago Heights, Ill. His has been a life of activity and usefulness, and the world is better for his having lived. He transmits to his childrem something far greater than riches, a good name. By his industry and economy he accumulated a competency for his family.
- His funeral occurred from his late residence at 1 p.m. Wednesday. The attendance was quite large, but terribly inclement weather prevented many from attending. Rev. Dunning Idle, his pastor, preached the funeral discourse. The M.E. choir sang several beautiful selections. The burial service was in charge of Funeral Director Eddie Mee, of Chicago Heights, assisted by John Castle, of Lowell. The following acted as pall bearers: For the Knights of Pythias, C.E. Nichols and Thomas Grant; Masons, H.M. Johnson and T.A. Wason; Odd Fellows, George M. Death and Henry Worley; G.A.R., Y.C. Vosburg and H.H. Ragon. Interment in the Lowell cemetery, where the beautiful burial service of the K. of P. was very impressively rendered, Starr A. Brownell acting as Chancellor Commander. He leaves his wife, two daughters, two brothers, one sister and other relatives and friends to mourn him. The bereaved family and friends have the sympathy of this community in their sorrow and bereavement.
This March 20, 1952, Lowell Tribune article was found on page 1, columns 3-4:
Lowell Doctors of the past…..
A Series of Articles contributed by Attorney Schuyler C. Dwyer, lifelong resident of Lowell
DR. E.R. BACON About 1870 a young veteran of the then recent Civil War, who with his brother had been enlisted in the medical corps of the Union Army, and assigned to the Army at Cumberland, which had been mostly engaged in battles in Tennessee, came to Lowell.
On locating here he first established one of the first drug stores here which was located on the present site of the Masonic Temple building. His above mentioned brother located and practiced in Lockport, near Joliet, Ill.
This then, young doctor here met and won his bride, Martha Sanger, the only daughter of James Sanger, Sr.
Our subject then finished his medical course at the Chicago Medical College where he was at the time of the great Chicago fire in 1871. He afterwards alluded to that scene as resembling (Chicago was then comparatively small) a huge burning brickyard, with its streets all aglow like the door of a brick kiln.
Upon receiving his college diploma, he first established his office in his drug store here; then proceeded to have built his home and adjoining office, on the corner of the then "County Road" and Freemont St., protected from the holocaust of the 1890 fire which completely destroyed all buildings on Commercial Avenue, the destruction extended down the avenue to the brick opera building which still stands at the corner of Mill street.
The Doctor's residence was only saved by spouting water from the hose lines from his underground residential water facilities fed from his windmill tower tank there; the town not having any organized volunteer fire department at that time but which organization was soon thereupon established, as was the water works, both of which have since been a highly beneficent boon to the town and southern Lake County.
The doctor's practice, as well as those before and subsequent was very extensive, even in the "horse and buggy days", when this subject kept three or four driving horses in his two barns on his premises, which required a constant hostler in attendance. For instance, he was known to have been called about half way to Lockport, Ill., to meet his before-mentioned brother, also a doctor, in consultation and treatment of dangerous cases. He likewise had among his patients the renowned Kent family at Kentland. Thus he traveled night or day throughout cold and darkness, mud and mire, summer's heat and storms as well as pleasant weather, always bearing a good natured feature, which caused his many patients to say to him that his presence helped them as much as the medicine he delivered, for this was in an early period before patients were handed written prescriptions.
He, like the former mentioned doctors, supplied the medicines given to his patients, and his well-remembered characteristic was to tell his patient how the medicine would act upon the system. In a few amusing instances he was heard to say to some of them, "You don't need medicine -- just drink a dipper of well-warmed water a short time before breakfast and you will be O.K."
One of the most remarkable and successful surgery cases was related to a well-remembered former young townsman, Clifford Halsted, who was critically injured by a mule's kick on his forehead, depressing the skull bone and rendering this patient unconscious for days. The Doctor, without assistance, by a series of elevating the bone by careful degrees, restored same to its proper place, and the patient's life was saved.
This doctor lived until within the year 1906, passing away at the age of 66.
Go to Eponetus Reed Bacon, "Pioneer History Index," for further information.
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