James M. Bacon - Bishop Post, G.A.R.

Although James M. Bacon probably spent fewer than ten years in Defiance, he was active in business and the G.A.R. during that time.
Born in Ohio around 1846 (one source gave the date as May 10), he and his family were first found in the census of 1850 in Vermillion, Erie County, Ohio.  Father, James, and mother, Angeline, had little Myron, 4 (James Myron), and Harris, 1. 

By 1860, the family moved to Liberty Township, Marshall County, Iowa, where his father farmed.  James was still called  "Myron," aged 13, followed by Harriet (Harris?), 11; Clara, 8; Cyntha, 7; and Estelle, 5.  All of the children were born in Ohio, suggesting that the move to Iowa happened in the previous five years.
James Myron worked on his father's farm.

 
James M. Bacon enlisted in the 9th Iowa Cavalry on August 13, 1863.  The Official Roster of Soldiers noted that he was 18 at enlistment, resided in Webster City, Iowa, and was born in Ohio. Surprisingly, it also revealed that James had deserted on July 17, 1865, in Codron Ferry, Arkansas.  How and why would this happen?  In the later days of the war, the mountainous region of Arkansas was known as one of the most lawless areas and so Federal troops were stationed there to keep order.  Many volunteer soldiers resented this duty, feeling that their duty was fulfilled in winning the war, and that the government now needed to send in new regular army men, so that the volunteers could go home.

According to iagenweb.org, "...While they were given the assurance that this would be done as soon as possible, the men were impatient, and a spirit of insubordination was manifested on the part of some of them.  Quite a number of desertions had occurred.  The necessity for the strictest enforcement of discipline became apparent, and the officers and better element among the enlisted men asserted themselves so effectually good discipline was restored."

This feeling of discontent was not more prominent in the Ninth Iowa Cavalry than in any of the other regiments from Iowa...The men soon came to appreciate the necessity of the situation, and settled into a feeling of patient waiting for the time when their services would no longer be required and they would be honorably discharged.

John M. Bacon was in Defiance in 1890, and enumerated on the Veterans Census there.  He reported that he was discharged on July 18, 1865, almost the same date as the supposed desertion.  However, his pension card did not mention any desertion and noted that he and his widow, eventually, did receive a pension.

 After the war, James M. returned to his parents' farm in Liberty Township, Marshall County, Iowa, where they were enumerated for the census in 1870. His father was 50 and farming, and his mother, Angeline, had seven children at home.  James - 24, Harris - 21, and Clark - 19 worked on the home farm.  They were joined by Cynthea - 17, Fanny - 15, Charles - 9, and Merta (Marta?) - 4.  All of the children were born in Ohio except for Charles and Merta, suggesting a move about 1861 from Ohio back to Iowa.

In 1880, James was off on his own at age 34, living in Salem Township, Ottawa County, Ohio.  He was a boarder with Charles and Mary Wheeler, working as a farm laborer there. He married Sophia Hendman, age 32, a teacher, on September 10, 1883, in Sturgis, St. Joseph, Michigan.   A Justice of the Peace married the 37 year old James and Sophia.

The Defiance Democrat of March 13, 1884, reported that "J. M. Bacon, of Ligoneer, Ind., has moved to Defiance and will engage in the carpet weaving, dying and coloring business.  He is at present located on Holgate Avenue." 
 How was business?  It was hard to know.  

The Defiance Democrat of April 7, 1887, stated:
"J. M. Bacon has reopened his carpet weaving establishment on Warren Road near the B & O depot, and is better prepared than ever to do good work.  Give him a call."

He was here for the 1890 Veterans' Census, reporting the same dates of enlistment and discharge as other sources.  In the Defiance County Republican Express of November 19, 1891, this news was given:
"Mr. J. M. Bacon, who had been residing in Sandusky County the past summer, has returned to Defiance to spend the winter."

By 1900, James and Sophia were settled in Hyde Park Township, Ward 33, Chicago, Illinois.  Married 18 years, James, 54, and Sophia, 49, rented a home there, and James worked as a paper hanger.  This census revealed that James and Sophia had had two children, and neither survived.  

 A move to Ward 5, Chicago was presented in the 1910 census.  James worked as a self-employed painter and Sophia, 59, worked as a postmistress.  On December 25, 1911, James passed away and he was buried at the Oak Hill Cemetery, Hammond, Lake County, Indiana.

www.findagrave.com

(This is part of a series on Civil War veterans of Defiance County who were part of the G.A.R., Bishop Post, that headquartered in the city.  Formed in 1879, the post was named after a local man, Captain William Bishop, Company D, 100th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Army who died as a result of wounds received in battle.  The veterans' photos are part of a composite photo of members that has survived.  If you have other information or corrections to add to the soldiers' stories, please add to the comments!)