Rev. Joseph Franklin Bacon, who is practically living a retired life in Kilbourn City, was born in Seneca county, New York, February 7, 1824, a son of Noah B. and Charlotte (York) Bacon. His paternal grandfather was Elijah Bacon, who came to this country from England in colonial days and aided the colonies in their struggle for independence as a soldier during the Revolutionary war. The father of our subject was born in Cayuga county, New York, December 19, 1799, and is still living, his home being in Des Moines, Iowa. He is a man of considerable literary talent and on each birthday writes a poem. In 1842 he came to Wisconsin and first located in Mukwonago, Waukesha County, but afterward lived in La Grange, this state, and still later in Adams County. His wife, who was a native of Canada, died in White Creek, Adams County, Wisconsin, in May 1874, at the age of seventy-six years. Her parents were of Holland descent and died in Batavia, New York.

In early life the subject of this sketch learned the blacksmith's trade in New York, and after coming to this state, at the age of nineteen years, he followed that trade in Mukwonago for several years. Subsequently he conducted a shop in La Grange and also did more or less wagon work. He next made his home in Oregon, Dane county, where he erected a stone shop and carried on business until his removal to Easton, Adams County, where he worked at his trade and also engaged in farming. Later he lived two years at White Creek and ten years at Briggsville, where he carried on a shop for a time, and from there removed to Portage, but since 1895 he has made his home in Kilbourn City.

On the 27th of July, 1845, Mr. Bacon married Miss Ann Algard, a native of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, and a daughter of Joseph and Eliza (Remer) Algard. Of the nine children born to them, one died in infancy and three died of diphtheria within eight days at Easton, Wisconsin-Laura D., at the age of eleven years; Henrietta, at the age of six; and Jay, at the age of three. The others are as follows: William, a farmer of Easton township; Frank, who was drowned at Briggsville in his twentieth year; Charlotte Eliza, wife of H. S. Worden, of Portage; Bertia F., a resident of Madison, Wisconsin; and Carrie May, at home.

Mr. Bacon experienced religion at a revival meeting in Bath, Steuben County, Wisconsin, and was at once appointed class leader. He began preaching at that place at the age of sixteen years. He became a great Bible student, but was accused of skepticism and infidelity by the elders of the church on account of his peculiar views. He invited his neighbors and associates to come and hear him express his views on a certain date, and at the close of the service was congratulated by a universalist minister, who happened to be present--the first person of that faith whom he had ever met. He preached occasionally thereafter but was not identified with any church. While living at Easton, Wisconsin, he began to hold regular services. He joined the Universalist conference and was ordained a minister at Plainville, Adams County. Subsequently he organized a society at Briggsville and built a church there. Though the first building was destroyed by a cyclone, in two years he succeeded in rebuilding it, devoting four years of almost constant labor to the building of that church. For some years past he has not been actively engaged in the work of the ministry, though he is frequently called upon to officiate at funerals. He has always been a contributor to religious publications and still does more or less literary work. Even while holding regular religious services, he labored daily at his trade, and is still noted for his industrious habits, as well as his honorable and upright life.