Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1909-09-16
GONE TO REST
Col. James 7. Bacon Passed
Away on Wednesday
WAS BRAVE SOLDIER

ing the Civil War and Ably La
bored for South Carolina With
His Pen for Many Years.
Col. Jas. T. Bacon, after a Iinger-
Ing illness. died at his beautiful
home in Edgefield on Wednesday af-
ternoon. and a dispatch says all
Edgefield and throughout the district
Is sorrow and shadow, for he was
the best known and most universal
ly beloved man In the county, and
his name was synonymous with all
that is pure, generous, noble and
good. Col. Bacon had attained his
18th year. He was descended from
splendid Revolutionary stock. His
ancestors came from Virginia, where
the family had been prominent
among the colonists for over a CEN
tury. Edmond Bacon. for many
years a brilliant member of the
Edgefeld Bar. and the Ned Brace"
In Longstreet's Georgia scenes. was
his grandfather
Edmond Bacon, although a Geor-
gian by birth, In early life moved to
South Carolina, and he, with Col.
Arthur Simkins, settled the town OF
Edgeheld. He had four children.
the second. Edmond Speed. being the
father OF the subject OF this sketch.
his mother being Sarah Bacon,
cousin to her husband, she having
married twice. her last husband be-
Ing the Rev. Arthur Wigfall. The
Bacon family has been closely con-
nected with the county's and States
history.
Col. Bacon had one brother, the
Hon. John E. Bacon. who was secre-
tary OF legation at ST. Petersburg
when Governor Pickens was minis
ter. and afterwards minister to
Uruguay and Paraguay under Pres
ident Cleveland, and full sister,
Mrs. Baker. of McClellanville, S. c.,
and two half-sisters, Mrs. Kate w.
Cheatham. of Edgeheld. and Mrs. DR..
Trezant, formerly of Columbia.
A dispatch from Edgefield to The
News and Courier says Col. James
I. Bacon was born here, and his
long and useful life was spent amidst
the scenes OF his nativity. After
receiving an academic education at
this place. he completed his studies
in Germany. making a specially of
music, In which he excelled, and
which was one Of the joys OF his
beautiful life. After his return from
Germany, he taught music here, and
at Anderson, but 1t was to journal
ism that he devoted his splendid
talents. In which field he won for
himself name and reputation, sell
dom equalled in this country. After
serving with conspicuous bravery in
the War Between the States, he re-
turned home, and assumed the edi-
torship of the Edgefleld Advertiser,
and the files of that paper will best
tell how ably and brilliantly he
performed the duties OF that office.
Gentle as a woman. yet brave as a
lion. he could write with all the soft
ness and sweetness of Washington
Irving, but when necessity and duty
demanded It. with all the boldness
During reconstruction times,
when Federal troops were station
ed here. and the negro and scala
wag held high carnival, Col. Bacon
printed the Advertiser In red let
ters. and his Leader" was filled
with such patriotic fire and defiance
as to cause offence to the Federals.
For this he was arrested, and taken
to Charleston, but no harm befell
him. and he returned home only to
continue the brave fight for Anglo
Saxon supremacy. He was a game
cock in those stirring days, as he
ever was, and never did his red
plume lower Its crest. After leaving
the Advertiser. he, with his nephew,
Mr.. l.. w. Cheatham, conducted the
Edgefleld Chronicle, a paper that is
loved and read by every man, wo-
man and child in the county, because
back OF 1t has been the brains, wit.
and eloquence of Jim Bacon. His
correspondence to the Columbia
State and special articles to The
Sunday News attest the unique style,
versatility, and brilliancy of the
man.
Many of his close friends here
have often urged him to collect and
print his writings. but his innate
modesty forbade-they would make
a volume worthy of his wit and
genius.
Col. Bacon was never married, but
he was beloved and courted by all
for his magnetic personality. social
! attributes and brilliant conversation
of powers. One beautiful trait Of
his character was his love and 10y
atty to his immediate family. His
venerable mother. the late Mrs. Wig
fall. as we'll as other mem bers of his
family. would often urge him to seek
broader folds. whore his talent
would have won higher distinction
and greater pecuniary reward. but
he preferred TO remain with them,
and with his lifelong friends and
at the home he loved so well, and
administer to their happiness and
support. Now that he is gone. Edge
field mourns for him, as never did