The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1909-04-28
/, VT. WEDNESDAY. APRIL 2s, 1909
JOHN /. BACON DEAD
Former State Treasurer and Member
of Last Legislature.


White River Junction, April Is
John L. Bacon, president of the Nat
ional Bank of White River Junction
and prominent member of the last
House of Representatives, died sud
denly at his home yesterday. Mr..
Bacon was but AZ years of age and
as one of the most progressive men
of the state. He is survived by wife
and two children, John D., about II
years of age, and Mary b., aged 10
years, and friends without number in
every section of the state in which he
lived.
Mr. Bacon's death followed an i'll
ness with The grip by which he had
been confined to his bed for nearly
four weeks. He had a similar attack
in Montpelier during the session Of
the legislature when he was in a run
down condition following vaccination
at the time of the small pox scare.
This time he went home during the
holiday recess and returned much re-
vived. This second attack came about
the first of the month and he never
arose from his bed although he had
been improving rapidly during the
past week. He had slept more and
his appetite was improving every day
and it was thought only a matter of
short time when he would be up
again. Yesterday morning he had
bad spell and his sudden and unex-
pected death followed in a few min
, utes. The physicians were unable to
tell just what the trouble was except
I that it was an outgrowth of the grip.
John Bacon was a prominent figure
| in Vermont, both in politics and bus
mess. He was a man who always had
an opinion and while he laid no claims
to oratory whatsoever, succeeded in
stating his position in a forceful man
ner that carried weight He was a
straight from the shoulder fellow and
liked by enemies and friends of pro
position. His popularity and strength
were well illustrated in the manner in
which he put the state fair bill through
both houses of the last legislature with
practically no opposition and his cleo
tion during the close of the session
as the first president of the Legisla-
tive Reunion Society OF 1908. He was
a genial and companionable man and
good sport in that he could work
all the forces at his command to
carry through whatever he had in
hand and would take his defeat in a
graceful manner recognizing the
worth of his opponent. He was easily
one of the nearest leaders in the last
lapiglatpFa fhof 10 ha
to him and had respect for his opii-
ion
He was the last state treasurer be-
fore the election of Il H. Deavitt of
this city, serving from 1898 to 1906.
He made one of the best treasurers
the state ever had. He was promi-
nent Republican in politics and had
often been mentioned as timber for
the govenorship although he had
never come into contest for this
place. Wherever John Bacon's name
was connected with an enterprise It
was a safe guarantee that it would be
conducted along business principles.
John l.. Bacon was born i'm Chel-
sea June is. 1862. being the son of
John b. Bacon, who died a couple of
SS"A > oros nc .WdS tuuNdieQ at Anel-
sea Academy and ST Johnsbury
Academy. His business career began
as cashier of the First National Bank
of Chelsea of which his father was
then president. In 1885 he was made
treasurer of Orange county. The fol-
lowing year he moved TO White River
where be was the prime mover in the
organization of the National Bank of
which George w. Smith was president
and Mr.. Bacon, which has a savings
department, pays the largest tax to
the state of any bank in the state.
For many years Mr.. Bacon has been
president of the institution which has
grown under his care and judgement.
Mr.. Bacon has hosts of friends in
his home town for which he had done
great deal. He was actively engag
ed in getting the state fair at White
River and in this he exerted a great
amount of energy to make IT a sue
cess.
The funeral has been set for three
o'clock Friday afternoon at his late
home.