Tulare County
Biographies
JAMES ALLEN BACON
James Allen Bacon came to California in 1859,
and to Tulare County, on the 22d of October, that same year.
He was born in Missouri in 1837. His father, William Bacon, was a native of
Kentucky, as was also his grandfather, Nathaniel Bacon. William Bacon married
Sarah Parmalee, a native of Missouri, and there were born to them twelve
children, seven of whom are still living.
When James A. reached his majority he came to California, and settled on
government land, which he afterward sold. The most of his life has been spent in
the cattle, sheep and hog business, ten miles northeast of Visalia, and in this
he is still engaged: has often had 400 head of cattle and 4,000 sheep at a time.
He has purchased fifty acres of choice fruit land at Orosi, and built a good
house, and to this place he moved on the first of January, 1889. He is planting
this land to fruit and rain grapes, and the prospects for an abundant yield are
most flattering. During his long experience in the stock business Mr. Bacon has
become very familiar with every portion of this county, having traversed every
foot of its mountains and plains.
In 1880 he was married to Miss Sarah J. Edmiston, daughter of Mr. N. B. Edmiston,
(see his history in this book.) They have four children, - one son and three
daughters, viz.: Alice M., Thomas A., Edith T. and Jessie E., all natives of
Tulare County. Mrs. Bacon is a member of the Presbyterian Church. Politically
Mr. Bacon affiliates with the Democratic party.
SOURCE: Memorial and Biographical History of the Counties of Fresno, Tulare and
Kern, California: Chicago, The Lewis Publishing Company, 1892 Page 732
Transcribed by Beverly Green
FRANK BAKER
Frank Baker, one of the business men of Visalia, was born in Placerville, El
Dorado County, December 17, 1858. He is the son of Martin Baker, a prominent
physician and early settler of California. He was born in January, 1827, in
Pickaway County, Ohio, and was educated at the Galesburg College, Illinois, and
in 1847 was graduated from a medical college in Ohio. In 1865 he received a
diploma from Rush Medical College at Chicago, and practiced in the East. He came
to California in 1852; settled at Placerville, El Dorado County, and was the
first County physician. In 1859 he removed to Visalia with his family, and was
physician of Tulare County for twelve years. He was a member of the State
Medical Society, and was twice elected one of its vice-presidents, and
represented it in the American Medical Association in 1876. He was commissioned
in 1875 pension surgeon for the southern district of California. In 1862-63 he
held the position of surgeon of the Second California Volunteer Cavalry. For
years he was a contributor to the medical press of all cases which he deemed
worthy of reporting.
Dr. Baker married in Peoria, Illinois, to Miss Mary Barr, a native of that
place. There were born to them for children, of whom only the subject of this
sketch is the survivor. His father died in 1880. Mr. Baker is of English
extraction.
His grandfather, John Baker, was an English clergyman of the Episcopal church.
On the maternal side they were of Scotch lineage. Mr. Baker was educated in
California, finishing his studies at McClure's College. He began business as a
druggist in 1879, and has enjoyed a good patronage. He affiliates with the
Masonic fraternity and in politics with the Republican party. He gives close
attention to his business, and has a high standing in commercial circles.
SOURCE: Memorial and Biographical History of the Counties of Fresno, Tulare and
Kern, California: Chicago, The Lewis Publishing Company 1892 Page 792
Transcribed by Beverly Green