John Lement Bacon

John Lement Bacon (June 18, 1862 – April 27, 1909) was a Vermont banker, businessman and politician who served as State Treasurer.

Early life

John L. Bacon was born in Chelsea, Vermont on June 18, 1862. He attended school in Chelsea, and graduated from St. Johnsbury Academy. In 1881 he began a career in banking at the First National Bank of Chelsea of which his father was President, and he became Cashier in 1883.^[1]

Early career

A Republican, Bacon served as Orange County Treasurer from 1884 to 1885.^[2]

When the National Bank of White River Junction was organized in 1886, Bacon relocated to Hartford and was appointed Cashier (while Maxwell Evarts was President), and held this position until his death.^[3]

From 1891 to 1898 Bacon served as Hartford’s Town Treasurer.^[4] From 1892 to 1893 he served in the Vermont House of Representatives.^[5]

He was also involved in several businesses, including the Ottaquechee Woolen Company and the Fairground Railroad Company.^[6]

State Treasurer

Bacon was elected State Treasurer in 1898, and served until 1906.^[7]

At the time, Vermont’s Treasurer and Secretary of State also served as Vermont’s Insurance Commissioners, and Bacon was elected Secretary, Vice President and President of the National Convention of Insurance Commissioners.^{[8][9][10][11]}

Later career

After serving as State Treasurer Bacon continued his banking and business career. In 1908 he returned to the Vermont House and was appointed Chairman of the Appropriations Committee.^[12]

Death and burial

Bacon died in Hartford on April 27, 1909.^[13] He was interred in a family vault at Hartford Point Cemetery.^[14]

Home

In Hartford Bacon purchased the house and farm that had once been owned by Lieutenant Governor Joseph Marsh, and christened the property “Marshland.”^[15] The home still stands and is today operated as the Quechee Inn at Marshland Farm.^[16]

References

1. Hiram Carleton, Genealogical and Family History of the State of Vermont, 1903, pages 216-217
2. The Vermonter magazine, Republican Nominees, July 1900, page 231
3. Chas. R. Cummings, The Vermonter magazine, A Bank of Courtesy, 1918, page 8
4. The Vermonter magazine, The Republican Nominees for State Office, July, 1898, page 268
5. The Standard: A Weekly Insurance Newspaper, Vermont Legislators go Home for Big Feast, Volume LI, November 28, 1902, page 495
6. Vermont Railroad Commissioner, Biennial Report, 1892, page 708
7. Clerk, Vermont House of Representatives, State of Vermont: State Treasurers, 2012
8. National Convention of Insurance Commissioners, Annual Meeting Proceedings, 1995, page xxx
9. National Convention of Insurance Commissioners, Annual Meeting Proceedings, 1905, page 23
10. The Spectator Company (New York), The Insurance Year Book: Fire and Marine, 1903, page 33
11. Vermont Insurance Commissioners, Annual Report for 1904, 1905, page xxiii
12. Vermont Historical Society, Annual Meeting Proceedings, 1909-1910, Necrology: John L. Bacon, 1910, page 65
13. The Standard, A Weekly Insurance Newspaper, Death notice, John L. Bacon, May 1, 1909, page 449
14. Hartford Congregational Church, The Old and the New magazine, Hartford Cemetery Association, December 15, 1899
15. Hartford Historical Society, The Gateway of Vermont: Hartford and Its Villages, 1903, pages 29-31
16. The Quechee Inn at Marshfield Farm, Home page, retrieved January 14, 2014