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Below is a family biography included in County of Trigg, Kentucky, Historical and Biographical edited by William Henry Perrin and published by F. A. Battey Publishing Co. in 1884.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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CAPT. EDMUND BACON (deceased) was born March 28, 1785, within a few miles of the old home of Thomas Jefferson. His father was a descendant of one of the best families in Virginia. His brother William had the management of Jefferson’s estate during his four years’ absence as Minister to France, and so satisfactory was his management, that upon the latter’s election to the presidency, he naturally turned to the same family to find one capable of managing his large estate. Notwithstanding our subject’s youth he was selected for the difficult task, and during his twenty years in that position he was Jefferson’s adviser in all things pertaining to his finances, and often went to Washington to consult him and he frequently received long letters from him. He moved Mr. Jefferson to the capital and at the expiration of his term of office, moved him back to Monticello. Capt. Bacon was familiar with the appearance of many of the prominent men connected with the early history of the country, such as Patrick Henry, Madison, Monroe, the Leighs, Barbours and Randolphs, who were frequent visitors at Monticello. Mr. Jefferson’s two daughters were fond of visiting Capt. Bacon’s house and were as much at home there as at Monticello. He purchased the land upon which the University of Virginia stands, and assisted Mr. Jefferson in laying off the site for that institution. In 1818, seeing that Mr. Jefferson’s financial ruin was only a question of a few months and knowing he could be of no further service to him, he determined upon emigrating to the West. Accordingly in August, of that year, he started upon his journey, stopping at the Warm Springs to pay a visit to Mr. Jefferson, who was sojourning there at the time. Upon his departure Mr. Jefferson gave him the following letter:

Warm Springs, August 18, 1818.
The bearer, Mr. E. Bacon, has lived with me a number of years as manager of my farm at Monticello. He goes to Missouri to look out for lands to which he means to remove. He is an honest, correct man in his conduct and worthy of confidence in his engagements. Any information or instruction which any person may give him, will be worthily bestowed, and if he should apply particularly to Gov. Clark on his way, the Governor will especially oblige me by imparting to him his information and advice.
Thomas Jefferson.

On his journey he passed through Louisville, then an insignificant settlement, also Vincennes, Ind., and arrived at St. Louis where he met Gov. Clark. The Governor wished him to settle there, but he was not very favorably impressed with the country. He therefore returned to Virginia, and again had charge of Mr. Jefferson’s farm for a year or two, after which he again visited Missouri, but at last decided to settle in Kentucky, and accordingly bought 1,000 acres of land, at $2 per acre, in Trigg County, where he spent the remainder of his life. Here he gave almost his entire attention to stock-raising, and was recognized as one of the most successful stock-raisers in the country. He had but three sons: Thomas, Fielding and William, all of whom preceded him to the grave. He was kind, courteous and agreeable to everybody, was much beloved by his neighbors and would have attracted the attention of a stranger as a remarkable man and a specimen of a perfect gentleman. He died in February, 1866.

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This family biography is one of 185 biographies included in The History of Trigg County, Kentucky published in 1884.  For the complete description, click here: Trigg County, Kentucky History and Genealogy

View additional Trigg County, Kentucky family biographies: Trigg County, Kentucky Biographies

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