STORY TOLD ABOUT SPINNER OF YARNS
by Susan Baird
Ever been within an ear's shot of one of the masters? If you have, you'd know every word hangs in the air: you're spellbound - every little sound is not only heard, it's felt.
John Adosia Bacon was one of the true story-tellers that you mostly read about.
Not everyone can qualify. It takes a special ability to stop the world for a moment so your story can come alive. John Bacon's unique voice, strong Indian features, love for people and life all added to his ability to tee the most intriguing stories ever told.
The trading done at the general store was one of the many highlights. The store was owned by the Rev. John
Allen and Philia Adosia Jones Bacon in Evansville, Arkansas. The reverend,(who was also a circuit riding Baptist
preacher) and his missus had eight children. Their sixth was born on June 20, 1897. This child would grow up to become one of the masters in the art of yarning.
That general store which did a considerable amount of trading with the Cherokees was later sold to the Goldmans, who had a daughter named Ona Kindness.
On December 19, 1917, John married his longtime acquaintance, Ona Kindness Goldman.
In October of the following year, "Cheyenne" (his nickname) enlisted to serve his country during World War I.
He was stationed at Camp Travis, Texas, when the great flu epidemic struck. many of the soldiers stationed there
died and the doctors feared the worst had come, so Bacon and a friend were put in a tent and left to die Friends
brought them food and water, thus saving their lives. The due and improper care resulted in the development of
inflammatory rheumatism.
After being discharged, he was sent home by train. He arrived in Evansville on the occasion of his first wedding
anniversary, in a wheel chair.
The love of his wife, soon gave him the strength to move from Arkansas to Cloves, New Mexico, in January of 1920.
While in Clovis, Bacon helped build the high school and the Avalon Hotel. The first has since been torn down and is now a Sears store; the latter still stands.
In October of that year the Bacon's purchased the Dog Iron Ranch at Dreno, New Mexico, J (which is now part of the missile range).
While at the Dog Iron Ranch, the Bacons added three more daughters to the one they brought with them from Clovis.
John's daughters remember him always carrying a six-shooter while riding the range. Cattle rustlers and cut fences from other cattle drives were a common problem. The girls also picnicking on the Tolan Creek by the hanging tree where several men had been hung for crimes committed.
When the Bacon's were the first to own a radio in the area, ranchers from everywhere gathered on Saturday evenings to hear the radio, play "42" and swap tales.
John's love for people and his enjoyment of company included hosting the 4th of July rodeos. Bacon himself always made the lemonade in a cream can for all.
The event became such an fair that many friends from Clovis made it an annual event to ride out. There was plenty of activities including horse races, toe-sack races, ice cream socials, and box and pie suppers with each cowboy trying to guess which one belonged to his sweetheart.
John also was a deputy sheriff and a member of the school board for the one room school in the area. The excitement at Dreno ended when the great depression struck and the ranch had to be sold.
The Bacons purchased a farm at Floyd, New Mexico, and after moving there had another daughter, but she only lived two days.
In 1936 John's health became bad again and he came to Hot Springs, New Mexico, to take a series of mineral baths. The baths helped so much, it was decided the family would move here to make their
home.
His health continued to improve enough for him to join the CCC camp at Elephant Butte Lake, where they set out trees and shrubs to improve on the beauty of the lake. Later he was assigned as a guard at the dam, where he slept inside in a special room. After being discharged from the CCC, Bacon continued to work various jobs: helping to build Caballo Dam, carpentry, roofing, yards at Carrie Tingley Hospital, and the phosphorus mines across the Rio Grande.
John and Ona also worked as caretakers and cooks for several ranchers throughout the area over the years.
Together they went through the flood of 1942. The girls remember the water was so deep a boat was rowed about two blocks from dry land to the house, then two blocks back to dry land. At this time John was appointed as deputy sheriff by Pete W. Kinney.
In November 1968 their home at 614 Wyona was gutted by fire, but they rebuilt and in 1974 it was Agan heavily water damaged by the flood.
Through all the hard times, John was always pulling pranks on the girls, or anyone, really. There were several the daughters could remember: you'd end up with flour on your face, in a bucket of water, or with smuck on your hand. There was always a warm feeling wherever the Bacon's were: John saw to that, for he loved life and made the most of it.
He was also an avid fisherman. He fished the Rio Grande from San Marcial to Elephant Butte Lake then from below the Caballo Lake. When first coming to the area it was quite common to catch two crappie at one time. However, his favorite fish was catfish, preferably blue, and the largest he ever caught weighed 86 pounds, which created good tales over the years.
John and Ona were always taking someone fishing or hunting. It was almost every year that the Bacons were hunting with someone in the Seco Canyon. Whether you were hunting for squirrel, bear, or turkey, a great time was to be had by all who went along.
John's love for life and friends set the stage for all his stories and anyone who knew him any length of time, would know they were always welcome to sit and listen to the stories. For sometime John had a wooden cane with animals and birds carved on it. It was a frequent sight to see him with any of his grandchildren, telling a unique story about "this one right here."
Any occasion to gather friends was ideal for John, but his favorites were Christmas and the 4th of July. The Christmas holiday meant peppermint candies coming out of his pocket, while the 4th of July (or any summer day) meant ice-cold watermelon tucked away in the fridge just waiting for anyone to drop by.
His love for the outdoors guaranteed you that you could feast on your watermelon in the green splendor of John's garden, which was one of his greatest prides and joys.
While each of his lifelong friends will have their favorite "tale" as total by John, his wife, of 69 years, Ona of the home here in Truth or Consequences; his four daughters, Edna Kelly of Brawley, California; Mary (Bella) Wesson of Clovis, New Mexico, Ruth Sanders of Cadd, Oklahoma, and Betty Miller of Truth or Consequences, will have many to remember.
Those stories will also echo in the ears of his brother Elke Bacon, who resides in Port ales, his sister, Nellie Baker, of Fairfield, California, his 20 grandchildren, 47 great-grandchildren and 10 great-great- grandchildren.
Those of us who were never blessed with the opportunity to hear a master story teller have been robbed by the passing of one of the few great yarners of our time and can only read about time as we have others, for John Adosia Bacon passed away on July 14, after hosting several members of his family for the several weeks.
A member of the First Baptist Church, the church's pastor Reverend Kenneth Shohner officiated at Friday's services. While John was interred at Vista Memory Gardens Cemetery, we are certain that in the quietness of any night, you will hear him with those few other masters in the heavens above swapping a story or two when they don't think anyone is listening.
************************************************
OBITUARY OF JOHN BACON
John Adosia Bacon, 89 died July 15 at Sierra Vista Hospital.
Mr. Bacon was born June 20, 1897 in Evansville, Arkansas to John Allen and Philia Adosia Jones Bacon. He was a veteran of World War I and a past cattle rancher having owned and operated the 'Dog Iron Cattle Ranch near Dureno, N.M. which is now part of the White Sands Missile Range. Mr. Bacon sold the ranch due to health reasons and moved that year in March of 1936 to T or C. He spent many years working as a carpenter and doing roofing work until his retirement. After he sold his ranch Mr. Bacon farmed for a brief time at Floyd, N.M., before moving to T or C.
Survivors include his wife Oma Kindness Bacon, whom he married 72 years ago on December 19, 1917 in Evansville, Arkansas, four daughters, Edna Kelly, Brawley, California, Mary (Belle) Wesson, Clovis, Ruth Sanders, Caddo, Oklahoma, and Betty Miller of T or C. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Baby Bacon, who died in Floyd, NM. Other survivors include a brother, Ike Bacon of Portales and a sister Nellie Barker of Fremont, California. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Mark and Amon, and three sisters, Mary Mount, Fannie Mount and Maude West. He is also survived by 20 grand-children, 47 great-grandchildren and 10 great great grandchildren as well as a host of relatives and friends. Local grandchildren include David and Elaine Muncy and family of Willaimsburg and Judy Miller and family of T or C.
Services were held at 10 a.m. Friday, July 18 at the First Baptist Church with Rev. Kenneth Stohner officiating. Burial was held in Vista Memory Gardens under the direction of Golden Gates Mortuary.
************************************************
Notes From Freda Willingham:
I was sent two tapes from Mary Belle Wesson daughter of John Bacon. Donna Neal a researcher on the Bacon's Family that I have been working with took the tapes and put as much in witting as she could. This is were the following stories came from:
1976 Tape, Side A - John Adotia Bacon, "Cheyenne"
"John Allen Bacon and his baby brother, Mark Bacon use to be Pardners in a store at Stilwell..... Uncle Mark an Pa was in business....and Pa could see where it was aheadin'.... we had two first cousins killed there in Adair County, Oklahoma. There was a fellow named Snodgrass, killed one of them. Slipped Up behind him and hit him with a knife, and his entrals fell out, And Jim picked up his entrals, and walked home, and layed down on the bed and died.
Then the other one, Henry Bacon, an Indian shot him. It was Spake Ward. Henry was in the choir at a church. Up in the choir singing and he (Spake) was jealous over a girl. Spake slipped up to the window and shot him while he was in the choir. While Henry was singing.....they hung Spake because then, you see, they had the old gallows then, you know. They didn't know anything about the gas chamber....they just hung them then. They put a rope around their neck, you see. they had a contraption built, and when they hit a certain board there, release, or something, why, they went out from under. They let them swing by the neck, you see and that's what they did to Spake.
"Snodgrass, uh, I guess it had come clear. I remember him real well. I was just a kid. But this girl's daddy didn't want Jim agoin' with the girl. He had two girls, I think it was....but it was just a rough, rough place and that's all...then Victor that killed Snodgrass, (that's what it sounds like he said in this tape) he just disappeared until today, he might be living right here in Hot Springs, as far as I know, but where he went none of us knows and we never will know.
"Then Ben, a first cousin to this Jim that Snodgrass killed. He would have done it, he would have gone after him, and probably nabbed him, but he (Ben) got into back robbin'. He got with a gang, and they got to robbin' banks. I think they robbed Muskogee Back. Muskogee's a pretty good town, even way back then. They'd arrest them, lock em' up and first thing they knew, they was out and gone again. They never could keep them. They never did find a jail they could keep him in. But now he (Ben) had five brothers: John, Cullen, Eagle, Jess and Clayton. He was getting' help from the outside and then to break jail that mancy times, you know. But the last time Ben was ever seen is between Evansville and Ft. Smith, Arkansas, with handcuffs on. And I feel, but I don't know it, but I feel that Bill Tibbin, a first cousin by marriage, helped Ben out of the handcuffs. And they robbed the back three times up in Tahlequah, or Sallisaw, or Somewhere right thought there, and I guess Ben got shot and I don't....Bob Hart told me that Ben sent him word to come to the funeral, that he was going to die, you know, in a few hours. But Bob didn't go, but he said there was no question but what Ben is dead, but his parents never did know whatever happened...they was funny people. Now they could have really been somebody. Now Cullen married a Cherokee girl, Peggy Sellers....As fine a girl as you ever seen. She had got her alotment and It proved to be...and boy she was really wealthy. Now, I've seen Cullen in the best of clothing. The best suit you could get. I'd say would be in the neighborhood of a hundred dollars, and you wouldn't find them in every little store, you know, but he'd wear one of them three times and he'd give it to somebody. Big ole studpin, you know, that hurt you eyes to look at them, you know, diamonds, and everything, you know. He was a swell looking guy. He was a good sized man. He wasn't a big man, just medium-sized, but he was a good Mixer. But he wouldn't walk away from trouble. I've seen him in Joplin when he had on two guns, an automatic on one side and a Smith & Wesson, maybe a colt on the other side. He was my first cousin. He was Uncle Amon's boy. "Now Jess is around Tulsa. We got a letter from him. He said that if we would write and tell him where to find us when he got here, he'd pay us a visit. But the last time I seen Jess, he was still on the bottle, and still on that rough stuff, and I just figured well, I don't care whether I see him or not. And Eagle, he never did get married. John, the oldest one of the boys, he got married and was up in Colorado and raised a family before we even knew he was even married...... "But
Clayton, that was the youngest. He taught school by ear. They could play anything that had any music in it. I believe they could pick up a dishpan out of the kitchen and in a few minutes they would be playing some kind of tune. I don't know he would play what they call a "Flying Crow". That was a passenger train from Kansas City, Missouri to Port Arthur, Texas. That was the rail. You know, that's the end of the road. Kansas City one way, and Port Arthur the other. And if you know the road, like comin' out of Joplin, you see, he knew all the spaces. Well, he'd start this passenger train up on the French harp, you know, little faster and little faster. Pretty soon he'd get, honest to true, they use to have them, they welded them together now, But there use to be this little space between each rail there, you see, and you'd get a click, and your wheel would go from one rail to the other. He could actually get that in there. Then a mile out of town, this train will whistle into the stations. You know you're a mile out of town. You'd slow it down, you'd stop, you'd hear them breaks a squeakin' and pretty soon that Train was come to a dead stop. And directly that conductor would call an announcement giving the go ahead signal, and he would blow that whistle and you'd take off. And actually, if you knew the road you could follow him. You didn't have to know anything you just follow his music and you could just follow this train right on down. It beat anything that I ever seen in my life!
They got pneumonia. Eagle was his name. They called him "Heck". That was his nickname. And then there was Stella, Ruth, Ethel, I believe there was three other girls, and pneumonia hit them, and it got Heck and Ruth. Ethel married a Leatherwood, but the other two girls died. And this girl buried all of them plus Heck..... ".....he raised when he was in Colorado, Cullen and his Wife (?) anyway, an Indian, when they start drinking. Now they can be one of the prettiest people we got until they start drinkin', and when they start drinkin' they can go the other way just as quick as any people you got, if not quicker. What I mean by that. "But I had two first cousins that did that. ".....married, only she wasn't nothing' like the woman that Cullen married. "....I still say that them boys, is both of them, shore done the wrong thing...so many ...wealthy.
"Now Uncle Mark and Uncle Amon, now they use to make lots of money. And they both made plenty of money. Uncle Amon was a butcher by trade, and he could make some of the best bar-b-que of any man I ever seen. HE had a bar-que pit, you know. Made it hisself right there, you know, if I remember right, maybe he'd take a whole animal and barbecue it and boy! Did you have something good to eat! "....your Mary had hemorrhage of the lungs, and Dr. Connally told..." (At this point a woman asked him: "Your brothers, Mark and Amon were named after your Uncles?" Cheyenne answered yes.) (The woman then asked "Well, how come you all named...(couldn't understand the rest of her question)...... But to her question, Cheyenne replied: "On account of Mary. She had a hemorrhage of the lungs and Dr. Connelly told her get out of that climate as quick as she could go, to a high dry climate, just as quick as she could get there. Well, we've always been people...."
{ Freda, from there on I could not understand what he was saying, and I wanted to sooooo bad. I have a picture of the Bacon boys: Cullen, Clayton, John and Jess, but I'm not sure who is who. If you would like a copy of it I will e-mail it. I will be more than happy to transcribe all the tapes if you will help me figure a way to clear them up. I hope you do have a suggestion, because I want so badly to get all the Tapes transcribed. Donna}
by Susan Baird
Ever been within an ear's shot of one of the masters? If you have, you'd know every word hangs in the air: you're spellbound - every little sound is not only heard, it's felt.
John Adosia Bacon was one of the true story-tellers that you mostly read about.
Not everyone can qualify. It takes a special ability to stop the world for a moment so your story can come alive. John Bacon's unique voice, strong Indian features, love for people and life all added to his ability to tee the most intriguing stories ever told.
The trading done at the general store was one of the many highlights. The store was owned by the Rev. John
Allen and Philia Adosia Jones Bacon in Evansville, Arkansas. The reverend,(who was also a circuit riding Baptist
preacher) and his missus had eight children. Their sixth was born on June 20, 1897. This child would grow up to become one of the masters in the art of yarning.
That general store which did a considerable amount of trading with the Cherokees was later sold to the Goldmans, who had a daughter named Ona Kindness.
On December 19, 1917, John married his longtime acquaintance, Ona Kindness Goldman.
In October of the following year, "Cheyenne" (his nickname) enlisted to serve his country during World War I.
He was stationed at Camp Travis, Texas, when the great flu epidemic struck. many of the soldiers stationed there
died and the doctors feared the worst had come, so Bacon and a friend were put in a tent and left to die Friends
brought them food and water, thus saving their lives. The due and improper care resulted in the development of
inflammatory rheumatism.
After being discharged, he was sent home by train. He arrived in Evansville on the occasion of his first wedding
anniversary, in a wheel chair.
The love of his wife, soon gave him the strength to move from Arkansas to Cloves, New Mexico, in January of 1920.
While in Clovis, Bacon helped build the high school and the Avalon Hotel. The first has since been torn down and is now a Sears store; the latter still stands.
In October of that year the Bacon's purchased the Dog Iron Ranch at Dreno, New Mexico, J (which is now part of the missile range).
While at the Dog Iron Ranch, the Bacons added three more daughters to the one they brought with them from Clovis.
John's daughters remember him always carrying a six-shooter while riding the range. Cattle rustlers and cut fences from other cattle drives were a common problem. The girls also picnicking on the Tolan Creek by the hanging tree where several men had been hung for crimes committed.
When the Bacon's were the first to own a radio in the area, ranchers from everywhere gathered on Saturday evenings to hear the radio, play "42" and swap tales.
John's love for people and his enjoyment of company included hosting the 4th of July rodeos. Bacon himself always made the lemonade in a cream can for all.
The event became such an fair that many friends from Clovis made it an annual event to ride out. There was plenty of activities including horse races, toe-sack races, ice cream socials, and box and pie suppers with each cowboy trying to guess which one belonged to his sweetheart.
John also was a deputy sheriff and a member of the school board for the one room school in the area. The excitement at Dreno ended when the great depression struck and the ranch had to be sold.
The Bacons purchased a farm at Floyd, New Mexico, and after moving there had another daughter, but she only lived two days.
In 1936 John's health became bad again and he came to Hot Springs, New Mexico, to take a series of mineral baths. The baths helped so much, it was decided the family would move here to make their
home.
His health continued to improve enough for him to join the CCC camp at Elephant Butte Lake, where they set out trees and shrubs to improve on the beauty of the lake. Later he was assigned as a guard at the dam, where he slept inside in a special room. After being discharged from the CCC, Bacon continued to work various jobs: helping to build Caballo Dam, carpentry, roofing, yards at Carrie Tingley Hospital, and the phosphorus mines across the Rio Grande.
John and Ona also worked as caretakers and cooks for several ranchers throughout the area over the years.
Together they went through the flood of 1942. The girls remember the water was so deep a boat was rowed about two blocks from dry land to the house, then two blocks back to dry land. At this time John was appointed as deputy sheriff by Pete W. Kinney.
In November 1968 their home at 614 Wyona was gutted by fire, but they rebuilt and in 1974 it was Agan heavily water damaged by the flood.
Through all the hard times, John was always pulling pranks on the girls, or anyone, really. There were several the daughters could remember: you'd end up with flour on your face, in a bucket of water, or with smuck on your hand. There was always a warm feeling wherever the Bacon's were: John saw to that, for he loved life and made the most of it.
He was also an avid fisherman. He fished the Rio Grande from San Marcial to Elephant Butte Lake then from below the Caballo Lake. When first coming to the area it was quite common to catch two crappie at one time. However, his favorite fish was catfish, preferably blue, and the largest he ever caught weighed 86 pounds, which created good tales over the years.
John and Ona were always taking someone fishing or hunting. It was almost every year that the Bacons were hunting with someone in the Seco Canyon. Whether you were hunting for squirrel, bear, or turkey, a great time was to be had by all who went along.
John's love for life and friends set the stage for all his stories and anyone who knew him any length of time, would know they were always welcome to sit and listen to the stories. For sometime John had a wooden cane with animals and birds carved on it. It was a frequent sight to see him with any of his grandchildren, telling a unique story about "this one right here."
Any occasion to gather friends was ideal for John, but his favorites were Christmas and the 4th of July. The Christmas holiday meant peppermint candies coming out of his pocket, while the 4th of July (or any summer day) meant ice-cold watermelon tucked away in the fridge just waiting for anyone to drop by.
His love for the outdoors guaranteed you that you could feast on your watermelon in the green splendor of John's garden, which was one of his greatest prides and joys.
While each of his lifelong friends will have their favorite "tale" as total by John, his wife, of 69 years, Ona of the home here in Truth or Consequences; his four daughters, Edna Kelly of Brawley, California; Mary (Bella) Wesson of Clovis, New Mexico, Ruth Sanders of Cadd, Oklahoma, and Betty Miller of Truth or Consequences, will have many to remember.
Those stories will also echo in the ears of his brother Elke Bacon, who resides in Port ales, his sister, Nellie Baker, of Fairfield, California, his 20 grandchildren, 47 great-grandchildren and 10 great-great- grandchildren.
Those of us who were never blessed with the opportunity to hear a master story teller have been robbed by the passing of one of the few great yarners of our time and can only read about time as we have others, for John Adosia Bacon passed away on July 14, after hosting several members of his family for the several weeks.
A member of the First Baptist Church, the church's pastor Reverend Kenneth Shohner officiated at Friday's services. While John was interred at Vista Memory Gardens Cemetery, we are certain that in the quietness of any night, you will hear him with those few other masters in the heavens above swapping a story or two when they don't think anyone is listening.
************************************************
OBITUARY OF JOHN BACON
John Adosia Bacon, 89 died July 15 at Sierra Vista Hospital.
Mr. Bacon was born June 20, 1897 in Evansville, Arkansas to John Allen and Philia Adosia Jones Bacon. He was a veteran of World War I and a past cattle rancher having owned and operated the 'Dog Iron Cattle Ranch near Dureno, N.M. which is now part of the White Sands Missile Range. Mr. Bacon sold the ranch due to health reasons and moved that year in March of 1936 to T or C. He spent many years working as a carpenter and doing roofing work until his retirement. After he sold his ranch Mr. Bacon farmed for a brief time at Floyd, N.M., before moving to T or C.
Survivors include his wife Oma Kindness Bacon, whom he married 72 years ago on December 19, 1917 in Evansville, Arkansas, four daughters, Edna Kelly, Brawley, California, Mary (Belle) Wesson, Clovis, Ruth Sanders, Caddo, Oklahoma, and Betty Miller of T or C. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Baby Bacon, who died in Floyd, NM. Other survivors include a brother, Ike Bacon of Portales and a sister Nellie Barker of Fremont, California. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Mark and Amon, and three sisters, Mary Mount, Fannie Mount and Maude West. He is also survived by 20 grand-children, 47 great-grandchildren and 10 great great grandchildren as well as a host of relatives and friends. Local grandchildren include David and Elaine Muncy and family of Willaimsburg and Judy Miller and family of T or C.
Services were held at 10 a.m. Friday, July 18 at the First Baptist Church with Rev. Kenneth Stohner officiating. Burial was held in Vista Memory Gardens under the direction of Golden Gates Mortuary.
************************************************
Notes From Freda Willingham:
I was sent two tapes from Mary Belle Wesson daughter of John Bacon. Donna Neal a researcher on the Bacon's Family that I have been working with took the tapes and put as much in witting as she could. This is were the following stories came from:
1976 Tape, Side A - John Adotia Bacon, "Cheyenne"
"John Allen Bacon and his baby brother, Mark Bacon use to be Pardners in a store at Stilwell..... Uncle Mark an Pa was in business....and Pa could see where it was aheadin'.... we had two first cousins killed there in Adair County, Oklahoma. There was a fellow named Snodgrass, killed one of them. Slipped Up behind him and hit him with a knife, and his entrals fell out, And Jim picked up his entrals, and walked home, and layed down on the bed and died.
Then the other one, Henry Bacon, an Indian shot him. It was Spake Ward. Henry was in the choir at a church. Up in the choir singing and he (Spake) was jealous over a girl. Spake slipped up to the window and shot him while he was in the choir. While Henry was singing.....they hung Spake because then, you see, they had the old gallows then, you know. They didn't know anything about the gas chamber....they just hung them then. They put a rope around their neck, you see. they had a contraption built, and when they hit a certain board there, release, or something, why, they went out from under. They let them swing by the neck, you see and that's what they did to Spake.
"Snodgrass, uh, I guess it had come clear. I remember him real well. I was just a kid. But this girl's daddy didn't want Jim agoin' with the girl. He had two girls, I think it was....but it was just a rough, rough place and that's all...then Victor that killed Snodgrass, (that's what it sounds like he said in this tape) he just disappeared until today, he might be living right here in Hot Springs, as far as I know, but where he went none of us knows and we never will know.
"Then Ben, a first cousin to this Jim that Snodgrass killed. He would have done it, he would have gone after him, and probably nabbed him, but he (Ben) got into back robbin'. He got with a gang, and they got to robbin' banks. I think they robbed Muskogee Back. Muskogee's a pretty good town, even way back then. They'd arrest them, lock em' up and first thing they knew, they was out and gone again. They never could keep them. They never did find a jail they could keep him in. But now he (Ben) had five brothers: John, Cullen, Eagle, Jess and Clayton. He was getting' help from the outside and then to break jail that mancy times, you know. But the last time Ben was ever seen is between Evansville and Ft. Smith, Arkansas, with handcuffs on. And I feel, but I don't know it, but I feel that Bill Tibbin, a first cousin by marriage, helped Ben out of the handcuffs. And they robbed the back three times up in Tahlequah, or Sallisaw, or Somewhere right thought there, and I guess Ben got shot and I don't....Bob Hart told me that Ben sent him word to come to the funeral, that he was going to die, you know, in a few hours. But Bob didn't go, but he said there was no question but what Ben is dead, but his parents never did know whatever happened...they was funny people. Now they could have really been somebody. Now Cullen married a Cherokee girl, Peggy Sellers....As fine a girl as you ever seen. She had got her alotment and It proved to be...and boy she was really wealthy. Now, I've seen Cullen in the best of clothing. The best suit you could get. I'd say would be in the neighborhood of a hundred dollars, and you wouldn't find them in every little store, you know, but he'd wear one of them three times and he'd give it to somebody. Big ole studpin, you know, that hurt you eyes to look at them, you know, diamonds, and everything, you know. He was a swell looking guy. He was a good sized man. He wasn't a big man, just medium-sized, but he was a good Mixer. But he wouldn't walk away from trouble. I've seen him in Joplin when he had on two guns, an automatic on one side and a Smith & Wesson, maybe a colt on the other side. He was my first cousin. He was Uncle Amon's boy. "Now Jess is around Tulsa. We got a letter from him. He said that if we would write and tell him where to find us when he got here, he'd pay us a visit. But the last time I seen Jess, he was still on the bottle, and still on that rough stuff, and I just figured well, I don't care whether I see him or not. And Eagle, he never did get married. John, the oldest one of the boys, he got married and was up in Colorado and raised a family before we even knew he was even married...... "But
Clayton, that was the youngest. He taught school by ear. They could play anything that had any music in it. I believe they could pick up a dishpan out of the kitchen and in a few minutes they would be playing some kind of tune. I don't know he would play what they call a "Flying Crow". That was a passenger train from Kansas City, Missouri to Port Arthur, Texas. That was the rail. You know, that's the end of the road. Kansas City one way, and Port Arthur the other. And if you know the road, like comin' out of Joplin, you see, he knew all the spaces. Well, he'd start this passenger train up on the French harp, you know, little faster and little faster. Pretty soon he'd get, honest to true, they use to have them, they welded them together now, But there use to be this little space between each rail there, you see, and you'd get a click, and your wheel would go from one rail to the other. He could actually get that in there. Then a mile out of town, this train will whistle into the stations. You know you're a mile out of town. You'd slow it down, you'd stop, you'd hear them breaks a squeakin' and pretty soon that Train was come to a dead stop. And directly that conductor would call an announcement giving the go ahead signal, and he would blow that whistle and you'd take off. And actually, if you knew the road you could follow him. You didn't have to know anything you just follow his music and you could just follow this train right on down. It beat anything that I ever seen in my life!
They got pneumonia. Eagle was his name. They called him "Heck". That was his nickname. And then there was Stella, Ruth, Ethel, I believe there was three other girls, and pneumonia hit them, and it got Heck and Ruth. Ethel married a Leatherwood, but the other two girls died. And this girl buried all of them plus Heck..... ".....he raised when he was in Colorado, Cullen and his Wife (?) anyway, an Indian, when they start drinking. Now they can be one of the prettiest people we got until they start drinkin', and when they start drinkin' they can go the other way just as quick as any people you got, if not quicker. What I mean by that. "But I had two first cousins that did that. ".....married, only she wasn't nothing' like the woman that Cullen married. "....I still say that them boys, is both of them, shore done the wrong thing...so many ...wealthy.
"Now Uncle Mark and Uncle Amon, now they use to make lots of money. And they both made plenty of money. Uncle Amon was a butcher by trade, and he could make some of the best bar-b-que of any man I ever seen. HE had a bar-que pit, you know. Made it hisself right there, you know, if I remember right, maybe he'd take a whole animal and barbecue it and boy! Did you have something good to eat! "....your Mary had hemorrhage of the lungs, and Dr. Connally told..." (At this point a woman asked him: "Your brothers, Mark and Amon were named after your Uncles?" Cheyenne answered yes.) (The woman then asked "Well, how come you all named...(couldn't understand the rest of her question)...... But to her question, Cheyenne replied: "On account of Mary. She had a hemorrhage of the lungs and Dr. Connelly told her get out of that climate as quick as she could go, to a high dry climate, just as quick as she could get there. Well, we've always been people...."
{ Freda, from there on I could not understand what he was saying, and I wanted to sooooo bad. I have a picture of the Bacon boys: Cullen, Clayton, John and Jess, but I'm not sure who is who. If you would like a copy of it I will e-mail it. I will be more than happy to transcribe all the tapes if you will help me figure a way to clear them up. I hope you do have a suggestion, because I want so badly to get all the Tapes transcribed. Donna}
STORY TOLD ABOUT SPINNER OF YARNS
by Susan Baird
Ever been within an ear's shot of one of the masters? If you have, you'd know every word hangs in the air: you're spellbound - every little sound is not only heard, it's felt.
John Adosia Bacon was one of the true story-tellers that you mostly read about.
Not everyone can qualify. It takes a special ability to stop the world for a moment so your story can come alive. John Bacon's unique voice, strong Indian features, love for people and life all added to his ability to tee the most intriguing stories ever told.
The trading done at the general store was one of the many highlights. The store was owned by the Rev. John
Allen and Philia Adosia Jones Bacon in Evansville, Arkansas. The reverend,(who was also a circuit riding Baptist
preacher) and his missus had eight children. Their sixth was born on June 20, 1897. This child would grow up to become one of the masters in the art of yarning.
That general store which did a considerable amount of trading with the Cherokees was later sold to the Goldmans, who had a daughter named Ona Kindness.
On December 19, 1917, John married his longtime acquaintance, Ona Kindness Goldman.
In October of the following year, "Cheyenne" (his nickname) enlisted to serve his country during World War I.
He was stationed at Camp Travis, Texas, when the great flu epidemic struck. many of the soldiers stationed there
died and the doctors feared the worst had come, so Bacon and a friend were put in a tent and left to die Friends
brought them food and water, thus saving their lives. The due and improper care resulted in the development of
inflammatory rheumatism.
After being discharged, he was sent home by train. He arrived in Evansville on the occasion of his first wedding
anniversary, in a wheel chair.
The love of his wife, soon gave him the strength to move from Arkansas to Cloves, New Mexico, in January of 1920.
While in Clovis, Bacon helped build the high school and the Avalon Hotel. The first has since been torn down and is now a Sears store; the latter still stands.
In October of that year the Bacon's purchased the Dog Iron Ranch at Dreno, New Mexico, J (which is now part of the missile range).
While at the Dog Iron Ranch, the Bacons added three more daughters to the one they brought with them from Clovis.
John's daughters remember him always carrying a six-shooter while riding the range. Cattle rustlers and cut fences from other cattle drives were a common problem. The girls also picnicking on the Tolan Creek by the hanging tree where several men had been hung for crimes committed.
When the Bacon's were the first to own a radio in the area, ranchers from everywhere gathered on Saturday evenings to hear the radio, play "42" and swap tales.
John's love for people and his enjoyment of company included hosting the 4th of July rodeos. Bacon himself always made the lemonade in a cream can for all.
The event became such an fair that many friends from Clovis made it an annual event to ride out. There was plenty of activities including horse races, toe-sack races, ice cream socials, and box and pie suppers with each cowboy trying to guess which one belonged to his sweetheart.
John also was a deputy sheriff and a member of the school board for the one room school in the area. The excitement at Dreno ended when the great depression struck and the ranch had to be sold.
The Bacons purchased a farm at Floyd, New Mexico, and after moving there had another daughter, but she only lived two days.
In 1936 John's health became bad again and he came to Hot Springs, New Mexico, to take a series of mineral baths. The baths helped so much, it was decided the family would move here to make their
home.
His health continued to improve enough for him to join the CCC camp at Elephant Butte Lake, where they set out trees and shrubs to improve on the beauty of the lake. Later he was assigned as a guard at the dam, where he slept inside in a special room. After being discharged from the CCC, Bacon continued to work various jobs: helping to build Caballo Dam, carpentry, roofing, yards at Carrie Tingley Hospital, and the phosphorus mines across the Rio Grande.
John and Ona also worked as caretakers and cooks for several ranchers throughout the area over the years.
Together they went through the flood of 1942. The girls remember the water was so deep a boat was rowed about two blocks from dry land to the house, then two blocks back to dry land. At this time John was appointed as deputy sheriff by Pete W. Kinney.
In November 1968 their home at 614 Wyona was gutted by fire, but they rebuilt and in 1974 it was Agan heavily water damaged by the flood.
Through all the hard times, John was always pulling pranks on the girls, or anyone, really. There were several the daughters could remember: you'd end up with flour on your face, in a bucket of water, or with smuck on your hand. There was always a warm feeling wherever the Bacon's were: John saw to that, for he loved life and made the most of it.
He was also an avid fisherman. He fished the Rio Grande from San Marcial to Elephant Butte Lake then from below the Caballo Lake. When first coming to the area it was quite common to catch two crappie at one time. However, his favorite fish was catfish, preferably blue, and the largest he ever caught weighed 86 pounds, which created good tales over the years.
John and Ona were always taking someone fishing or hunting. It was almost every year that the Bacons were hunting with someone in the Seco Canyon. Whether you were hunting for squirrel, bear, or turkey, a great time was to be had by all who went along.
John's love for life and friends set the stage for all his stories and anyone who knew him any length of time, would know they were always welcome to sit and listen to the stories. For sometime John had a wooden cane with animals and birds carved on it. It was a frequent sight to see him with any of his grandchildren, telling a unique story about "this one right here."
Any occasion to gather friends was ideal for John, but his favorites were Christmas and the 4th of July. The Christmas holiday meant peppermint candies coming out of his pocket, while the 4th of July (or any summer day) meant ice-cold watermelon tucked away in the fridge just waiting for anyone to drop by.
His love for the outdoors guaranteed you that you could feast on your watermelon in the green splendor of John's garden, which was one of his greatest prides and joys.
While each of his lifelong friends will have their favorite "tale" as total by John, his wife, of 69 years, Ona of the home here in Truth or Consequences; his four daughters, Edna Kelly of Brawley, California; Mary (Bella) Wesson of Clovis, New Mexico, Ruth Sanders of Cadd, Oklahoma, and Betty Miller of Truth or Consequences, will have many to remember.
Those stories will also echo in the ears of his brother Elke Bacon, who resides in Port ales, his sister, Nellie Baker, of Fairfield, California, his 20 grandchildren, 47 great-grandchildren and 10 great-great- grandchildren.
Those of us who were never blessed with the opportunity to hear a master story teller have been robbed by the passing of one of the few great yarners of our time and can only read about time as we have others, for John Adosia Bacon passed away on July 14, after hosting several members of his family for the several weeks.
A member of the First Baptist Church, the church's pastor Reverend Kenneth Shohner officiated at Friday's services. While John was interred at Vista Memory Gardens Cemetery, we are certain that in the quietness of any night, you will hear him with those few other masters in the heavens above swapping a story or two when they don't think anyone is listening.
************************************************
OBITUARY OF JOHN BACON
John Adosia Bacon, 89 died July 15 at Sierra Vista Hospital.
Mr. Bacon was born June 20, 1897 in Evansville, Arkansas to John Allen and Philia Adosia Jones Bacon. He was a veteran of World War I and a past cattle rancher having owned and operated the 'Dog Iron Cattle Ranch near Dureno, N.M. which is now part of the White Sands Missile Range. Mr. Bacon sold the ranch due to health reasons and moved that year in March of 1936 to T or C. He spent many years working as a carpenter and doing roofing work until his retirement. After he sold his ranch Mr. Bacon farmed for a brief time at Floyd, N.M., before moving to T or C.
Survivors include his wife Oma Kindness Bacon, whom he married 72 years ago on December 19, 1917 in Evansville, Arkansas, four daughters, Edna Kelly, Brawley, California, Mary (Belle) Wesson, Clovis, Ruth Sanders, Caddo, Oklahoma, and Betty Miller of T or C. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Baby Bacon, who died in Floyd, NM. Other survivors include a brother, Ike Bacon of Portales and a sister Nellie Barker of Fremont, California. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Mark and Amon, and three sisters, Mary Mount, Fannie Mount and Maude West. He is also survived by 20 grand-children, 47 great-grandchildren and 10 great great grandchildren as well as a host of relatives and friends. Local grandchildren include David and Elaine Muncy and family of Willaimsburg and Judy Miller and family of T or C.
Services were held at 10 a.m. Friday, July 18 at the First Baptist Church with Rev. Kenneth Stohner officiating. Burial was held in Vista Memory Gardens under the direction of Golden Gates Mortuary.
************************************************
Notes From Freda Willingham:
I was sent two tapes from Mary Belle Wesson daughter of John Bacon. Donna Neal a researcher on the Bacon's Family that I have been working with took the tapes and put as much in witting as she could. This is were the following stories came from:
1976 Tape, Side A - John Adotia Bacon, "Cheyenne"
"John Allen Bacon and his baby brother, Mark Bacon use to be Pardners in a store at Stilwell..... Uncle Mark an Pa was in business....and Pa could see where it was aheadin'.... we had two first cousins killed there in Adair County, Oklahoma. There was a fellow named Snodgrass, killed one of them. Slipped Up behind him and hit him with a knife, and his entrals fell out, And Jim picked up his entrals, and walked home, and layed down on the bed and died.
Then the other one, Henry Bacon, an Indian shot him. It was Spake Ward. Henry was in the choir at a church. Up in the choir singing and he (Spake) was jealous over a girl. Spake slipped up to the window and shot him while he was in the choir. While Henry was singing.....they hung Spake because then, you see, they had the old gallows then, you know. They didn't know anything about the gas chamber....they just hung them then. They put a rope around their neck, you see. they had a contraption built, and when they hit a certain board there, release, or something, why, they went out from under. They let them swing by the neck, you see and that's what they did to Spake.
"Snodgrass, uh, I guess it had come clear. I remember him real well. I was just a kid. But this girl's daddy didn't want Jim agoin' with the girl. He had two girls, I think it was....but it was just a rough, rough place and that's all...then Victor that killed Snodgrass, (that's what it sounds like he said in this tape) he just disappeared until today, he might be living right here in Hot Springs, as far as I know, but where he went none of us knows and we never will know.
"Then Ben, a first cousin to this Jim that Snodgrass killed. He would have done it, he would have gone after him, and probably nabbed him, but he (Ben) got into back robbin'. He got with a gang, and they got to robbin' banks. I think they robbed Muskogee Back. Muskogee's a pretty good town, even way back then. They'd arrest them, lock em' up and first thing they knew, they was out and gone again. They never could keep them. They never did find a jail they could keep him in. But now he (Ben) had five brothers: John, Cullen, Eagle, Jess and Clayton. He was getting' help from the outside and then to break jail that mancy times, you know. But the last time Ben was ever seen is between Evansville and Ft. Smith, Arkansas, with handcuffs on. And I feel, but I don't know it, but I feel that Bill Tibbin, a first cousin by marriage, helped Ben out of the handcuffs. And they robbed the back three times up in Tahlequah, or Sallisaw, or Somewhere right thought there, and I guess Ben got shot and I don't....Bob Hart told me that Ben sent him word to come to the funeral, that he was going to die, you know, in a few hours. But Bob didn't go, but he said there was no question but what Ben is dead, but his parents never did know whatever happened...they was funny people. Now they could have really been somebody. Now Cullen married a Cherokee girl, Peggy Sellers....As fine a girl as you ever seen. She had got her alotment and It proved to be...and boy she was really wealthy. Now, I've seen Cullen in the best of clothing. The best suit you could get. I'd say would be in the neighborhood of a hundred dollars, and you wouldn't find them in every little store, you know, but he'd wear one of them three times and he'd give it to somebody. Big ole studpin, you know, that hurt you eyes to look at them, you know, diamonds, and everything, you know. He was a swell looking guy. He was a good sized man. He wasn't a big man, just medium-sized, but he was a good Mixer. But he wouldn't walk away from trouble. I've seen him in Joplin when he had on two guns, an automatic on one side and a Smith & Wesson, maybe a colt on the other side. He was my first cousin. He was Uncle Amon's boy. "Now Jess is around Tulsa. We got a letter from him. He said that if we would write and tell him where to find us when he got here, he'd pay us a visit. But the last time I seen Jess, he was still on the bottle, and still on that rough stuff, and I just figured well, I don't care whether I see him or not. And Eagle, he never did get married. John, the oldest one of the boys, he got married and was up in Colorado and raised a family before we even knew he was even married...... "But
Clayton, that was the youngest. He taught school by ear. They could play anything that had any music in it. I believe they could pick up a dishpan out of the kitchen and in a few minutes they would be playing some kind of tune. I don't know he would play what they call a "Flying Crow". That was a passenger train from Kansas City, Missouri to Port Arthur, Texas. That was the rail. You know, that's the end of the road. Kansas City one way, and Port Arthur the other. And if you know the road, like comin' out of Joplin, you see, he knew all the spaces. Well, he'd start this passenger train up on the French harp, you know, little faster and little faster. Pretty soon he'd get, honest to true, they use to have them, they welded them together now, But there use to be this little space between each rail there, you see, and you'd get a click, and your wheel would go from one rail to the other. He could actually get that in there. Then a mile out of town, this train will whistle into the stations. You know you're a mile out of town. You'd slow it down, you'd stop, you'd hear them breaks a squeakin' and pretty soon that Train was come to a dead stop. And directly that conductor would call an announcement giving the go ahead signal, and he would blow that whistle and you'd take off. And actually, if you knew the road you could follow him. You didn't have to know anything you just follow his music and you could just follow this train right on down. It beat anything that I ever seen in my life!
They got pneumonia. Eagle was his name. They called him "Heck". That was his nickname. And then there was Stella, Ruth, Ethel, I believe there was three other girls, and pneumonia hit them, and it got Heck and Ruth. Ethel married a Leatherwood, but the other two girls died. And this girl buried all of them plus Heck..... ".....he raised when he was in Colorado, Cullen and his Wife (?) anyway, an Indian, when they start drinking. Now they can be one of the prettiest people we got until they start drinkin', and when they start drinkin' they can go the other way just as quick as any people you got, if not quicker. What I mean by that. "But I had two first cousins that did that. ".....married, only she wasn't nothing' like the woman that Cullen married. "....I still say that them boys, is both of them, shore done the wrong thing...so many ...wealthy.
"Now Uncle Mark and Uncle Amon, now they use to make lots of money. And they both made plenty of money. Uncle Amon was a butcher by trade, and he could make some of the best bar-b-que of any man I ever seen. HE had a bar-que pit, you know. Made it hisself right there, you know, if I remember right, maybe he'd take a whole animal and barbecue it and boy! Did you have something good to eat! "....your Mary had hemorrhage of the lungs, and Dr. Connally told..." (At this point a woman asked him: "Your brothers, Mark and Amon were named after your Uncles?" Cheyenne answered yes.) (The woman then asked "Well, how come you all named...(couldn't understand the rest of her question)...... But to her question, Cheyenne replied: "On account of Mary. She had a hemorrhage of the lungs and Dr. Connelly told her get out of that climate as quick as she could go, to a high dry climate, just as quick as she could get there. Well, we've always been people...."
{ Freda, from there on I could not understand what he was saying, and I wanted to sooooo bad. I have a picture of the Bacon boys: Cullen, Clayton, John and Jess, but I'm not sure who is who. If you would like a copy of it I will e-mail it. I will be more than happy to transcribe all the tapes if you will help me figure a way to clear them up. I hope you do have a suggestion, because I want so badly to get all the Tapes transcribed. Donna}
by Susan Baird
Ever been within an ear's shot of one of the masters? If you have, you'd know every word hangs in the air: you're spellbound - every little sound is not only heard, it's felt.
John Adosia Bacon was one of the true story-tellers that you mostly read about.
Not everyone can qualify. It takes a special ability to stop the world for a moment so your story can come alive. John Bacon's unique voice, strong Indian features, love for people and life all added to his ability to tee the most intriguing stories ever told.
The trading done at the general store was one of the many highlights. The store was owned by the Rev. John
Allen and Philia Adosia Jones Bacon in Evansville, Arkansas. The reverend,(who was also a circuit riding Baptist
preacher) and his missus had eight children. Their sixth was born on June 20, 1897. This child would grow up to become one of the masters in the art of yarning.
That general store which did a considerable amount of trading with the Cherokees was later sold to the Goldmans, who had a daughter named Ona Kindness.
On December 19, 1917, John married his longtime acquaintance, Ona Kindness Goldman.
In October of the following year, "Cheyenne" (his nickname) enlisted to serve his country during World War I.
He was stationed at Camp Travis, Texas, when the great flu epidemic struck. many of the soldiers stationed there
died and the doctors feared the worst had come, so Bacon and a friend were put in a tent and left to die Friends
brought them food and water, thus saving their lives. The due and improper care resulted in the development of
inflammatory rheumatism.
After being discharged, he was sent home by train. He arrived in Evansville on the occasion of his first wedding
anniversary, in a wheel chair.
The love of his wife, soon gave him the strength to move from Arkansas to Cloves, New Mexico, in January of 1920.
While in Clovis, Bacon helped build the high school and the Avalon Hotel. The first has since been torn down and is now a Sears store; the latter still stands.
In October of that year the Bacon's purchased the Dog Iron Ranch at Dreno, New Mexico, J (which is now part of the missile range).
While at the Dog Iron Ranch, the Bacons added three more daughters to the one they brought with them from Clovis.
John's daughters remember him always carrying a six-shooter while riding the range. Cattle rustlers and cut fences from other cattle drives were a common problem. The girls also picnicking on the Tolan Creek by the hanging tree where several men had been hung for crimes committed.
When the Bacon's were the first to own a radio in the area, ranchers from everywhere gathered on Saturday evenings to hear the radio, play "42" and swap tales.
John's love for people and his enjoyment of company included hosting the 4th of July rodeos. Bacon himself always made the lemonade in a cream can for all.
The event became such an fair that many friends from Clovis made it an annual event to ride out. There was plenty of activities including horse races, toe-sack races, ice cream socials, and box and pie suppers with each cowboy trying to guess which one belonged to his sweetheart.
John also was a deputy sheriff and a member of the school board for the one room school in the area. The excitement at Dreno ended when the great depression struck and the ranch had to be sold.
The Bacons purchased a farm at Floyd, New Mexico, and after moving there had another daughter, but she only lived two days.
In 1936 John's health became bad again and he came to Hot Springs, New Mexico, to take a series of mineral baths. The baths helped so much, it was decided the family would move here to make their
home.
His health continued to improve enough for him to join the CCC camp at Elephant Butte Lake, where they set out trees and shrubs to improve on the beauty of the lake. Later he was assigned as a guard at the dam, where he slept inside in a special room. After being discharged from the CCC, Bacon continued to work various jobs: helping to build Caballo Dam, carpentry, roofing, yards at Carrie Tingley Hospital, and the phosphorus mines across the Rio Grande.
John and Ona also worked as caretakers and cooks for several ranchers throughout the area over the years.
Together they went through the flood of 1942. The girls remember the water was so deep a boat was rowed about two blocks from dry land to the house, then two blocks back to dry land. At this time John was appointed as deputy sheriff by Pete W. Kinney.
In November 1968 their home at 614 Wyona was gutted by fire, but they rebuilt and in 1974 it was Agan heavily water damaged by the flood.
Through all the hard times, John was always pulling pranks on the girls, or anyone, really. There were several the daughters could remember: you'd end up with flour on your face, in a bucket of water, or with smuck on your hand. There was always a warm feeling wherever the Bacon's were: John saw to that, for he loved life and made the most of it.
He was also an avid fisherman. He fished the Rio Grande from San Marcial to Elephant Butte Lake then from below the Caballo Lake. When first coming to the area it was quite common to catch two crappie at one time. However, his favorite fish was catfish, preferably blue, and the largest he ever caught weighed 86 pounds, which created good tales over the years.
John and Ona were always taking someone fishing or hunting. It was almost every year that the Bacons were hunting with someone in the Seco Canyon. Whether you were hunting for squirrel, bear, or turkey, a great time was to be had by all who went along.
John's love for life and friends set the stage for all his stories and anyone who knew him any length of time, would know they were always welcome to sit and listen to the stories. For sometime John had a wooden cane with animals and birds carved on it. It was a frequent sight to see him with any of his grandchildren, telling a unique story about "this one right here."
Any occasion to gather friends was ideal for John, but his favorites were Christmas and the 4th of July. The Christmas holiday meant peppermint candies coming out of his pocket, while the 4th of July (or any summer day) meant ice-cold watermelon tucked away in the fridge just waiting for anyone to drop by.
His love for the outdoors guaranteed you that you could feast on your watermelon in the green splendor of John's garden, which was one of his greatest prides and joys.
While each of his lifelong friends will have their favorite "tale" as total by John, his wife, of 69 years, Ona of the home here in Truth or Consequences; his four daughters, Edna Kelly of Brawley, California; Mary (Bella) Wesson of Clovis, New Mexico, Ruth Sanders of Cadd, Oklahoma, and Betty Miller of Truth or Consequences, will have many to remember.
Those stories will also echo in the ears of his brother Elke Bacon, who resides in Port ales, his sister, Nellie Baker, of Fairfield, California, his 20 grandchildren, 47 great-grandchildren and 10 great-great- grandchildren.
Those of us who were never blessed with the opportunity to hear a master story teller have been robbed by the passing of one of the few great yarners of our time and can only read about time as we have others, for John Adosia Bacon passed away on July 14, after hosting several members of his family for the several weeks.
A member of the First Baptist Church, the church's pastor Reverend Kenneth Shohner officiated at Friday's services. While John was interred at Vista Memory Gardens Cemetery, we are certain that in the quietness of any night, you will hear him with those few other masters in the heavens above swapping a story or two when they don't think anyone is listening.
************************************************
OBITUARY OF JOHN BACON
John Adosia Bacon, 89 died July 15 at Sierra Vista Hospital.
Mr. Bacon was born June 20, 1897 in Evansville, Arkansas to John Allen and Philia Adosia Jones Bacon. He was a veteran of World War I and a past cattle rancher having owned and operated the 'Dog Iron Cattle Ranch near Dureno, N.M. which is now part of the White Sands Missile Range. Mr. Bacon sold the ranch due to health reasons and moved that year in March of 1936 to T or C. He spent many years working as a carpenter and doing roofing work until his retirement. After he sold his ranch Mr. Bacon farmed for a brief time at Floyd, N.M., before moving to T or C.
Survivors include his wife Oma Kindness Bacon, whom he married 72 years ago on December 19, 1917 in Evansville, Arkansas, four daughters, Edna Kelly, Brawley, California, Mary (Belle) Wesson, Clovis, Ruth Sanders, Caddo, Oklahoma, and Betty Miller of T or C. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Baby Bacon, who died in Floyd, NM. Other survivors include a brother, Ike Bacon of Portales and a sister Nellie Barker of Fremont, California. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Mark and Amon, and three sisters, Mary Mount, Fannie Mount and Maude West. He is also survived by 20 grand-children, 47 great-grandchildren and 10 great great grandchildren as well as a host of relatives and friends. Local grandchildren include David and Elaine Muncy and family of Willaimsburg and Judy Miller and family of T or C.
Services were held at 10 a.m. Friday, July 18 at the First Baptist Church with Rev. Kenneth Stohner officiating. Burial was held in Vista Memory Gardens under the direction of Golden Gates Mortuary.
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Notes From Freda Willingham:
I was sent two tapes from Mary Belle Wesson daughter of John Bacon. Donna Neal a researcher on the Bacon's Family that I have been working with took the tapes and put as much in witting as she could. This is were the following stories came from:
1976 Tape, Side A - John Adotia Bacon, "Cheyenne"
"John Allen Bacon and his baby brother, Mark Bacon use to be Pardners in a store at Stilwell..... Uncle Mark an Pa was in business....and Pa could see where it was aheadin'.... we had two first cousins killed there in Adair County, Oklahoma. There was a fellow named Snodgrass, killed one of them. Slipped Up behind him and hit him with a knife, and his entrals fell out, And Jim picked up his entrals, and walked home, and layed down on the bed and died.
Then the other one, Henry Bacon, an Indian shot him. It was Spake Ward. Henry was in the choir at a church. Up in the choir singing and he (Spake) was jealous over a girl. Spake slipped up to the window and shot him while he was in the choir. While Henry was singing.....they hung Spake because then, you see, they had the old gallows then, you know. They didn't know anything about the gas chamber....they just hung them then. They put a rope around their neck, you see. they had a contraption built, and when they hit a certain board there, release, or something, why, they went out from under. They let them swing by the neck, you see and that's what they did to Spake.
"Snodgrass, uh, I guess it had come clear. I remember him real well. I was just a kid. But this girl's daddy didn't want Jim agoin' with the girl. He had two girls, I think it was....but it was just a rough, rough place and that's all...then Victor that killed Snodgrass, (that's what it sounds like he said in this tape) he just disappeared until today, he might be living right here in Hot Springs, as far as I know, but where he went none of us knows and we never will know.
"Then Ben, a first cousin to this Jim that Snodgrass killed. He would have done it, he would have gone after him, and probably nabbed him, but he (Ben) got into back robbin'. He got with a gang, and they got to robbin' banks. I think they robbed Muskogee Back. Muskogee's a pretty good town, even way back then. They'd arrest them, lock em' up and first thing they knew, they was out and gone again. They never could keep them. They never did find a jail they could keep him in. But now he (Ben) had five brothers: John, Cullen, Eagle, Jess and Clayton. He was getting' help from the outside and then to break jail that mancy times, you know. But the last time Ben was ever seen is between Evansville and Ft. Smith, Arkansas, with handcuffs on. And I feel, but I don't know it, but I feel that Bill Tibbin, a first cousin by marriage, helped Ben out of the handcuffs. And they robbed the back three times up in Tahlequah, or Sallisaw, or Somewhere right thought there, and I guess Ben got shot and I don't....Bob Hart told me that Ben sent him word to come to the funeral, that he was going to die, you know, in a few hours. But Bob didn't go, but he said there was no question but what Ben is dead, but his parents never did know whatever happened...they was funny people. Now they could have really been somebody. Now Cullen married a Cherokee girl, Peggy Sellers....As fine a girl as you ever seen. She had got her alotment and It proved to be...and boy she was really wealthy. Now, I've seen Cullen in the best of clothing. The best suit you could get. I'd say would be in the neighborhood of a hundred dollars, and you wouldn't find them in every little store, you know, but he'd wear one of them three times and he'd give it to somebody. Big ole studpin, you know, that hurt you eyes to look at them, you know, diamonds, and everything, you know. He was a swell looking guy. He was a good sized man. He wasn't a big man, just medium-sized, but he was a good Mixer. But he wouldn't walk away from trouble. I've seen him in Joplin when he had on two guns, an automatic on one side and a Smith & Wesson, maybe a colt on the other side. He was my first cousin. He was Uncle Amon's boy. "Now Jess is around Tulsa. We got a letter from him. He said that if we would write and tell him where to find us when he got here, he'd pay us a visit. But the last time I seen Jess, he was still on the bottle, and still on that rough stuff, and I just figured well, I don't care whether I see him or not. And Eagle, he never did get married. John, the oldest one of the boys, he got married and was up in Colorado and raised a family before we even knew he was even married...... "But
Clayton, that was the youngest. He taught school by ear. They could play anything that had any music in it. I believe they could pick up a dishpan out of the kitchen and in a few minutes they would be playing some kind of tune. I don't know he would play what they call a "Flying Crow". That was a passenger train from Kansas City, Missouri to Port Arthur, Texas. That was the rail. You know, that's the end of the road. Kansas City one way, and Port Arthur the other. And if you know the road, like comin' out of Joplin, you see, he knew all the spaces. Well, he'd start this passenger train up on the French harp, you know, little faster and little faster. Pretty soon he'd get, honest to true, they use to have them, they welded them together now, But there use to be this little space between each rail there, you see, and you'd get a click, and your wheel would go from one rail to the other. He could actually get that in there. Then a mile out of town, this train will whistle into the stations. You know you're a mile out of town. You'd slow it down, you'd stop, you'd hear them breaks a squeakin' and pretty soon that Train was come to a dead stop. And directly that conductor would call an announcement giving the go ahead signal, and he would blow that whistle and you'd take off. And actually, if you knew the road you could follow him. You didn't have to know anything you just follow his music and you could just follow this train right on down. It beat anything that I ever seen in my life!
They got pneumonia. Eagle was his name. They called him "Heck". That was his nickname. And then there was Stella, Ruth, Ethel, I believe there was three other girls, and pneumonia hit them, and it got Heck and Ruth. Ethel married a Leatherwood, but the other two girls died. And this girl buried all of them plus Heck..... ".....he raised when he was in Colorado, Cullen and his Wife (?) anyway, an Indian, when they start drinking. Now they can be one of the prettiest people we got until they start drinkin', and when they start drinkin' they can go the other way just as quick as any people you got, if not quicker. What I mean by that. "But I had two first cousins that did that. ".....married, only she wasn't nothing' like the woman that Cullen married. "....I still say that them boys, is both of them, shore done the wrong thing...so many ...wealthy.
"Now Uncle Mark and Uncle Amon, now they use to make lots of money. And they both made plenty of money. Uncle Amon was a butcher by trade, and he could make some of the best bar-b-que of any man I ever seen. HE had a bar-que pit, you know. Made it hisself right there, you know, if I remember right, maybe he'd take a whole animal and barbecue it and boy! Did you have something good to eat! "....your Mary had hemorrhage of the lungs, and Dr. Connally told..." (At this point a woman asked him: "Your brothers, Mark and Amon were named after your Uncles?" Cheyenne answered yes.) (The woman then asked "Well, how come you all named...(couldn't understand the rest of her question)...... But to her question, Cheyenne replied: "On account of Mary. She had a hemorrhage of the lungs and Dr. Connelly told her get out of that climate as quick as she could go, to a high dry climate, just as quick as she could get there. Well, we've always been people...."
{ Freda, from there on I could not understand what he was saying, and I wanted to sooooo bad. I have a picture of the Bacon boys: Cullen, Clayton, John and Jess, but I'm not sure who is who. If you would like a copy of it I will e-mail it. I will be more than happy to transcribe all the tapes if you will help me figure a way to clear them up. I hope you do have a suggestion, because I want so badly to get all the Tapes transcribed. Donna}
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