Historical California Stone Carvers, Stone Cutters, & Monument Dealers

(Father of Mary (Bacon) Field, Frederick’s wife)

Compiled & Contributed by Lin,* February 2003

(* Please note: In the document below “Editor’s notes” are all to be ascribed to Lin.)

Nathaniel Bacon was born on 14 Jul 1802 in Ballston, NY. He died on 9 Sep 1869 in Niles, Berrien Co., MI. The cause of death was Apoplexy. He was buried on 12 Sep 1869 in Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles, Berrien Co., MI.

After study under the tuition of Rev. Joseph Sweetman in Charlton, and at Ballston Academy, he entered the Junior Class in Union College in the month of September 1822 - and graduated in July 1824 - He at once began the study of law in the office of Thomas Palmer at Ballston Springs - and was admitted in the Supreme Court in October 1827.

In April 1828, he moved to Rochester New York and began the practice of law - In this he continued five years - until May 1833 - In June of that year - he came to Michigan, then a new territory, to view the country - He returned to Rochester in July and at once made preparation to move west.

In August having completed his arrangements he left Rochester with his family which consisted of his wife and two children.

Their way was by Buffalo - and thence by steamboat to Detroit - and thence by wagon via Ypsilanti - Saline, Clinton - Johnseville, Coldwater - Sturgis - White Pigeon, Mottville and Edwardsburg to Niles, where they arrived Sept. 3rd, 1833 - He soon entered land on Sec 36 and erected a log house into which he moved the last of November - here he began clearing a farm and in 1836 erected a house in which he now resides - He was twice married.

He practiced law at Niles until the month of November 1855 when he was elected Circuit Judge of the 2nd circuit, to fill the vacancy left by the death of Judge Whipple.

On the 1850, MI, Berrien Co., 10 Div Census, Nathaniel is listed as age 45, attorney, real estate $3000; Caroline, age 34; Edward age 20; Joseph age 18; Mary 16; Elizabeth 14; Harriet S. 3; Fredrich 1, James Hopping laborer; and Hannah, his mother, age 82.

From the History of BerrienCounty, First Presbyterian Church of Niles -

On Sat., the 29th day of March, 1834, at the house of Orrin Derby, on the corner of Oak and Fifth Streets, in the village of Niles, there were gathered together ten persons, who had met there for the purpose of church organization. These persons were the Rev. Luther Humphrey, stated supply of the Presbyterian church on Beardley’s Prairie, Orrin Derby, and Roxanna, his wife, Bacon Wheeler and Esther L. his wife, Nathaniel Bacon, Eleazer F. Crocker, William B. Copeland, and Miss Lydia A. Widner, - all members of the Presbyterian church in other places. After consultation it was “Resolved that a Presbyterian Church be organized on the next Lord’s day by the name of the First Presbyterian Church of Niles.”

Public services were held at the school-house on the following day, which was the Sabbath. A sermon was delivered by the Rev. Mr. Humphrey, the church was regularly organized, and the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper administered. At this meeting, among others, Mr. and Mrs. Bacon were received into membership and Mary Hanna, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bacon, was baptized at this meeting. About the same time a Sunday-school was organized.

August 3rd of 1834, Nathaniel Bacon and Thomas K. Green were chosen ruling elders.

About April of 1844, the church soon after extended a call to the pastorate to the Rev. Charles E. Lord, of South Berwick, ME.

From the Mirror in Niles, Michigan [1940, the exact date illegible on my copy] The Editor’s Note: From an old directory published some 70 years ago comes from the following account of Niles’ early history which will be published in this and succeeding issues of The Mirror.

“Nathaniel Bacon graduated at Union College in 1824, and after entering the legal profession practiced for a time, in Rochester, NY. He removed to Niles in 1833, and at once became actively engaged in the practice of his profession, always holding the eminent place at the bar of courts where he practiced. In 1835 he was elected Judge of the Second Judicial Circuit (which consisted of four counties), filling the vacancy caused by the death of Chas. W. Whipple. He was re-elected in 1857 for the full term of six years, and in 1866 was again elected to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Judge Perrin M. Smith. 1 April, 1869, he was re-elected for the full term of six years but his death occurred in September of the same year, before he had entered upon his last term.”

In the History of Berrien County, the following comments were made in addition to a repeat of his history in the area.

“His positions indicate strong mentality and careful analysis, a thorough knowledge of law and an unbiased judgment. The legal profession demands a high order of ability together with a rare combination of talent, learning tact, patience and industry. The successful and the competent judge must be a man of well balanced intellect, thoroughly familiar with the law and practice, possessing keen analytical power and a self control that will enable him to discharge the duties of this office with impartiality and equity. That Judge Bacon was such a man is a generally acknowledged fact. Prior to his elevation to the bench he practiced successfully in Berrien County for a number of years. He had a clear and comprehensive mind, displayed great influence with the court as an advocate and was remarkably successful before a jury. When he appeared before a jury his manner seemed to say, ‘Gentleman of the jury I expect by a calm and dispassionate statement of acts in the case to convince you that I am right in what I may say to you,’ and his calm and cool manner before the jury always told in his favor in the case. In addressing a jury he seemed to be unconscious that any other person was in the room. He gained a high place in his profession by hard work and by evincing his ability to fill the position with which he was entrusted.”

From the biographical notes at the Niles, Berrien County Library:

“Nathaniel Bacon, of the 1833 colonists, came from Rochester, bought 400 acres of land east of Niles and converted it into a splendid farm. He was one of the most prominent of the early Berrien county lawyers and held state and county offices. In 1855 he was elected circuit judge. He was a republican and religiously an actively member and elder of the Presbyterian church.”

The only negative note on Judge Bacon’s career as a judge is found in Vol. 17, 1890, Michigan Pioneer and Historical Collections, page 406:

“He was a good judge of the law, but he was a lawyer, not a judge; not that he by any means failed as a judge, for he was in the main, popular as such. Judge Bacon was a man of very strong prejudices, especially politically, and this peculiar trait seemed to effect him on the bench. It seemed impossible for him to hear a case without unconsciously taking sides, and when a person was arraigned before him charged with a crime, he seemed to take it for granted that the respondent was guilty; yet with these strong traits in mind, Mr. Bacon was never charged with intentionally prejudicing a case, or of denying a respondent a fair and impartial trial; the simple fact was that he was too much of an advocate to be a judge.”

The following is an excerpt from the Niles Daily Star, Niles, MI, Friday, July 3, 1987 with the title of “Niles has had many prominent citizens.” [Editor’s note: I haven’t repeated what has already been said.]

“His son Joseph became a lawyer and real estate agent in Niles. Another son, Edward, was a colonel in the Civil War and later became a city attorney. Even Judge Bacon’s grandson, Nathaniel, became an attorney.”

In 1854, N. Bacon served as one of the trustees of the union school district.

[Editor’s note: these two sons were by his first wife, Jane Savage Sweetman. Also the daughter listed below and her sister are by his first wife.]

From the Stories of the St. Joe Valley, p. 19:

But one of the most beautifully written stories of those early days, was written one by Mary Bacon Field, who, with her little sister [Editor’s note: Elizabeth Laura] and her two brothers, Joseph and Edward Bacon, in later years was to attain honors in the little community as attorneys. [Editor’s note: Writers in those days did not seem to think to mention women’s names.]

The father of this little group was Nathaniel Bacon, an attorney, who came to Niles in 1833, and he had bought a farm of four or five hundred acres on the Edwardsburg road, just outside the town. Here he brought his bride, the daughter of a prominent New York clergyman, and one who had been accustomed to all the conveniences and luxuries at the great city, to “a home in the wilderness” a log house, that at first had had but three sides, with the other side enclosed by a canvas curtain against the cold and storms of a Michigan winter. As an attorney, he served his State well as Judge of the Second Judicial Circuit filling the office for several terms.

In 1975, two of the houses that Nathaniel Bacon had built were part of a House Tour. The following are excerpts from the write-ups:

House built in 1846 is part of Niles home tour. The James Snyder home at 122 St. Joseph St. is second in a series of homes to be featured as a preview of the 1975 Apple Festival Homes tour.

Nathan Bacon, a lawyer built this brick home in 1846. The bricks came from the brick yard that was at the corner of Philip and Buchanan Roads, and even the basement is brick. The original brick sidewalk still lies in front of the home and the horse barn stands behind the house.

The home consists of seven rooms, two large bathrooms, a pantry and foyer. At present three of the rooms are used for bedrooms. The house was never really completed, as they had planned to build a summer kitchen off the west end of the house. The woodwork and floors are oak, and two stained glass windows remain in the house. The stairway is semi-open (T shape), with the open parts leading up from the foyer and what is now the family room. There was at one time a fireplace in the living room and now a Franklin stove stands in this spot. The original tradition of the home has been recaptured by the Snyders through their use of antique furnishings and few structural alterations.

This home, and others listed on the tour can be viewed on a bus trip offered Oct. 10 and Oct. 12.

701 Oak Street - This Green Revival style home was built around 1850 by Nathaniel Bacon, an attorney from New York State, for his son. It is known as the “Colonel Edward Bacon House”. During the Civil War, he was a famous colonel in the Niles company. After his return from the south, he wrote a book about his experiences there, and held an open house for his fellow servicemen.

This is one of the few houses with a fully pedimented gable to the street, with an entrance in the gable end. The front porch has fluted columns, and the entrance has the typical solid door with small side windows. All the windows in the house have 6/6 panes, many of which have the original hand-rolled, blue-green tinted glass. Gracing this home, owned by Mr. & Mrs. Lorenzen, are the original shutters, a marble fireplace in the parlor, and black walnut stairway banister with hand-turned spindles. A back stairway lead to what was formerly a maid’s room. The full basement is native fieldstone to the ground level and brick to the first floor. The frame of the house is hand-hewn oak beams.

Nathaniel Bacon had also built the American Hotel. It was the first brick building in the village and was said to be the largest structure outside the city of Detroit. It was located on the south side of Main Street, just east of Front.

Nathaniel bought several parcels of land according to the Bureau of Land Management at the Bronson Land Office and the White Pigeon Prairie Land Office. The total acreage was 655.93 all purchased between November 6, 1834 to October 15, 1836.

In the 1892 Berrien County, MI Directory, p. 274 lists: Nathaniel H., occupation lawyer. Business Address: ns Main 2 w of 4th Residence: bds s Broadway 3 w of 9th.

In October 1927 Nathaniel Bacon was admitted to the Bar, April 1828, opened a law office in Rochester, NY.

He came from Puritan stock and was true to their teachings. Was a man of sterling qualities and a wise counselor. Though somewhat austere, he was kind, charitable and of spotless integrity. Political Views: Between 1860-1864, strongly supported the Union cause. Politically, he was 1st a Whig, then assisted in organizing the Republican party under the historic oaks at Jackson. He was not ambitious, nor sought political honors.

He sold half of his farm to his brother William.

After his death, there was a meeting of the Bar of the Second Judicial Circuit and a lengthy article in the Nile Republican, Thursday, Sept 16, 1869 expressing the entire body’s sorrow at Judge Bacon’s passing. They made several resolutions, and adjourned to attend his funeral in a body.

“Death of Judge Bacon” - Berrien Record, Sept. 16, 1869

The announcement of the death of Hon. Nathaniel Bacon, Judge of this (2nd) Judicial Circuit, was wholly unlooked for. He died of Apoplexy, at his residence in Niles, on Thursday night last. The day before (Wednesday), he had just closed a term of Court at Berrien, and on the day of his death he was apparently as well as usual. He died at about 10 P.M. being taken with an apoplectic attack about an hour before. Judge Bacon had gained a large circle of friends since his residence in Niles, which was since 1833. He came to Berrien County from Rochester, NY and for the first twenty-six years of his residence here he was a practicing lawyer. For ten years past he has filled the office of Circuit Judge, being twice elected to that position. His death will be keenly felt among a large circle of friends and acquaintances. The funeral services took place in Niles, on last Lord’s day, attended by the members of the bar and an immense concourse of people.

A portrait of Judge Nathaniel Bacon hangs in the Hall of Justice in Lansing, Michigan.

Nathaniel married (1) Jane Savage Sweetman daughter of Rev. Joseph Sweetman and Jane Savage on 2 Nov. 1827 in Salem, Washington Co., NY. Jane was born on 5 Sep 1801 in Charlton, Saratoga Co., NY. She was christened on 31 Jan 1802. She died on 15 May 1841 in White Pigeon, MI. She was buried on 1 Jan 1842 in Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles, Berrien Co., MI.

Nathaniel and Jane had the following children:

2 M - i. Edward Savage Bacon was born on 17 Apr 1830. He died on 25 Apr 1901.

3 M - ii. Joseph Sweetman Bacon was born on 24 Mar 1832. He died 27 Mar 1882.

4 F - iii. Mary Hannah Bacon was born on 6 Dec 1833. She died in July 1912.

5 F - iv. Elizabeth Laura Bacon was born on 6 Apr 1836. She died on 4 Apr 1933.

Nathaniel married (2) Caroline Sophia Lord daughter of Hon. John Perkins Lord and Sophia Ladd on 1 Jan 1845 in Niles, Berrien, MI by her brother Charles E. Lord, Pastor of Presbyterian Church. Caroline was born on 25 Aug 1815 in Portsmouth, NH. She was christened in by Rev. Israel Putnam Dd. She died on 1 Sept 1887 in Niles, Berrien Co., MI. She was buried on 7 Sept 1887 in Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles, Berrien Co., MI.

On the 1870 MI, Berrien Co., Niles, page 258 -

Caroline is age 54, Keeping house, real estate $20,000, personal property $1500, born New Hampshire. With her is Frederick, age 21, law student; Nathaniel, 18; Emily, 16; John, 14; Samuel, 10. Also listed is John Flannery, age 35, a farm laborer from Ireland.

On the 1880 census -

Census Place: 3rd Ward, Niles, Berrien, Michigan

Source: FHL Film 1254572, National Archives Film T9-0572, Page 275C

(Headings) Relation - Sex - Marr - Race - Age - Birthplace

Caroline S. Bacon - Self - F - W - W - 64 - NH - Occ: Keeping House; Fa: ME; Mo: NY

Samuel Bacon - Son - M - S - W - 20 - MI - Occ: Studying Law; Fa: NY; Mo: NH

Nathaniel and Caroline had the following children:

6 F - v. Harriet Sophia Bacon was born on 14 Feb 1847. She died on 27 Nov 1875.

7 M - vi. Frederick Hampden Bacon was born on 5 May 1849. He died on 10 Aug 1928.

8 M - vii. Nathaniel Bacon, Jr. was born on 30 Nov 1851. He died in Apr 1928.

9 F - viii. Emily Anna Bacon was born on 13 Jan 1854. She died on 5 Aug 1915.

10 M - ix. John Lord Bacon was born on 18 Mar 1856 in Niles, Berrien, MI. He died on 14 Dec 1873 in Niles, Berrien Co., MI. The cause of death was typhoid fever. He was buried in Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles, Berrien Co., MI.

11 M - x. Samuel Bacon was born on 12 Jan 1860 in Niles, Berrien Co., MI. He died on 25 Jun 1885 in Niles, Berrien Co., MI. The cause of death was suicide. He was buried in Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles, Berrien Co., MI. Samuel married Leona Barry daughter of J. F. Barry on 30 Jun 1885 in Cass County, MI.

§ § § § § § §

Mary Hannah Bacon

(Mary was the third child of Nathaniel and Jane Savage Sweetman)

Mary was born on 6 Dec 1833 in Niles, Berrien Co., MI. She died in July 1912 in San Jose, CA. She was buried in Dorset, VT.

From the Biographical Sketch by Mabel Field Hastings - Her mother was of Scotch descent and though she had grown up in her grandfather’s luxurious home in New York, she was radiant with enthusiasm over the life of that far west. Mrs. Field was born in a log cabin, the first white child christened in southwestern Michigan.

Little Mary was left motherless in her seventh year. Then came to mother the children, this grandmother whose strong character and intellectual fire left is potent impress throughout their lives. Mary was educated almost intirely [sic] at home. At the age of four she could read well in the Testament - and was ever an omnivorous reader. In her early home there were inspiring influences: the original mind of her eldest brother Edward, the fine personality of her elder brother Joseph, and a great love for the younger children. There were four sisters in the household and six brothers. All her brothers became attorneys. The house teemed with youthful energy, held within the bounds of by the austere puritanical ideals of the head of the house and by the invaluable influence of the stepmother, Caroline Lord Bacon, sister of Dr. John Lord, author of Beacon Lights of History. She was a woman of high education, refinement and spirituality. Mrs. Emily Hoppin, widely known in social, educational and philanthropic work, is her daughter. Frederick Bacon, the author of standard law books, is her son.

Mary Bacon was a student in New York City for one year, graduating at Brooklyn Heights Seminary. The editor of the publication which later became St. Nicholas Magazine, observing this intellectual girl on commencement day, called to see her and asked her to stay in New York and be on the magazine staff. She was then eighteen.

She returned to her home in Michigan, and four years later was married to Frederick Field. Their home was for seventeen years in the picturesque Vermont mountain town of East Dorset, birthplace of their six children. There came unspeakable tragedy in the death of three children in one month from typhoid fever.

Mrs. Field’s life’s story of mother-love she told in verses which are now in permanent collections and will live through centuries. Her literary work is reviewed in following pages of this volume.* In 1874 Mr. Field brought his family to San Jose, California, which became their home for many years. Aside from swift and versatile literary achievement, Mrs. Field worked con amore for the church, for charities and philanthropies, lectured at Stanford University on sociological topics, was for many years director of the Monterey Summer School, and for twelve years was Pacific Coast secretary of the home reading circles of the Chautauqua Society, then of large membership on the Pacific Coast, to which fact the accompanying extracts from letters show “so great a cloud of witnesses.” This wide popularity was the more unusual as Mrs. Field was not of “popular” type: abstraction in thought was habitual, a spirit-like remoteness was characteristic of her gentle presence. She resembled her father, his rugged profile was developed in her face into tender, noble lines, the eyes were gray and deep-set, her brow was of intellectual beauty.

(* The appendix will not be presented in this document. Peggy B. Perazzo)

They had 8 children. She was a well-known magazine writer and authoress. Wrote a book about her childhood called One Little Meadow. One chapter in the book Tales of Early Niles was called “Reminiscence of the Early Home”.

She was an adherent of the Republican party and a member of the Presbyterian church. After marriage they moved to Dorset Vermont and then to San Francisco, CA.

At the home in the village of Dorset, Vermont, on the last day of July, 1912, a little group of friends and relatives strewed pansies with loving thoughts upon her grave. In accordance with the wish of our beloved, Tennyson’s Crossing the Bar was read with beautiful expression by her relative, Dr. George Gilbert.

One daughter, Mrs. Mabel Field Hastings is left in the desolated home in California. Three sons mourn the death of their mother, Arthur Field and Hubert Field of Guanajuato, Mexico and Wilfred Field of New York City.

After her death people wrote...

Yolo, California

...I often think of my short visit to your mother in Southern California in 1911. How she was enjoying her ‘Homelet’ there, the glimpses of the ocean and the soft blue haze of the beautiful hills with their lights and shadows! She had me come often and stand her at the window to watch the sunset glow or sunrise radiance - and the mocking birds, how they sing! Once we spoke to each other in the night, exclaiming over the enchanting songs. She cannot come back to tell us of the beauties of the other Land, and

We know not where His Islands lift

Their fronded palms in air;

We only know we cannot drift

Beyond His love and care.”

Emily Bacon Hoppin [her half-sister]

St. Louis, MO

...For fifty years our affection for each other has been strong and abiding. My sister was a lovely character. Her intellect was brilliant. Find consolation in remembering her long, useful, and kindly life.

Frederick Bacon.

...No one loved her more than I - after living with her so long. We can have only pleasant memories of her. Dear, good Mary Field, the one I loved most among my husband’s relatives and as if she were born my sister.

Mary Landon Bacon [Mrs. Nathaniel H. Bacon, her half brother]

Erie, Pa.

...So my husband’s sweet sister is gone to the other side. But she is ours to love as much as ever.

Harriet Holly Bacon [Joseph Bacon’s wife]

Mary married Rev.* Frederick Field son of Alfred Field and Saphronia Gilbert in 1855. Frederick was born in 1820 in Dorset, VT. He died on 17 Nov 1887 in San Jose, Santa Clara Co., CA.

(* I have not found Frederick Field addressed as “Rev.” in any of the sources I have found either in Vermont or California. Peggy B. Perazzo)

From a Biographical Sketch by Mabel Field Hastings -

Biographical pages regarding Mrs. Mary Field would be only partly true if but slight mention were made of Frederick Field, whose “dauntless hope and patient care and generous sacrifice” his wife commemorates in the first poem of this volume. His chivalrous mind maintained for his wife, freedom, a large measure of leisure, perfect health, opportunity for a joyful intellectual life.

In Dorset, Vermont, in 1820, in the old homestead of the broad elms pictured Frederick Field was born to true love and care. O wise and kind, dearest old New England home! Your light still shines for many young faces of the third and fourth generations.

About 1820, over in Stockbridge, Mass., Frederick Field’s kinsmen were growing up: Cyrus Field, Stephen J., James T., David Dudley and Henry M., in one household, product of another good New England home.

The delicate, oversensitive face of Alfred Field, father of Frederick looks forth from a clear old daguerreotype. Faithful eldest brother of thirteen children, he had seen long training and was grown swift and erudite in kindness. “Square” Alfred Field was made administrator without bonds (and incidentally without fee) for uncounted widows and orphans. “Faculized” and “forehanded” (in down East phrase) his stony stock farm prospered and endowed each of his four children. Frederick Field’s great-grandfather gave his life in the Revolutionary War. Lest we forget, let it be set down that this patriotism left his son a fatherless boy who went barefoot to winder school. This son married governor Huntington’s granddaughter, who held a teacher’s certificate, unusual in that day (now an heirloom still outlasting). Her daughter, Saphronia Gilbert, Frederick Field’s mother, was a thoughtful woman, who read far into the night through the artic winters. She had seen “the great plague” sweep through the Vermont valleys, when she had been called far and wide as a brave and skillful nurse in her thirteenth year.

Little Frederick even in the puritanical atmosphere of that time, so the record runs, never once required real “punishment”. He was a friendly little one. We see him fondly clothed in apple green, the little trousers reaching to the ankle, a short-waisted jacket begirt with many small yellow buttons, white hose, strapped slippers, this at the age of six. His costume was topped off by a tall white silk hat such as is worn now only by “Uncle Sam” in all cartoons. There has been handed down one tale of his sixth year. Then, one morning, Frederick found a new baby sister in the house. Thereafter, all that spring, it was difficult to persuade little Frederick to set forth without a heavy plaid shawl, which all day he wanted to carry to wrap a sister in if he should chance to find another, in fresh-turned furrow or among small new leaves in the keep spring weather - kind little soul! In Dorset home, his grandfather, Amos Field, sat at the good fireside and told his memories of “embattled farmers” in the great war for liberty. And told of a yet earlier day when a daughter of the house was captured by Indians at the Deerfield massacre. A wild story: the captive white girl loved her children of the forest and her young Indian husband, and though he would have joined the white settlement, she never could be persuaded to stay long in “civilization” with its torture of fanatic Puritanism. Difficult alternatives were yours, Mary Field, plucky toast of our latter day Thanksgiving dinner.

Frederick Field was one of the many pale New England boys who went into the rough West as teachers in public school. He had then, and always after, a special interest in chemistry. Later and Through life he was a dealer in marble and granite. He imported to Chicago the first granite foundations of the city. In 1855 when he brought home his bride, it chanced they came unexpected to the door of the old homestead. They overheard the voice of Mrs. Alfred Field within cheering on another daughter-in-law through devious ways of preserving wild berries: the caressing voice floated out across the hospitable, old threshold to the ear of the timid Western bride without and thereupon she trusted her husband’s mother, unseen, with at rust undimmed to the end. They were a united family, Mr. Field was devotedly attached to his sister, Mrs. James Goodrich, his sister, Ellen Field and his brother, Charles Field, who served with distinction as an officer in the Civil War.

Mr. Field’s home was in East Dorset, Vermont, from 1855 to 1873 when, soon after the completion of the transcontinental railroad, he brought his family to San Jose, California, which became their home for many years. He was a student of civics. In active service he upheld every public cause, yet with fine mental poise - no man was more sane. Dr. Henry Milton wrote of him as “challenging universal admiration, a champion ever mindful of the highest welfare of the community, the ready sharer of men’s joys, the willing partner of their grief; yet with character of granite, not of sickly sentiment or of mere deiment (sic) of circumstance - a very father in the wisdom of his counsels, and Socially his taste was flawless. The fortunate and the distinguished folk, many of whom knew him, were loath to leave the clear light of his presence. He was many an outcast man’s most cheerful friend. He carried consummately well, a man’s part. He bore through life the sore burden of a weak physique, and other daily loads too heavy for mortal, he endured with fortitude. His children say of him that he never spoke in haste and bitterness, or called his unceasing toil irksome or failed of dignified good cheer. He was a perfect disciplinarian of his varying boys: the youthful culprits were commonly rendered helpless in laughter by the tonic phrases of his ingenious wit. It was his skillful arm that fended his wife from knowledge of hardships that are the common lot of woman.

In his sixty-seventh year, still in his prime, when on duty as a member of the State Board of Trade in 1887, an accident caused Mr. Field’s death. Concerning the tragedy, the following editorial was written by Judge John E. Richards:

“The death of Frederick Field is a mournful loss to the community...The manner of his taking off seems all unsuited to the quiet, careful method of his days. We think of such men as he going down the shady vale of life in gentleness, gradually withdrawing from the dusty highways of business to the retired and love-strewn footpaths of a good old age. It seems almost unkind of Providence to permit the grim Destroyer to exercise so harsh and cruel a method upon so kind and just a man. Yet after all there is a fitness behind it, for he fell in the direct path of duty and in the very midst of endeavor for the public good...”

His wife wrote of him: “Memorial stones will crumble, but his life of simple unostentatious right-doing has left its strong and abiding impress on all who knew him, and the influence of his sweet, pure, unselfish spirit is as deathless as the eternity of God.”

Frederick and Mary (Bacon) Field had the following children:

20 M - i. Alfred B. Field was born on 24 Oct 1857 in Dorset, VT. He died on 12 Nov 1870.

21 M - ii. Arthur Gilbert Field was born on 17 May 1862 in Dorset, VT. He died about Nov 1870 in Dorset, VT.*

(* This is not correct as there is an entry for him in the 1908-1908 issue of California Polk-Husted Directory Company’s San Jose City Directory Including Santa Clara County, Polk-Husted Directory Co., Publishers, San Jose, California, pp. 256. Peggy B. Perazzo)

Was a twin of Edward.

At the time of his mother’s death he lived in Guanajuato, Mexico and wrote in part...

Let us recall for consolation mother’s pure and tranquil life. I wish my sons could have known her better. Her superior mind counted for naught the trivial things of life, she saw good and almost entirely overlooked the evil. Surely much moral character does not die with the body. What delightful memories she has left us.

22 M - iii. Edward Sweetman Field was born on 17 May 1862 in Dorset, VT. He died on 14 Oct 1870 in Dorset, VT.

Was a twin of Arthur.

23 F - iv. Mabel Janet Field was born on 30 Jun 1866.

Lived in California, San Jose probably at the time of her mother’s death. Mabel married Hastings.

24 F - v. Amy Gertrude Field was born on 7 Nov 1869 in Dorset, VT. She died on 5 Nov 1870 in Dorset, VT.

25 M - vi. Wilfred Bacon Field was born on 6 Feb 1873.

Lived in New York at the time of his mother’s death.

26 M - vii. Hubert Charles Field was born on 26 Nov 1875.

Lived in Guanajuato, Mexico at the time of his mother’s death.

 

[Top of Page]

---

Commercial use of material within this site is strictly prohibited. It is not to be captured, reworked, and placed inside another web site ©. All rights reserved. Peggy B. and George (Pat) Perazzo.