Clyde Bacon was born in 1869 in Ridgeway, Orleans County, New York. He was married about 1896. He and Emma made their way to northern Minnesota and Bemidji and by 1900 he owned a saloon in Bemidji. His father Marshall Bacon also lived with them. On March 22, 1909, the Bemidji Pioneer described Mr. Bacon in glowing words:
Mr. Bacon offers a striking example of what faith in a new country and American grit will accomplish. His holdings also torm a basis for mature deliberation on the pait of those seeking a profitable country in which to live. Coming here with but a mere pittance, so far as cash was concerned, Mr. Bacon got good and busy. He first conducted a hotel, and a few years later delved into real estate, and now Is a stockholder in the T. J. Welsh Land and Lumber Company, not to mention his individual possessions in local and farm realty. He is also interested in the Bemidji Brewery, is a stockholder in the Lumbermen’s National Bank, he owns the most elegant brick block in the city, and while he has retired from business activity, he still barters in any legitimate proposition which comes his way.
It is futile to aver that Mr Bacon is classed among our most influential men. Having resided here for ten years, he has performed every duty incumbent upon him as a citizen, he has so comported himself that his reputation is unsullied, both as to civic and business intercourse, and The Pioneer can positively assert that it has been through the conscientious and progressive efforts of such men as Mr. Bacon that Bemidji has developed into the elegant and thriving city she is.”
Mr. and Mrs. Bacon built a luxurious home at 625 Lake Boulevard early in the 1900’s. In the fall of 1905, contractor Price was hired to elevate the home to street level as the streets had been built up in Bemidji, and many businesses and homes had to be elevated to that level. By 1910, C. M. Bacon was the secretary of the Bemidji Brewing Co. Emma, Mr. Bacon’s first wife, died on Sept 4, 1911. The funeral was held at the residence, and she was buried at Greenwood. Clyde Bacon then married Caroline Hetland on May 14, 1912. The family lived in the home for several decades, and then it became St. Mary’s Convent for the Benedictine nuns who were assigned to teach at St. Philip’s School.
Mr. Bacon was known for his hunting expertise and was regarded as one of the crack shots among Bemidji sportsmen.
In the spring of 1913, the Bemidji Auto Club was in charge of fund raising to be used for the completion of the road around the head of the lake. They made plans for a minstrel show and for a big auto racing program at the fair grounds. Jack Herbert was in charge of the minstrel show. Clyde Bacon donated the use of the armory for the show and Warfield Electric agreed to furnish the necessary lights.
Mr. Bacon died on Nov 24, 1946. Mrs. Bacon died in 1948. Both are buried in Greenwood Cemetery.