Sumner S. Bacon   Sumner S. Bacon, one of the most successful fruit growers and popular citizens of Grand Rapids township, was born in Wayne county, N.Y. on the 18th day of September, 1838. His parents were John and Eliza (Daniels) Bacon. In 1856 John came to Kent county and settled in Grand Rapids, and with the exception of two years, during which he lived in Eaton county, he here resided until his death, at the age of eighty-six years, having survived his wife some eighteen years. He had cleared and improved a farm where he passed his life as farmer. He was the father of three sons and one daughter, Calista J., who married James B. Chittenden, both of whom are dead, having been residences of the township; Rufus, who lives on his farm in Grand Rapids township; Sumner S. the subject of this sketch, and Truman J., who was killed at Falling Waters, near Gettysburg, having been shot from his horse and instantly killed at the age of nineteen years. He was of company F., of the Sixth Michigan Cavalry, and was just six years younger than Sumner. Sumner S. Bacon came to Grand Rapids when seventeen years old and worked five years for E.U. Knapp at $16. Per month. He afterward married Knapp’s daughter and rented her father’s farm for two years. Later he secured a farm of his own, but again rented the farm for two years longer. He has since operated his own farm of thirty acres, and is at the present the owner of 3,000 fruit trees--peaches, cherries, plums and pears. He has done a extensive business and is considered one of the most successful fruit growers of that part of the county. He is also, in partnership with Mr. Knapp, the owner of a farm of eighty acres near Dutton, Mich., which is at present rented. Mr. Bacon was united in marriage January, 1862, to Miss Betsy Knapp, daughter of E.U. Knapp, who was born in New York, and was two years old when she was brought to Michigan. To this union there have been born no children, but Mr. and Mrs. Bacon have reared three boys from early childhood. Alonzo Chittenden, son of Calista M. Chittenden, and Jordon Rowland were adopted and are now engaged in farming; Lewis Lutz Bacon, although never adopted, was given every advantage. He is married and operating the farm in connection with Mr. Bacon. He took the name of Bacon by legislative act. All three are now fine young men and are settled on farms, all being assisted somewhat by Mr. Bacon. Mr. Bacon is very popular and influential man. He is a trustee and deacon of the Second Congregational church, and was also superintendent of the Sunday-school for five years. He has served as secretary of Fair Plains cemetery for twenty-seven years and school treasurer for twenty-three years. Being in rather prosperous condition, he spends his summers at Green Lake, Allegan county. He has been one of the hard and industrious workers, and justly merit’s the success to which he has attained and now enjoys. He has been a life-long republican, but has tried to keep from public life. Mrs. Bacon is a home body, and is a lady of great domestic worth.