Who Was Barbara Wilcox?

By Pamela Pattison Lash - see Bacon Divorce

Recently I researched the Barbara Wilcox, mentioned in the divorce cited below and expanded on the data I found, which is included in this post:

"In the 1880 Bryan federal census, p645A, Eliza Bacon 45 Wales and son David 17 OH lived together; Eliza was classified as a divorced lady.  Chauncey, according to the 1880 Bryan federal census p626 was 60 OH, who had a housekeeper, Barbara Wilcox 34 OH and her daughter Minnie 10 OH living with him. In 1887, Hillsdale Co, MI (Marriage Bk F p190) he had married a third time to this Barbara A. Wilcox, the former wife of SK Wilcox, who was named as CC’s wife and executor in his will, written in Williams Co, OH.  The children from his first marriage were listed as heirs plus son David G. Bacon of Chicago.  Sometime between 1880-1885 David had left his mother alone and moved to the “Windy City"

Barbara A Arris was born on 11 Dec 1845 and was the daughter of Jacob Arris and Mary Gross.

1. Barbara A Arris married Clark Deuel in Henry Co, OH on 28 September 1859

Daughter Minnie born 18 June 1869 in Florida, Henry Co, OH (she married John G Decker)

2. Barbara A Dueul married SK Wilcox in Williams Co, OH on 26 Jan 1874

3. Barbara A Wilcox married Chaney C Bacen (spelling as found in record) in Amboy Twp, Hillsdale Co, MI on 26 Nov 1887.

Chaney C Bacen married Barbara A Wilcox on 26 Nov 1887 in Amboy Twp, Hillsdale Co, MI by Peter Munk, JP with Mary and Rachel Munk as witnesses; he was 66 of Bryan, OH, born in Pulsainyre, OH; she was 40 also of Bryan, OH; she was born in Licking Co, OH.

"On 21 Dec 1887 Chauncey Bacon died of kidney failure and his remains were shipped back to Portage Co for burial ("Bryan Press", 29 Dec 1887; "Bryan Democrat", 22 Dec 1887, p5; Williams County Death Record, V2 p42).  Considering that CC and Barbara lived together for at least eight years before they married, and considering that CC did not live out the year of his marriage, Barbara may have persuaded him to make their relationship legal so she could benefit financially. His estate was settled by 4 Jan 1888.  According to the 1900 Bryan Ward 1, Pulaski Twp federal census p159, Barbara Bacon was listed as born Dec 1845 (54) OH widow with father born in Eng and mother born PA; she had 1 child who did not survive her and she lived with her grandson Earl Miser, born Nov 1892 (7) OH.  Third wife Barbara died on 13 Mar 1925 and was buried in the Bryan Fountain Grove Cemetery".