Legacy of Women: Elizabeth Quigley Shell Bacon

This is the second in an ongoing series of stories about notable women from San Benito County history. The women were honored recently for their contributions to the county by the San Benito County Women’s Fund at its “Legacy of Women” event held at the Paicines Ranch.

The story of Elizabeth Lucretia Quigley, born in Ohio on Nov. 23, 1827, is a reminder of more trying times. Rugged, independent and industrious, she is now associated with the early history of Pinnacles National Park.

In her 18th year, Elizabeth married Phillip Shell and in a short time they crossed the country on the Oregon Trail with their infant son, John.

A descendant, Deborah Melendy Joice wrote, “They brought with them to Oregon their herd of dairy cattle – pure bred milking Durham stock. This stock of cattle stayed in the family possession nearly 100 years.” In her publication, Beginnings: Stories told by Henry & Deborah (Shell) Melendy, Joice added,  “Elizabeth had her saddle horse which she rode most of the way.”

Another family member, Deborah Melendy Norman, compiled stories in a 2005 publication entitled, The Shells, Quigleys, and Bacons: From Calhoun County, Illinois, to California. Norman wrote in this family memoir, “Indians attacked the wagon train at one point, and an arrow punctured the left lung of a school teacher in the group, just missing her heart, and passed through her body. Someone in the group — possibly Elizabeth Shell — cut off most of the shaft, tied a white China silk handkerchief to the remainder, and pulled the arrow through, cleansing the wound as it passed. The Shells rigged a hammock in their wagon for the wounded teacher, who recovered under their care.” 

“My father told me years ago that (Elizabeth) smoked a corn-cob pipe on her way out west,” said Greg Schmidt, in an interview. Schmidt, also a relation, shared his impression of Elizabeth, saying, “She was pretty rough and gritty,” referring to a portrait of her that hangs at the Historical Society in Hollister. “If you see the picture, you can see what I mean. I’ve always thought of her as a survivor,” he said.

Within a of couple years after arriving in central Oregon, Elizabeth’s husband, Phillip, died and she was left with three children to care for. Elizabeth then made her way to Scott Valley, near the California border, where she married Myron Bacon, from Illinois, in 1855. By 1857, the couple had moved to San Leandro. Amazingly, Elizabeth kept her prized Durham herd together and continued to use the milk for income.

While in San Leandro, the Bacons met Dr. Americus Powers, who became their family doctor. Powers moved to San Benito County after researching and finding an unclaimed area known as Bear Valley. Elizabeth’s eldest child, John Shell, and his friend, Henry Melendy, were sent ahead to establish a home in Bear Valley. With rave reviews and a modest cabin to move in to, Elizabeth and Myron Bacon made their way toward San Benito County.

Elizabeth, who was pregnant, drove one wagon and Myron drove the other. Her two older girls rode horseback and stopped periodically to milk the cows. When they got to Tres Pinos (where Paicines Store is now located) the scenery was bleak. “The year 1864 was very dry and carcasses of the cattle that had starved were still evident in 1866,” Deborah Melendy Joice wrote.

Joice continued with the story, “Elizabeth’s time was at hand and Benjamin Fremont [sic: Franklin] Bacon was born Dec. 12,1866. Dr. Powers was not at home and the only person to help with the delivery was Deborah who lacked four days of being fifteen years of age.  With her mother’s instructions Deborah delivered the baby and mother and son got along well.  It was raining.  There was no floor in the cabin and a stream of water ran through it under the bed.”

Deborah Norman provided some historical perspective in an email,  “The Bacons had arrived in the former homeland of the Chalon Indian people, who migrated to Mission Soledad under Spanish rule.” In her 2005 publication Norman described the setting, “But Bear Valley was isolated, and weeks would pass without news from the outside world. The new settlers saw grizzly bears and lions daily, and if they were in the vicinity of the Pinnacles (then known as  ‘Palisades’), they saw giant California condor.”

The Bacons planted fruit trees and gradually improved their property. Children grew and married into neighboring families. Elizabeth’s second husband, Myron Bacon, left the ranch and they divorced. Elizabeth’s land along the present road to Pinnacles National Park was patented in her name in 1879. Soon after, she filed and had success adding 160 more acres.  Myron Bacon committed suicide in 1890.   

The Bacons tended the dairy herd in Bear Valley, and butter was delivered by horseback to the New Idria mines and Gilroy. “In 1889, she was milking seven cows and making lots of butter which she sold for 10 cents. She was tending 100 little turkeys,” according to a news article from that time.

“She was welcoming and provided a place of refuge for people traveling through the area,” said Deborah Norman, in a recent interview about Elizabeth Bacon’s life.  “She had an interest in the Pinnacles even then. She’d call it the ‘Big Rock Pile.’ Her sons would take kids and visitors up there and go exploring,” Norman said.  

Elizabeth Quigley Shell Bacon died in Bear Valley in 1901 and was buried at nearby Willow Creek Cemetery. In her lifetime, she ran the operation, raised seven children, one grandchild and managed to prove up on her 320-acre ranch. Some direct descendants still live in and around Bear Valley and have established their own ranches. According to Norman, there are around 400 Elizabeth Shell Bacon descendants nationwide. She writes, “They are engaged in every profession and occupation imaginable, including ranching, the military, classical music, scientific research, applied sciences, medicine, heavy equipment operation, building, the ministry, engineering and social media.”

– All photos courtesy Greg Schmidt. Special thanks to him and Deborah Norman for both the written information they provided and the time they gave for interviews. TheSan Benito County Historical Society has many of the same collections and records used to research this story. The “Legacy of Women” is an ongoing series on BenitoLink. The stories are written and owned by Leslie David.