Mary Marilla Bacon was the 9th child out of 14, born to Ira & Mary Baum Bacon who lived near Taintor, IA in 1852 when they moved from Milton, IL to homestead Mahaska Co. The Bacons and Noels were among the first pioneer families to settle in Mahaska Co, Iowa, in and near the towns of New Sharon and Taintor. Many of these two families are buried in Ira's son-in-law's farm cemetery, known as the Peter Appel Farm Cemetery. The Bacon's were said to use oil lamps that burned raccoon fat, because it burned brighter and cleaner than beef tallow. A pioneer knowledge they brought with them from the wilds of Ohio.(source: Mahaska County, Iowa: Past and Present)

Married: 12 Dec 1852 New Sharon, Prairie Twp, Mahaska Co, IA

James Noel - Born: 30 Mar 1830, Union Twp, Perry Co. OH
Died: 3 July 1909 -Taintor, Richland Twp, Mahaska Co, IA
bur: Highland Cem, New Sharon, Prairie Twp, Mahaska Co, IA

James Noel was the 3rd child of 11, born to Joseph & Mary Cooper Noel from Allegheny, PA. The Noel's moved along with the Bacon's across Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, settling nearly 10 years in each state before finally settling down in the New Sharon & Taintor, IA communities together. Both families can be found on the same census, living in the same farming neighborhoods along the way. When Iowa was opened up for "european" homesteaders, they purchased property in Mahaska County before moving there. Several of Joseph's & Ira's children intermarried, and lived out there lives in these communities.

Their children:
Ruby Noel (15 Aug 1853- 20 Sept 1854)
Alfred Noel (1855-1924) m: Clara Tice
Almeda Noel (16 Feb 1858 - 8 May 1875)
Otis B Noel (1 May 1859 - 6 Aug 1933) m: Judith Knowlton
Olive Noel (aft 1859-aft 1905)
Lillian Noel (aft 1859-aft 1905) m: Henry Hull


Above information from Cherie McNaul