18. James Taylor⁴ Bonner (David³, John², ??¹) was born in Greenfield, Highland Co., Ohio 14 Jul 1814.⁽²⁶⁶⁶⁾ James died 3 May 1884 in Chillicothe, Ross Co., Ohio.⁽²⁶⁶⁷⁾

He married twice. He married Caroline C. Herrick 27 Feb 1840.⁽²⁶⁶⁸⁾ Caroline was born 25 Apr 1818. Caroline was the daughter of John C. Herrick III and Catherine Van Schaick. Caroline died 18 Oct. 1854. He married Anna M. ??.

He was the plaintiff in a law suit in Greenfield, Highland Co., Ohio, 14 Jan 1854. The lawsuit was brought against Jane Bonner and the estate for a portion of the inheritance. Important to note that Louisa is not part of the lawsuit and Ellen had already died.

James's will was probated in Chillicothe, Ross Co., Ohio, 1884. Family legens says that when James was about four years old he was stolen by gypsies and rescued by his sister Margaret. In any case, he was a merchant miller with a feed store on Water street, a farmer, and a saw mill operator. The Chillicothe City Directory lists

Bonner, J.T. west end of 5th, foot of Old Limestone Road. Bonner & Steel - wholesale, retail grocers, manufacturers, & dealers in flours, feeds, etc. NS Water opposite the Clinton House.

He was an elder and member of the Third Presbyterian Church and in 1868 part of the movement that saw the church withdraw from the United Presbyterian Synod and join the Synod of the Old School Church. Church historians describe him as "a through going Presbyterian, positive in his convictions, and controlled in his life be sense of duty." In his family there were five generations who were active in the Third Church. He himself was ordained an elder in 2 Apr 1865 and attended Presbytery 9 Apr 1872.

The following letter was written by him to his son James Toy Bonner in 1864: Homer, January 7, 1884 Dear son We received your letter a shorttime since and are always glad to hear from you all and would like to hear more frequently than we do. Since I wrote last Mother Bonner has had quite a sick spell was confined to bed for about two weeks and house another. Doctor was up four or five times. Severe pains through her breast and side. Some fever. (?), saidwas neuralgy. Seems to be in all her usual health now. I had my hands full to attend to the cows, milk, churn up butter, and all pertaining there to. Churn twice a week. 9, 10 lbs. at a churning - if I had not been clear of the store I don't see how I could have gotten through but there is always someway provided for all who desire to love and serve God. We have had a very cold spell for a few days down to 20 below zero. Not quite so bad today. Have had lots of snow. Gout our ice put in Saturday so it may moderate as soon as it pleases and I hope soon. I am so poor and thin in flesh I cannot stand the cold. I am much better than I was ssome time since and for two years I quit. But my stomach is not right by a long piece but I hope that I may improve gradually. I have been very unwell for a long time and it has nockd the bottom out of my business and my income and put me in debt. I was not able to be out of bed all the time for the last year and if Will had not come and taken charge of affairs I would have had to quit business. I feel under great obligation to the sons for coming to my help. Will left a good situation one he liked and a good salary. We had to borrow money here to get under headway again. The mill machinery he put in works very nice and is worth one thousand dollars all attachments. The only trouble with it is it is expensive power but is nice - always ready when called on. The water passes through a meter and we pay for waht is used. Will has more orders coming in for feed grain and meal than he can fill for the present until he gets under headway - and I hope he may bring it out all right. I do hate to be in debt and have my name to obligations promising to pay. Money can be had here on mortgage but not likely any one would on property out west. I don't want you to think we would do more for Jo and Will than for others but consider that all we have was accumulated by getting a start on our feet by their mothers means as I had nothing left at all when the foundry blowed up and what we have was made by great labor and most rigid economy on our part. The holidays are past again and we another year nearer our eternal home. Oh may we all do and be better if spared to see another New Year - Christmas Day we were at home by ourselves, had a good turkey dinner gotten us by family - New Years day we had Jo C(?) B and family with us. Had a pleasant day a good turkey dinner by mother - Jo has been traveling for the past 6 or 8 weeks drummming their business. They do a good business work 75 hands now - Nelly and baby stay with her aunt Dolly Turner in Circleville. He expects to travel until February. Sleeping car all night and work all day - a great change in traveling in the last 50 years. We hope and trust you all keep well this winter. Henrys family also let him read this letter if you please. I want to write oftener after while, now it takes nearly all my time to attend to the cows, 2 calves andlots of chickens. -Tuesday morning had another big snow last night, about 6 inches, near a foot now - there is no particular news that I have heard. I have not been down town but once a little bit for a month. Will is busy and I don;t hear much. If you put in your machine do hope you may do well. We all send you our New Years happy greeting. Our best love to all, Henrys family included. As ever your most affectionate father. Jas T. Bonner

Jame died soon after this letter. He clearly felt obligated to his sons by his second wife for their assistance in running the business. That feeling was not shared by the children of the first wife. This is very evident in a letter written by his son James Toy Bonner to his wife when Toy was in Chillicothe for his father's funeral and to claim his inheritance as the eldest son.

May 13, 1884 Dearest Wife. I received your very kind letter yesterday. I was very glad to get it. I think you got a nice picture of Walter and Hattie. Bessie's don't look quite natural. I am proud of them and I take great delight in showing them to my friends. I got a nice presenty from some friend last night for Walter and Hattie. Iam going to make quite a box to send home. Henry and Mary started for Iowa yesterday. Mother dont want me to go yet so I will not get home before next week. Father made a will, a most unjust one, everything is left to mother and at her death Will gets it all. But they have got Father so involved that there will be nothing left by that time. Will's wife is terribly extravagant. I thought I would like her but the more I see of her the less I think of her. I wont tell you anything before I get home. I dread coming home and shouldering my heavy load again, but I dont think Iam a coward. I must go ahead with out ever thinking of getting anything except what I make by my own energy and care - with you assistance -. I want my babies so much. I wish you could be here but I dont suppose I will ever come home again. It is not home anymore. I hope more flowers come through nicely. You need not answer this for I will start for hime either Friday or Saturday. Jos wants me to go andsee him. It will not cost any more, I may go that way rather than through Indianapolis. I have seen Lizzie but I will never call on her. I can't bear her. Iam thankfull that I have been saved from such a wife. I will wait until I get home to tell you the rest. Your affectionate husband James T. Bonner Kiss the children for me, Walter, Kitten and Bessie. Kiss yourself for me.

James Taylor Bonner and Anna M. ?? had the following children:

35 i. Joseph C.⁵ Bonner. Joseph was listed in a directory in Chillicothe, Ross Co., Ohio, 1876 - 1877. Listed as a bookkeeper at the First National Bank and living at his father's home south of new Limestone west of High Street.

+ 36 ii. William Thompson Bonner was born 14 Oct 1869.

James Taylor Bonner and Caroline C. Herrick had the following children:

37 iii. Mary Ellen Bonner was born 15 Feb 1841. Unmarried. Recipient of the "Bonner" Civil War letters. Attended Urbana Female Seminary in Ohio.

38 iv. David W. Bonner was born 4 Sep 1842. David died 1 Sep 1862. At the Second Battle of the Bull Run. Served in the 73rd Ohio Voluntary Infantry. Unmarried.

39 v. John Herrick Bonner was born 27 Aug 1844. He married Lizzie ??. Wounded in the Civil War and recuperated at a hospital in Tennesee. Married there and remained in the South. There was issue.

+ 40 vi. Henry Johnson Bonner was born 11 May 1846.

+ 41 vii. James Toy Bonner was born 12 Dec 1847.

42 viii. Kitty Bonner was born 1850. Kitty died 13 Jun 1854.

Return to Table of Contents or Index

Go to Next Page

Go to Previous Page