Wapello County IA Archives Biographies.....Bonham, John C. 1859 - 
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Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 July 14, 2013, 5:18 pm

Source: See Below
Author: S. J. Clarke, Publisher

JOHN C. BONHAM, M. D.

Dr. John C. Bonham, a well known physician and surgeon of Ottumwa, has followed
his profession in this city continuously for the past twenty-three years and has
been accorded an extensive and gratifying practice. His birth occurred in
Lancaster, Wisconsin, on the 17th of June, 1859, his parents being John J. and
Mary (Wright) Bonham, the former a native of West Virginia and the latter of
Missouri. John J. Bonham, who was born on the 4th of January, 1827, and followed
contracting and building throughout his active business career, passed away at
Bloomington, Wisconsin, July 15, 1897, when seventy years of age. His widow
survives and makes her home in Lancaster, Wisconsin. Mr. and Mrs. John J. Bonham
were the parents of four children, as follows: Roxie, who is the wife of L. D.
Holford, of Tulare, California; Bartie, who gave her hand in marriage to Walter
Bennett, of Odebolt, Iowa; John C., of this review; and Stella, the wife of
Davis Newman. The first representatives of the Bonham family in this country
were three brothers of the name who came from England in 1632, settling at
Plymouth, Massachusetts. The sons of these brothers grew to maturity and
scattered over the eastern states. A Bonham of this line was governor of South
Carolina, and prior to his election to that office was chosen as a general in
the Confederate army. One of his sons was chosen state senator and still
practices law at Anderson, South Carolina. Several uncles of our subject
participated in the Revolutionary war, the Bonhams being represented on both
sides. Malachi Bonham served in the Mexican war with the rank of lieutenant and
was later made major general. He was killed at the Alamo, being shot down after
having surrendered and having been guaranteed protection. Bonham, Texas, was
named in his honor.

John C. Bonham acquired his early education in the common schools of Wisconsin
and completed the high-school course at Lancaster with the class of 1878.
Subsequently he attended the normal school at Platteville, Wisconsin, and then
followed the profession of teaching for two years, also reading medicine during
that period. He afterward became a registered pharmacist by state examination
both in Wisconsin and Iowa and for two years was engaged in the drug business.
On the expiration of that period he entered Hahnemann Medical College, and
following his graduation from that institution in the spring of 1883 began the
practice of medicine at Sutherland, O'Brien county, Iowa, where he remained for
seven years. Subsequently he spent a year in practice at Sioux City, Woodbury
county, this state, and in 1891 came to Ottumwa, which city has since remained
the scene of his professional labors. He confines himself to office practice
exclusively and enjoys a gratifying patronage rhat has steadily grown as his
skill and ability have become more and more widely recognized. Dr. Bonham owns a
farm of one hundred acres within two miles of Ottumwa and spends the summer
season on that property, being much interested in the raising of hogs.

On the 16th of January, 1884, Dr. Bonham was united in marriage to Miss Amelia
Schell, a native of Bloomington, Wisconsin, and a daughter of F. J. and Mary
(Fagg) Schell. The father, a boot and shoe merchant, is now deceased, but the
mother survives and makes her home at Dodgeville, Wisconsin. To the Doctor and
his wife was born a daughter, Cecile E., who is at home. Mrs. Bonham died June
17, 1914.

Dr. Bonham supports the men and measures of the democracy, which has always been
the political faith of the family. He served as mayor of Sutherland for two
years and gave the city a most beneficial and businesslike administration. His
religious faith is indicated by his membership in the First Congregational
church, while fraternally he is identified with the Modern Woodmen of America
and the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. He is likewise a member of the Sons
of the American Revolution. Dr. Bonham is well known in Ottumwa and Wapello
county, where he has long resided, and his many friends include the best
residents of the community, indicating that his social and other qualities are
such as win him high regard and popularity.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:
HISTORY OF WAPELLO COUNTY IOWA
ILLUSTRATED
VOLUME II
CHICAGO
THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY 1914



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