Wapello County IA Archives Biographies.....Bonnifield, W. B. 1827 - 1908
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Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 September 14, 2015, 12:21 pm

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

W. B. BONNIFIELD.
Time gives the perspective which places each event of history and each character
that has figured in connection with public life in its true relation to the
whole. As the years pass on and one does not have to look at a close range he
sees the true relation of a fellowman to his hour. Judged in this way the fame
of W. B. Bonnifield is even more pronounced. His life was the expression of high
purposes and of noble principles. He neglected no duty whether of a public or
private character, and at all times was faultless in honor, fearless in conduct
and stainless in reputation. He figured for, a long period as one of the leading
bankers of Wapello county, organizing the First National Bank in 1863, and
remaining its president until his death, which occurred August 9, 1908.

Mr. Bonnifield had passed the eighty-first milestone on life's journey when
called to the home beyond. A native of Virginia, he was born in Randolph county
on the 23d of February, 1827, and was a little lad of ten years when the family
home was established in Jefferson county, Iowa, the father securing a farm nine
miles east of Fairfield. There both parents passed away in the spring of 1841,
W. B. Bonnifield being then but fourteen years of age. He continued upon the
home farm until he reached the age of twenty, and during that period he was a
pupil in the district schools through the winter months. The little "temple of
learning" was a log building with greased paper windows, slab seats and other
primitive furnishings. The school session continued for about three months a
year, and during the remainder of the time Mr. Bonnifield was busily engaged in
the work of the fields. The limited school advantages which he received did not
satisfy him, however, and, accompanied by his two younger brothers, he entered
Iowa Wesleyan University at Mount Pleasant, studying there for a year and a
half. The three brothers then matriculated in Allegheny College at Meadville,
Pennsylvania, to which point travel was usually by boat on the Mississippi and
Ohio rivers to Pittsburgh and thence by canal to the destination. In the year in
which the brothers went to the east cholera was prevalent, and not wishing to
become victims of the disease they tramped across the prairies of Illinois to
Chicago, carrying their luggage with them and occasionally assisted by a passing
farm wagon, a ride being offered them by the farmer or else allowed them for
pay. The Michigan Southern extended eastward from Chicago, but travel by rail
was more expensive than by water, and the three boys, now footsore and weary,
took passage on a steamer for Erie, Pennsylvania, which was forty miles from
their destination. They experienced seasickness, however, and at Cleveland left
the boat, preferring to walk the remaining ninety miles to Meadville rather than
shorten their tramp by continued lake passage to Erie. Two and one-half years
were spent in college, at the end of which time their financial resources were
exhausted, and finding it necessary to immediately begin earning his living, W.
B. Bonnifield went to Kentucky, where he taught school for a term of five
months, expecting as soon as he had enough money to resume his college course.
His work as a teacher was so satisfactory, however, that his wages were
increased from time to time and he remained in Kentucky for nearly two years.

The country was still in the throes of excitement over the gold discoveries in
California, and in 1853 Mr. Bonnifield with his four brothers started for the
Pacific coast, traveling across the plains with ox teams. Mile after mile they
crossed the hot sands or traveled over the mountain passes, at length reaching
the western coast. W. B. Bonnifield was then engaged in mining and in
stock-raising in northern California until 1860. He did not win wealth, but
obtained a fair competence during that period, and on again proceeding to the
middle west he settled at Ottumwa, Iowa, where in October, 1861, in partnership
with his two brothers, he embarked in the private banking business under the
firm style of Bonnifield Brothers. With the passage of the national banking law
he organized the First National Bank of Ottumwa in October, 1863, securing
charter No. 107, this being the first national bank organized west of the
Mississippi. The new institution was capitalized at sixty thousand dollars, with
George Gillaspy as president and W. B. Bonnifield as cashier. Ere a year had
passed, however, the latter was promoted to the presidency, and so continued
until his death, with the exception of two years. The bank weathered all the
financial storms which at times threatened the business stability of the
country, and growing steadily and surely increased the capital stock in 1891 to
one hundred and twenty thousand dollars. Five hundred thousand dollars has been
paid in dividends to the stockholders since the organization. Mr. Bonnifield
watched every indication pointing to success, formed his plans readily and was
determined in their execution.

Other business interests also profited by his co-operation and the soundness of
his judgment. He was president and treasurer of the Iowa Central Coal Company at
Oskaloosa for one year and for six years was treasurer of the St. Louis & Cedar
Rapids Railroad Company, at the end of which time the road was merged into the
Milwaukee System. He was active in organizing the Ottumwa Water Power Company,
and for eight years directed its policy as its president. He extended his
efforts into the financial field in 1898, when he became one of the organizers
of the Union Trust & Savings Bank, capitalized for fifty thousand dollars. Its
promoters were the same men who organized the First National. In 1870 the
officials of the latter erected a bank building which was destroyed by fire in
1880, and in 1881 they rebuilt at the corner of Main and Market streets. While
he was still living a contemporary biographer wrote of him: "W. B. Bonnifield
has been an important factor in the building up of Ottumwa; he has all the time
been a banker, bringing to the business his native good sense as well as that
financial education that comes to those who are accustomed to handling the money
of others; he has never aspired to office, but steadily kept in view the
interests of those who confided in him as a financier, and has so managed the
affairs of his bank that at no time has it been in peril, or even threatened
with peril. In the exercise of these functions he has had the accustomed
experience of bankers, and vet with all of his conservatism there has never been
a day or an hour that he has not been ready to aid all legitimate enterprises
that have been calculated to advance the interests of Ottumwa, materially as
well as morally. He has, at the risk of loss, been a fearless advocate of
temperance, and in every way he has thrown his influence in favor of things that
contribute to good rather than to evil. In all the public movements for charity
the name of W. B. Bonnifield has been among the foremost in contributing to
relieve the woes of others, whether at home or abroad."

On the 28th of July, 1862, Mr. Bonnifield was united in marriage to Miss Alcinda
Innskeep, a native of Hillsboro, Ohio, and they became the parents of a son,
William B., and two daughters: Mary, who is now the widow of Frank C. Hormel and
makes her home in Boston, Massachusetts; and Lizzie, the wife of F. W. Simmons
of Ottumwa.

The son was born June 30, 1874, and had for fifteen years been associated with
the First National Bank at the time of his father's death. He then succeeded to
the presidency and is still holding that position. He was educated in the common
schools of Ottumwa, in the Northwestern University at Evanston, Illinois, and in
Princeton University. Immediately after leaving school he entered the bank and
is now not only president of the First National, but also of the Union Trust &
Savings Bank and vice president of the City Savings Bank. He has become
connected with financial affairs elsewhere and is president of the Kirkville
Savings Bank and president of the Hiteman Savings Bank. He is also vice
president and a director of the American Mining Tool Company. He is likewise
interested in farming and stock-raising making, a specialty of thoroughbred
Shorthorn cattle and Percheron horses. His political allegiance is given to the
republican party, and his religious faith is that of the Congregational church.
Fraternally he is connected with the Wapello Club and the Country Club.

On the 27th of December, 1899, William B. Bonnifield married Miss Lizette Near,
who was born near Racine, Wisconsin, a daughter of Mrs. Mary E. Near, her father
having died in her infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Bonnifield have become the parents of
four children, Mary Alcinda, West Benson, Margaret and Edward Baker.

No history of Wapello county would be complete without extended reference to the
Bonnifield family, because of the active and important part which father and son
have taken in the business life of the community, and in support of its public
welfare. W. B. Bonnifield, Sr., was indeed a worthy and honored pioneer resident
of Ottumwa. His enterprise made him a leader and not a follower of men. He
marked out paths which others have pursued, and his efforts were a most vital
and far-reaching element in advancing the progress and upbuilding of the section
in which he lived. No history of Wapello county would be complete without his
record.


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


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