Grundy County IL Archives Biographies.....Bonar, John 1842 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/il/ilfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com March 25, 2006, 9:36 am Author: Bio/Gen Record LaSalle/Grundy, 1900 JOHN BONAR Among the worthy citizens that Scotland has furnished to the new world is John Bonar, who is now successfully engaged in the clothing business in Morris. He was born in Clackmannanshire, Scotland, August 30, 1842, and is a son of James and Mary (Shepard) Bonar, representatives of old Scotch families. They lived and died in their native land, where the father engaged in coal-mining, being mine boss at one coal nine for twenty-one years. He died at the age of forty- eight, and his wife passed away at the age of sixty-seven. They were the parents of six sons and seven daughters. John Bonar obtained a limited education in the land of his nativity and at the early age of nine years he began to earn his own living, working in the coal mines. He followed that pursuit for some time, and before leaving Scotland he was married. In 1867, hoping to better his financial condition in the new world, he sailed to the United States, and on landing in New York made his way directly to Morris. He was identified with the coal-mining interests of this locality for about seventeen years and was then made mine inspector of Grundy county, holding the position for three years. At the expiration of that period he was appointed deputy sheriff serving for four years under Sheriff John Schroder. In August, 1891, he entered the mercantile ranks and has since been engaged in the clothing business as the senior member of the firm of John Bonar & Son. They have a commodious store, well stocked with a fine line of goods, and from the public are receiving a liberal patronage. Mr. Bonar was married in Scotland in 1862 to Margaret Patterson, who also was of Scottish birth and ancestry. Three children were there born to them: Christina, who was married in 1887 to Henry Matters and then removed to Nebraska, where she died in the first year of her married life; James B., who is the manager of Wile Brothers’ clothing store in Morris; and Alexander, who is associated with his father in business. Nine months after his arrival in America Mr. Bonar sent for his wife and three children, and in this country eight children have been added to the family circle, but three of them are now deceased. The five still living are Jane, a teacher in Morris high school; John, Mary, Thomas and Nellie, who are yet at their parental home. In his political views Mr. Bonar is a stalwart Republican, and exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the party and does all in his power to promote its growth and insure its success. Socially he is a representative of the Knights of Pythias fraternity. He and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church and the family are numbered among the most favorably known citizens of Morris. Mr. Bonar has justly won the proud title of a self-made man. He started out in life at a very tender age and in his youth experienced many hardships and difficulties, but he possessed strong determination and resolute purpose, which enabled him to overcome many of the obstacles in his path. His hope of more rapidly acquiring a competence in America has been fully realized and he is accounted one of the substantial merchants of his adopted city. Additional Comments: Source: Biographical and Genealogical Record of La Salle and Grundy County, Illinois, Volume 11, Chicago, 1900, p530-531 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/grundy/bios/bonar573nbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/ilfiles/ File size: 3.9 Kb