Biographical Sketch of David Bonham - Andrew County, Missouri

>From "History of Missouri, Andrew & DeKalb County" Published 1888

************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/mo/mofiles.htm
************************************************

Transcribed by: Penny Harrell (Incog3678@aol.com)

**********************************************************************

David Bonham, the subject of the following sketch, is a citizen of
Platte Township, Andrew County, MO., and was born in Oneida County, NY,
February 7, 1834.  He is the son of David Bonham, a native of North-
amptonshire, England.  He was born on March 22, 1809, and was the son
of Robert Bonham.  He made his own support after he was ten years of
age, and when a young man he immigrated to America, in company with
William Derby, a companion of his youth, landing in New York in April,
1830.  Having been reared on a farm, he chose farming as a vocation,
and engaged to a Mr. Powers as a farm laborer.  It was at this farmer's
home that he first met Rebecca Weaver, who soon after became his wife.
She was born in Sussex, England, in 1807, and was the daughter of
William Weaver, who was a shepherd in England, and by industry had
saved enough money to bring his family to America, where he could secure
them a home.  They landed in April, 1830.  After this the sons hired out
to work, and Rebecca, the only daughter, hired as a servant girl to the
same Powers for whom Mr. Bonham was working.  Here they formed an
acquaintance which brought about their marriage in 1831, when the 
husband commenced farming in New York as a renter.  In 1836 they removed
to the Territory of Wisconsin, where he took up a claim of 160 acres of
land, on which he resided until the spring of 1856, when he immigrated
to Missouri, where he entered land on Empire Prairie, where he afterward
resided.  He was a well informed and highly respected man.  He was a 
member of the Wisconsin Territorial Legislature from 1841 to 1844, 
inclusive.  In politics he was a Republican, and was a zealous advocate
of free labor and education.  In 1865 he was a prominent member of the
Missouri Constitutional Convention that framed and adopted the Drake
constitution.  He represented the First Senatorial District in the 
State Senate in 1867-68, and was the father of the bill of 1867 
establishing a permanent school fund for the State of Missouri.  In
1868 he visited his native land for a few months, after an absence of
thirty-nine years.  He died on May 22, 1870, and his wife died on
January 6, 1871, leaving a family of four sons and one daughter.  David
was reared on the farm, which occupation he has since followed.  He
received a practical education in the country schools of Wisconsin.  In
1854 he was united in marriage with Caroline L. Davison, daughter of
Israel Davison.  Five sons and two daughters were born unto them, of 
whom two sons and two daughters are living.  The mother died in January,
1883, and February, 1884 he married Sarah A. Weaver, daughter of William
Weaver.  In August, 1861, he enlisted in the Missouri State Militia, and
was mustered out as second lieutenant of his company in Febraury, 1862.
After this, in company with Capt. Prichard, he organized a company of
100 men, which became known as Company D, Fourth Regiment of Cavalry,
Missouri State Militia.  He was mustered in as first lieutenant of his
company on April 3, 1862, but in September of that year was promoted to
regimental quartermaster, which position he held until the expiration
of his term of service.  He was mustered out at St. Louis on April 17,
1865.  He then returned to his farm in Andrew County, MO.  In 1869-70 he
served as county judge, and in 1879 he was elected on the Republican
ticket to represent Andrew County in the State Legislature, which
position he held for four successive terms.  He is a member of the
Episcopal church, a Master Mason, and a member of the G.A.R.