Atoka County Oklahoma - Biography: Story of the Bonham Cabin ************************************************************************ Submitted by: Jean Bonham Vandenburg - ************************************************************************ USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. ************************************************************************ The Carl Bonham Cabin The one room cabin, was hand built by Carl and Thelma Bonham in 1934. There were no roads to the location at that time, only wagon trails. The cabin was rebuilt in 1947, adding new logs to replace the logs that were damaged. The trees were cut from a stand of trees on Calvin Mead's property near Rock Creek and the logs were hauled by horse and wagon to the location. The logs were left to dry and the little girls helped to peel the bark before they were used. The log cabin had rooms added as the family grew. Later the logs were covered by siding. When Carl Bonham, the son of O.C.Bohnam and Lydia New Bonham, and Thelma Boling, the daughter of John Boling and Eula Bell Thompson Boling decided to marry, his father gave them property on the east part to build a home, located seven miles east of Atoka in the Harmony community. The O. C. Bonham family is well established in the area. O. C. Bonham lived in the area for many years and Carl lived there all his life. Carl and his daughters, and two of the grand daughters went to Harmony School. He farmed the land with his father, and together they ran a blacksmith shop. It was there Carl learned to be a mechanic by repairing farm equipment, and it was the profession he chose to follow to support his family. Carl and Thelma raised their family in the cabin. They were popular in the community where Carl was well known for his musical talent. He was often called on to play his guitar and mandolin, as well as sing, at many community activities and dances. The girls Jean and Jackie were known for their basketball and other sports at Harmony School. All of their grandchildren and many of their great grandchildren spent time at "Granny's Little Log House." during the time it sat on it's hilltop in the Harmony Community. Carl died in a car accident September 30, 1963. Thelma is now in ill health and lives in a Nursing Home in Meeker, Oklahoma near her daughters. The cabin was donated to Atoka County Museum by Jean Bonham Vandenburg and Jackie Bonham Vandenburg Hand and moved to it's present site so it could be preserved as a part of the history of Atoka County.