Columbia County OR Archives Biographies.....Bonser, Alexander Hamilton August 21, 1857 - 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Ila L. Wakley iwakley@msn.com June 18, 2009, 1:31 pm

Author: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company

     ALEXANDER HAMILTON BONSER.  Among the progressive and enterprising 
farmers of Columbia county stands Alexander H. Bonser, who owns a well 
improved and productive farm near Scappoose, where he is giving his attention 
to the breeding and raising of pure bred Ayrshire cattle and is meeting with 
notable success. Mr. Bonser was born at Willow Bar, Sauvie's island, Columbia 
county, Oregon, on the 21st of August, 1857, and is a son of Clinton and Mary 
A. (McQuin) Bonser, the former born in Greenup county, Kentucky, in 1829, and 
the latter in Missouri in 1840. His father crossed the plains to Oregon in 
1852, traveling with ox teams and covered wagons in a large train of 
emigrants. He took up a donation land claim at Willow Bar, Columbia county, on 
which he lived until 1861, when he sold it and bought two hundred and three 
acres of the Michael Jones donation claim, three and a half miles south of 
Scappoose. One acre of this land was cleared, the remainder being in timber 
and brush, and on the place stood a log house, in which he lived for three 
years. In 1866 he erected a new house, in which he lived until his death, 
February 28, 1902. His wife died September 14, 1914. Mr. Bonser served in the 
Cayuse Indian war of 1855-56 under Captain Curtis. His wife was a daughter of 
A. H. McQuin, who was born in Yadkin county, Kentucky, in 1810, and died in 
Oregon in 1871. Before coming to Oregon he had followed the gunsmith trade, 
and in 1844 he came across the plains to this state, first locating where the 
city of Portland now stands. In 1849 he joined the gold rush to California, 
but returned to Oregon in the following year and took a donation land claim of 
six hundred and forty acres on Sauvie's island, Multnomah county. There he 
spent the remaining years of his life, engaged in farming and raising fine 
horses and cattle.  To Mr. and Mrs. Bonser were born nine children, of whom 
four are living, namely:  Alex; Robert C., county engineer of Multnomah 
county, who lives in Portland; Mrs. Eva I. Endicott, of Scappoose, who has two 
children, Polly Ann and Clinton B.; Mrs. Viola Edele Nash, of Portland; who 
has two children, Norwood and Mrs. Margaret Shepard, of Portland, who has a 
daughter, Viola, while Norwood Nash has a son, Edison Nash, fourteen years old.

     Alex H. Bonser received his education in the public schools of Scappoose, 
after which he helped his father on the home ranch until 1880. He then engaged 
in steamboating on the Columbia river until 1890. In 1906 he turned his 
attention to raising pure bred Ayrshire cattle, beginning in a small way, but 
exercising sound judgment in the selection of his stock, and now he is the 
owner of a fine herd of high-test pure bred registered cattle, of which he has 
a right to be proud. He owns a good farm of two hundred and sixty acres, on 
which he has made permanent and substantial improvements, and is now building 
a new house on the hill above the Columbia and Astoria highway, which runs 
through his land. The house is well situated, commanding a magnificent view of 
the valley. Mr. Bonser has always shown a readiness to cooperate with his 
fellow citizens in the advancement of all measures for the public good and has 
been a consistent advocate of good roads and the best educational facilities. 
Because of his ability, his industry and his commendable personal qualities, 
he well deserves the high place which he holds in the esteem of his fellowmen 
and is regarded as one of the solid and substantial men of his locality.

Additional Comments:
History of the Columbia River Valley From The Dalles to the Sea, Vol. II, 
Pages 896-897

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