John R. Bonner Biography This biography appears on pages 1785-1786 in "History of South Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. II (1904) and was scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net. This file may be freely copied by individuals and non-profit organizations for their private use. Any other use, including publication, storage in a retrieval system, or transmission by electronic, mechanical, or other means requires the written approval of the file's author. JOHN R. BONNER, who has a well-improved and valuable farm of three hundred and twenty acres, eligibly located five miles northeast of Pierpont, Day county, was born on a farm in DuPage county, Illinois, on the 13th of August, 1859, the old homestead being within sight of the city of Chicago. He is a son of Charles and Sarah (Rooke) Bonner, both of whom were born and reared in Lincolnshire, England, while their marriage was solemnized in March, 1855. Upon coming to America Charles Bonner settled in DuPage county, Illinois, being numbered among its pioneer farmers, and there he continued to resides until 1884, when he removed to Remington, Indiana, where he and his devoted wife now maintain their home, being venerable in years, but in excellent health and spirits. They became the parents of eight children, of whom five are living, the subject of this sketch having been the third in order of birth. John R. Bonner was reared on the old homestead farm and early became inured to the labors involved in the cultivation, while in the connec- tion he gained that intimate knowledge of the practical details of the great basic art of agriculture which has so signally conserved his suc- cess in the line during the years of his residence in South Dakota. He initiated his independent career in 1881, having received his educational training in the public schools of his native county. He there remained two years subsequently to starting out for himself, and then, in 1883, came as a pioneer to the present state of South Dakota, where he secured homestead and tree claims, the two constituting his present fine farm, which has been his home during the long intervening years, within which he has contributed his share to the work of developing the county and its resources, taking a proper interest in public affairs and ever standing ready to do his part in pushing forward the work of progress and material and social advancement, while his efforts have been so ably directed that he has not been denied a full measure of success. His farm is improved with good buildings and practically the entire tract is under cultivation, yielding large crops of wheat and other grains. Mr. Bonner has not had a crop failure in the past twenty years, and the productive integrity of the soil of his farm seems not in the least impaired. He has an excellent supply of water on the place and in addition to diversified agriculture makes somewhat of a specialty of raising an excellent grade of swine. He is a staunch adherent of the Republican party and has served in the various township offices, having been chosen to such preferment soon after locating in the county. Fraternally he is a master Mason and identified with the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Knights of the Maccabees. On the 14th of September, 1889, Mr. Bonner lead to the hymeneal alter Miss Stella Burt, who was born in the state of Michigan, and who has proved a devout wife and helpmeet. They have five children, James, Sarah, Joseph, Susan and Helen.