Davidson-Warren County TN Archives Biographies.....McMillin, Benton 
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@gmail.com August 28, 2005, 4:24 am

Author: Will T. Hale

   TALBOT FANNING BONNER. A prominent and prosperous citizen of Nashville,

Talbot Fanning Bonner, head of the Bonner Furniture Manufacturing Company, has

long been an important factor in the promotion and advancement of the industrial

and business interests of this section of Davidson county; and his influence as

a man or honor and integrity is felt throughout the city, for the welfare of

which he is ever laboring. A son of Bedding Bonner, Jr., he was born on a farm

in Warren county, Tennessee, of thrifty pioneer stock.



   His paternal grandfather, Redding Bonner, Sr., a native of North Carolina,

was bred, educated, and married in that state. Subsequently, accompanied by his

wife and children, he migrated to Tennessee, making the overland journey with

teams, and bringing with him all of his worldly effects, including his household

goods, farm implements, slaves, and live stock, it taking several weeks to

accomplish the trip. Locating in Warren county, he bought a tract of wild land,

and in common with the other pioneers of that section of the state began the

clearing and improving of a homestead, in the meantime ably assisting in the

development of the resources of that county. At that time, and for many years

thereafter, there were no railroads in the state, and each year the farmers

roundabout had to make two trips to Nashville, seventy-five miles away, carrying

to' that market and depot for supplies all of their surplus produce, and taking

back on their return the needed household supplies, such as coffee, salt, sugar

and shoes. Clearing a good farm, Redding Bonner, Sr., was there a resident until

his death, when upwards of ninety years old. His wife also lived to a good old age.



   Born near Raleigh, North Carolina, Redding Bonner, Jr., was about fifteen

years old when he accompanied his parents to Tennessee. He assisted his father

in the pioneer labor of clearing the land, and as soon as old enough served an

apprenticeship at the tanner's trade. When ready to begin life on his own

account, he bought land lying two miles from the parental homestead, and in

addition to tilling the soil operated a tannery, tanning hides for the

neighboring farmers at halves, receiving one hide for tanning another. During

the war between the states he tanned hides for the Confederate government, and

was thus exempt from military service. He died in 1899, aged fourscore and two

years. He married Elizabeth Rutledge, who was born in Warren county, a daughter

of John and Mary (Dotson) Rutledge, pioneers of that part of the state. She used

to card, spin and weave the homespun in which she clothed her family, living a

useful life of seventy years. Nine children were born to them, as follows:

Esther, Hiram Boone, Cicero, Alice, Andrew, Talbot Fanning, Norman, Julia, and
Dora.



   The boyhood of Talbot Fanning Bonner was spent on the home farm, and his

rudimentary education was gleaned in the district schools, his first temple of

learning having been a small log house, furnished with plain wooden benches.

Well drilled in the elements of knowledge, he was subsequently graduated from

Eastman's Business College, in Poughkeepsie, New York, receiving his diploma in

1881. Locating then in Nashville, Mr. Bonner was for several years employed as a

bookkeeper. In 1900 he began his career as a manufacturer, being at first

general manager for the Standard Furniture Company, later serving as general

manager and treasurer of the concern. Severing his connection with that firm in.

1912, Mr. Bonner organized the Bonner Furniture Manufacturing Company, of which

he has since been president and treasurer, offices for which he is amply qualified.



   Mr. Bonner is likewise officially connected with many other organizations of

note, being president of the Nashville Manufacturers' Association;

vice-president of the Tennessee Manufacturers' Association; a member of the

Nashville Board of Trade, which he has served as director; a member of the

executive committee of the Industrial Board. He is also a trustee of both the

Fanning Orphan School and of the Galloway Memorial Hospital. Fraternally he

belongs to the Royal Arcanum; and religiously he is a member of the Christian

church.



   Mr. Bonner married, May 20, 1884, Miss Bessie Emma Moss, who was born in

Mercer county, Kentucky, a daughter of Ulysses F. and Katie (West) Moss. Mr. and

Mrs. Bonner have one child, Lillian Catherine Bonner, who was married September

7, 1911, to Mr. John L. Norton, a manufacturer's agent with headquarters in

Nashville.



Additional Comments:
From:



A history of Tennessee and Tennesseans : the leaders and representative men in

commerce, industry and modern activities

by Will T. Hale

Chicago:  Lewis Pub. Co.,  1913

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