Freestone County, Texas
Biographies



Biography of William Edward Bonner, Sr.
  (23 Sep 1848-12 Sep 1912, buried at Mexia City Cemetery)

Lewis Publishing Company. A Memorial and Biographical History of Navarro, 
Henderson, Anderson, Limestone, Freestone and Leon Counties, Texas. Chicago, Illinois. 
1893.  pg.431

BONNER
is an enterprising little village of Freestone County, where reside the following two 
gentlemen, along with others whose sketches may be found by the index.

William Edward Bonner, a merchant, farmer and stock raiser of Freestone county was 
born in Wilcox county, Alabama, in September, 1848, a son of Rev. T. J. and H. A. 
(Posey) Bonner, natives of Alabama and South Carolina.  They were married in the latter 
State.  The father received a classical education, having graduated at Erskin College, 
South Carolina, and at the age of twenty-one years engaged in ministerial duties.  He was 
a minister of the Associate Reformed Church, a branch of the Presbyterian Church, 
formerly known as the Seceder Church.  During the first year he travelled principally 
through Georgia and Alabama, and in December, 1859, settled where our subject now 
lives, where he has resided several years.  Mr. Bonner was a local minister in the county, 
and his first charge was County Line Church located on line between Navarro and 
Freestone counties.  He was the first minister of his faith in Freestone county, if not in 
several counties, and during his residence here was one of the most prominent men, both 
as a citizen and minister.  He took no active part in the late war, yet his sympathies were 
with his people, and like all true Southern men, his property was cheerfully given to the 
cause.  In July, 1891, he moved to Palestine, Anderson county, where on account of ill 
health, he has retired to private life.  Mr. and Mrs. Bonner had seven children:  Euphema 
A., widow of Dr. W. A. Campbell, of Palestine; Rosa, deceased; W. E., our subject; 
Harriet M., widow of W. R. Anderson, of Mexia; Margaret P., deceased, was the wife of 
J. J. Dunbar; Walter B., of this county; Carrie C., wife of B. H. Gardner, of Palestine; and 
James W., of Freestone county.  Rev. Bonner served as County Treasurer for two terms, 
of two years each, and was a Democrat in his political views.  The paternal grandfather of 
our subject, William Bonner was a captain under Jackson in the Indian war of 1812, and 
his father came from Ireland and settled near Abbeville, South Carolina.  William Bonner 
was of a high type of Christian manhood, distinguished in patriotism, charity and in the 
use of kind words.  Beginning independent life with no means, he at length accumulated 
considerable property, by honest and industrious efforts, besides educating his brothers 
and sisters.  At the close of the late Civil war he turned loose a number of slaves, among 
them the first negro he ever owned, "old Jo".  All of his slaves loved him.  He lived as a 
widower a long time, with his widowed daughter, Mrs. Mary McCrery, his eldest child.  
The maternal grandfather died when Mrs. Bonner was small, leaving two children besides 
herself; J. W. and Margaret.  His father, John Calhoun, was of Scotch-Irish descent, and a 
captain in the Revolutionary war.  
  Willam E. Bonner received an ordinary education in the country schools, but in after life 
acquired a good business or practical training.  He commenced life for himself at the age 
of twenty years, a clerk in the dry goods store of Colonel Wortham, receiving $12 per 
month.  In his twenty third year, and in company with his father, he started a small 
business in this city; later formed a partnership with W. A. Simmons in the mercantile 
trade; and four years later purchased his partner's interest, since which he has continued 
alone.  Mr. Bonner began life with but little property and has accumulated what he now 
has by his own exertions.  He owns 4,500 acres of land, with 1,000 acres under a fine 
state of cultivation.  He is also a large dealer in beef cattle, handling several hundred head 
yearly, besides having horses and other stock.  In addition to his other interest, he owns a 
steam cotton and gristmill.  For several years he has done mercantile business amounting 
to $20,000 or $30,000 annually.
   Our subject married March 3, 1878, Miss Elizabeth B. Sessions, a native of this county, 
and a daughter of Gustavus A. and Martha (Carter) Sessions, a sketch of whom appears 
in this work.  Mr. and Mrs. Bonner have ten children, viz, Lillian B., Mattie C., Joel A., 
William F., John S., George (deceased), Louise A., Annie Z., and twins, Edwin P., and 
Fannie Kate.  Both Mr. and Mrs. Bonner are members of the Missionary Baptist Church.  
Politically, he is identified with the Democratic party.