BECKHAM B. BONNER AND FAMILY, Smith County, TX ***************************************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm Submitted by Melanie Alexander mealex@earthlink.net 14 May 2001 ***************************************************************** BECKHAM B. BONNER AND FAMILY. "Some Biographies of Old Settlers." Historical, Personal and Reminiscent. Volume I By Sid S. Johnson, 1900: Sid S. Johnson, Publisher, Tyler, Texas Chapter LII - Pages 224-227 CHAPTER LII. Beckham B. Bonner held the office of justice of the Peace of Omen precinct (Old Canton) for fourteen successive years. He was noted for his honesty and Christian life, making a useful and leading citizen. D. H. L. Bonner held the same office for two years and J. B. Bonner for the same length of time. The Bonners are a good class of people, strictly attendant to the duties of life, making up a good and healthy citizenship. Beckham B. Bonner was born August 11th, 1806; in Georgia; moved to Alabama in 1818; was raised among the Cherokee Indians and spoke their language; was an intimate friend and playmate of the renowned Chief, Pathlahola, and when the great chief of the Cherokees fell in the civil war he was grieved as though it was one of his own family. Beckham Bonner married Miss Rebecca Wilson, in 1831. She was a daughter of Capt. Benjamin Wilson, of North Hampton, Va. He was a Lieutenant in the revolution of 1776, and Captain in the Indian wars. Rebecca Wilson was born March 26th, 1808; raised in Virginia; removed to Alabama in 1818, where B. B. Bonner found her, courted and married her in 1831. Like her husband, she had been nurtured and raised in the school of hardships on the frontier, among the wild children of the forest; and it was a pleasure to her and her children, to hear her relate their adventures and escapes; to converse in the Indian dialect. She was a bright-minded, charming woman, and her stories were interesting to her children and other people. All the schooling that Beckham B. Bonner ever received was at night schools, in which he received a fair knowledge of reading, writing, and arithmetic. He served two terms as tax assessor and collector of Autauga county, Alabama. In 1848, he started to Texas with his family, stopping in Washita county Arkansas, where he worked at the blacksmith trade for about 8 months. In the early spring of 1849, he came on to Texas and rented land near where Overton now is, making a crop that year. The same year he bought land on Mud Creek, and on Christmas day, 1849, stretched his tent about two miles west of Omen, (Canton), where he lived until his death, January 11th, 1881. His wife, Rebecca, survived him several years. Mrs. Bonner died March 18th, 1895. Mary, the oldest child, married W. C. Faust. She died 1879. Walter B. F. died in 1857. He was single, and a noted musician of his day. Wm. F. was killed at the battle of Iuka, Mississippi, in 1862, with the flag of his regiment in his hand. D. H. L. lives at Omen, Texas, and is the popular postmaster. He served in the Confederate army, company E, 14th Texas Infantry, commanded by Col. Ed Clark. J. B. lives at Omen, and is a successful truck farmer. G. W. lives at Omen, also, engaged in truck farming. D. H. L. Bonner has been married twice. He first married Miss Susie Neel, a granddaughter of E. T. Broughton. She died in 1874. His present wife was Miss Texas Talley, of Alabama. He has three living children - Clauda, the wife of J. H. Terry - Walter and Mary. J. B. Bonner married Miss Annie Green, a niece of William Green (an old timer), who died four miles south of Tyler since the civil war. They have two children now living - Ola, the wife of Laun Wilson, of Tyler, and Joe. G. W. Bonner married Miss Susie Smith, by which marriage they have four living children - Willie, the wife of Mr. Little; Maud, the wife of Mr. _____; Sydna A., and Della. Cyntha married Sam Crumpler, who lives near Troupe. They have three living children - Josie, wife of W. H. Terry; Elizabeth, wife of Mr. Roberts; and Thomas B., who lately married a Miss Gillispie. Beckham B. Bonner, (the father), held the office of Justice of the Peace, of that precinct, for fourteen years; D. H. L. and J. B. Bonner (sons), two years each. The Bonners are good people and help to make a healthy citizenship.