Obituary: Rev. W. N. Bonner, March 28, 1897 - Smith County, TX Contributed by Vicki Betts 8 January 2003 Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm *********************************************************************** TEXAS CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE, April 8, 1897, p. 8, c. 3-4 REV. W. N. BONNER. Rev. W. N. Bonner was born in Hancock County, Georgia, October 1, 1806. He was converted at a camp-meeting in Baldwin County, Georgia, October 20, 1820. He joined the M. E. Church, South, at Bonner's Chapel, Cedar Creek Circuit, November 1, 1820. He was licensed to exhort in November, 1855, by Rev. Jeff Shook, and was licensed to preach October 5, 1856, by Rev. N. W. Burk. He was admitted on trial in the East Texas Conference at Rusk, Texas, in November, 1857, Bishop H. H. Kavanaugh presiding. He was ordained deacon in Jefferson, Texas, October 24, 1860, by Bishop J. O. Andrew and was ordained elder in Henderson, Texas, October 28, 1869, by Bishop W. M. Wightman. His ministerial life was spent in the bounds of the East Texas Conference. He was appointed to the Randolph Mission in 1857. At the next conference in Tyler, in 1858, on account of severe sickness, he was discontinued. During the period of the Civil War he was not in condition to serve the Church in the itinerancy. But at the session of 1869, in Henderson, he connected himself again with the conference and was appointed to the Douglass Circuit. The following year he was not present at the conference at Carthage "on account of special business for one of his sons," and was discontinued again. He joined again at Crockett, in 1871, and was sent to the Neches Circuit. The next year he was returned to the Neches Circuit and was changed before the year and was out to the Crockett Circuit. The next year he was sent to the Tyler circuit. At the next conference, which met in Marshall, he was made supernumerary. Several years after he took the superannuated relation, which he held at the time of his death, in Tyler, Texas, March 28, 1897. Thus closes the earthly career of a devout man and a useful preacher of the gospel of Christ. He gave his life and influence to the cause of God and died loved and honored by all who knew him. He built up a fine character, enjoyed the life and power of religion, served his own generation by the will of God and passed to his everlasting rest in heaven. He married Miss Martha Ellen Wade, by whom he had nine children, and at the time of his decease left about one hundred lineal descendants. His children grew up, making useful members of society and the Church. Three of his sons became distinguished in their chosen professions and shed luster upon the family name. He was licensed to preach when considerably advanced in life. What is quite phenomenal, was admitted into the traveling connection when quite a venerable man. Several things conspired to break the continuity of his itinerant life. Yet for a quarter of a century he was a member of the East Texas Conference and labored both diligently and efficiently to build up the interests of Methodism. The closing years of his life were spent in Tyler, and during this period he contributed much to the enlargement and prosperity of the Churches therein. He died on Sunday morning, March 28, 1897, being ninety-one years of age. He was buried from Marvin Church the following day, Rev. B. H. Greathouse, the pastor, preaching the funeral sermon. He was buried in Tyler, so long his home, and peacefully awaits the resurrection of the just. He has gone to join the loved ones who have passed on before and to reap the reward of the faithful and the good.