Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2015 All Rights Reserved USGenNet Data Repository Please read USGenNet Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Rachel Fuller for the USGenNet Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ =========================================================================== Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== Biographical History of Northern Michigan [613-615] JOHN B. BONNER The BONNERS have long been associated with the history of the northern part of Lake Michigan and the country bordering thereon and since 1856 the name has been closely interwoven with the settlement, growth and prosperity of Beaver island. JOHN B. BONNER, the first of the family to come to Michigan, perhaps the first of the name to seek a home in the United States, was a native of county Donegal, Ireland, and the son of MANNUS BONNER, of Rutland island, near the coast of Donegal, which appears to have been the ancestral seat of the sub- ject's antecedents for several generations. The Captain spent his childhood at the place of his birth and when a mere lad ran away to become a sailor, preferring a sea-faring life to the uninteresting and laborious experience of a career on land. In due time he became an able seaman, and after sailing nearly every water of the eastern continent and visiting many countries, came to America about the year 1847, landing in New York city, where he soon engaged in the fishery business. While prosecuting that line of trade he spent the winter in Georgia where he appears to have been a man of considerable influence from the fact that his name still appears upon the map of that state. BONNER's Landing, off the city of Savannah, being so called in compli- ment to him. Later he returned to Ireland as a sailor, but on reaching that country left his vessel and, purchasing a large amount of twine in the city of Londonderry, engaged for a while in the manufacture of nets for the further prosecution of his fishing interests in American waters. During the ensuing nine seasons he fished in the Atlantic off the city of Savannah, and the meantime visited the Great Lakes, which he sailed quite extensively, ultimately changing his headquarters to Mackinac island, near which he continued his operations as a fisherman for several consecutive years. While at Mackinac MR. BONNER visited Gull island and would have gone to Beaver island had it not been for the Mormons who at that time occupied the place and between whom and the settlers a feeling of enmity had long existed which not infrequently manifested itself in acts of violence on the part of the former. These Latter Day Saints not only destroyed all the property of the fishermen that they could lay hands on, but burned their cabins and boats and at one time basely murdered a man by the name of BENNETT, whose heart DR. McCULLOUGH cut out, saying as he did so that he would like to treat all Gentile hearts in the same manner. In May, 1856, MR. BONNER and wife arrived at Gull island and a little later he joined an expedition made up of about twenty men for the purpose of driving the Mormons from Beaver island, which being duly accomplished he and a number of other fishermen settled on Big Beaver, the Captain selecting for his place of residence a beautiful site on the northern part of French Bay. On August 10th, of the above year, he moved his wife to a new home, a double log cabin which a family of Mormons had formerly occupied, and immediately thereafter resumed fishing, in which he was assisted by two hands, hired men, the three using a single boat. Other fishermen came in at intervals until there were several thriving settlements from the founding of which property dates the growth and subsequent history of the island. During the ensuing three years MR. BONNER carried on a profitable business, in connection with which he also handled tan bark and lum- ber, which he shipped in large quantities to the cities of Chicago and Milwaukee in his own vessel, the "Sophia Bonner," a fine schooner, built under his direction during the time noted. He sailed as master of this vessel for a period of twenty-one years and did a large and thriving business, the meantime building another schooner which he used in the coast trade. After a long and active career on the water, he turned his vessel over to his son and retired to the privacy of his home, where in the enjoyment of his many years of toil the remainder of his life was spent in quiet and content. In the spring of 1857 MR. BONNER secured a tract of land five miles southwest of St. James, where he built a dock, and from this place his shipping business was chiefly conducted. While thus engaged his good wife managed the farm nearby, a beautiful and finely improved place on which she has lived continuously since the year 1858 and on which she expects to reside until called hence. CAPTAIN BONNER was married in New York city, April 28, 1856, to MISS SOPHIA HARKINS, who bore him eleven children, eight sons and three daughters, the two oldest of whom died in infancy. The others are Capt. JOHN BONNER, whose biography appears elsewhere in these pages; THOMAS, who is engaged in the fishery business; JAMES, a contractor and builder of West Superior, Wisconsin; JOHN, master of the vessel "Rouse Simmons;" DANIEL, who lives on the home farm; MARY, wife of LANTY McCARTY; PATRICK, who is still on the family homestead, and two deceased, MAGA ANN and PETER. CAPTAIN BONNER's career was eminently honorable and his name will always be identified with the history of Beaver island. He was highly esteemed by all who knew him, enjoyed a wide reputation in business circles and stood out clear and distinct as one of the notable men of his day and generation in the region of the Great Lakes. He possessed great bodily strength and vigor, a sound mind and a high order of ability, and retained his faculties to a marked degree until his death, which occurred on the 27th day of September, 1894, at the age of seventy-five years. MRS. SOPHIA BONNER is a native of county Donegal, Ireland, and the daughter of THOMAS and MAGA (CARR) HARKINS, both parents born and reared in the northern part of the Emerald isle. She came to America with her father, who died in 1847, shortly after arriving in this country, and from that time until her marriage in 1856 they lived in New York city. As already stated, she accompanied her husband to Michigan in the summer of 1856, and after spending a few months on Gull island moved to Beaver island, which has since been her home. She proved in the true sense of the term a helpmeet to her husband, assisted him in all of his endeavors, encouraged him in times of ad- versity and the success which characterizes his long and useful career was largely attributable to her efficient co-operation. It was mainly through the influence of CAPTAIN and MRS. BONNER that so many of their old neighbors and friends from the north of Ireland were induced to immigrate to the United States and settle on Beaver island, and among this excellent class of people she has ever been held in the highest regard by reason of her beautiful character, genuine worth, and by her readiness to lend a helping hand in time of need. Her influence has always been for good and now in her old age she is surrounded by loving children and devoted friends who strive by every means at their command to gladden and make bright her life's decline. =========================================================================== If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access more of our growing collection of FREE online information by going to the following URL: http://www.us-data.org/ ===========================================================================