Person:James Bonner (8)

... Mr. Bonner comes from the good God-fearing stock of Scotch-Irish Presbyterians, who settled early in the Carolinas, and from whom have sprung men and women whose character for thrift and patroitism are a matter of pride in the Southland today. Near the end of the eighteenth century, probably in 1780, the paternal grandfather of the Bonners came from the north of Ireland to America, and settled on a farm in South Carolina, where he spent the latter part of his life. This family consisted of four sons and three daughters. James Bonner the father of our subject, was born near Anderson, South Carolina, which was the home of the noted senator, John C. Calhoun. He was married at Abbeyville, S. C., to Miss Mary P. Foster, whose parents were also natives of Ireland. Soon after his marriage, James Bonner removed his family to near Camden, in Wilcox county, Alabama, in 1820. He was a man of means and was the proprietor of a large cottage plantation, and the owner of a large number of negro slaves. He spent sixteen years on this plantation. Having conscientious scruples against human slavery, and being determined to move his growing family away from the blighting influences of the "institution," he sold his slaves in a body to his brother, under a stipulation that the slave families should never be broken up, and the slaves who had grown up together, should not be separated. This pledge was kept by the brother, and many years afterwards the Bonner slaves were liberated in a body by the Emancipation Proclamation and the subsequent constitutional amendment and the terms of the sale had been kept, has ever been a matter of satisfaction of the Bonners. In the spring of 1836 the southern planter came to Indiana and settled in Fugit township, where he engaged in farming until his death in 1844. ...

... Bonner comes of the hardy, Godfearing Scotch-Irish stock, his ancestors having been earnest Presbyterians. Toward the end of the eighteenth century his paternal grandfather came to America, from his former home in the northern part of Ireland, and, settling upon a South Carolina plantation, spent the remainder of his days there. He had four sons and three daughters, of whom, James, father of Samuel A., was born near Anderson, South Carolina, and not far from the home of John C. Calhoun. He was reared in the vicinity of Abbeville, where he married Mary P. Foster, whose father, James Foster, born in the northern part of Ireland, became a farmer of South Carolina, whence he removed to Spring Hill, Indiana, about 1837, and died in this locality. About two years subsequent to his marriage James Bonner removed to Wilcox county, Alabama, where he dwelt for some sixteen years, owning and managing a large plantation, which, of course, was cultivated by slaves. He was a kind master, and hated the slavery system,—indeed, he eventually came to the north to escape from it. Having due regard for their feelings, he sold his slaves in a body to his brother, refusing to separate them, and his brother, according to their agreement, kept them together. He was a successful business man, being considered quite rich in his day, and at one time owned several farms in this county. In the spring of 1836 he came to Decatur county and located in Fugit township, where he engaged in farming until his death, in 1844, when he was upward of fifty-five years of age. His beloved wife, Mary, died during the first year of the family's residence in this state, and he later wedded a Miss Weed. Like his father and relatives, he was a devout Presbyterian, and was an elder in the church. Politically he was a Whig, and in all public matters was actively interested, as becomes a patriot. ...