Monday, August 23, 2010

James Bonner and The August 23 Coincidence

Today, as I am writing it is August 23, 2010. I have always said I don't believe in coincidences. I believe things are meant to happen when, where and how they happen. I would like to recall my day for you.

Since starting research on great grandfather Thomas Henry Bonner, I have written to several National Archives to request information pertinent to him. First I requested his Civil War Pension application from the National Archives in Washington, D.C. They searched and said they didn't have it, but that the Veterans Adminstration in D.C. had it and I should write to them. I wrote to them and they responded that they didn't have it but the VA Regional Office in Baltimore had it and they had forwarded my request to Baltimore. That was June 21. July 21, I called the Regional Office and no one knew anything. I obtained the name of the person in charge and called him on August 19, no answer. Today, August 23, I called him again to find out the status of my request. He was very sympathetic and as we talked he emailed the facility with the record and asked that they call me with an update. They haven't called today, yet.

I also wrote to the Provencial Archives of New Brunswick Canada requesting copies of land patents for James Bonner, Thomas Bonner and Robert Bonner. Today, August 23, I looked at my calendar to see how long it had been since my request and it was four weeks. When I went to the mail box, there was a large envelope from the Provencial Archives. Inside the envelope were copies of the five land patents I had requested. All but one were fairly simple and straight forward showing land purchases in the exact location in New Brunswick where the Bonners lived. However, one of the ones for James Bonner was clearly written in a beautiful handwriting and it tells of James, the father of great grandfather Thomas, trying to obtain land from the Province of New Brunswick in 1841. He didn't have any money, but was willing to work the land in hopes of receiving some money when the Province put a road through the property. The most amazing thing about the document is that his request was approved on August 23, 1841.

Here I am today on August 23, 2010 reading about his land purchase on August 23, 1841. Coincidence? I don't think so. I have transcribed the document and will post it with this blog for all to read.



Transcription
1841 Land Patent for James Bonner
St. Mary’s Parish, York, New Brunswick, Canada

To His Excellency Sir William McBean, George Colebrooke KH Lieutenant Governor and Commander in Chief of the Province of New Brunswick

The Petition of James Bonner of the Parish of Saint Mary in the County of York

Humbly Herewith:

That he is a British Subject born in Ireland a married man with six children, who lately emigrated to this Province. Petitioner does not own any land and is desirous of obtaining one hundred acres for immediate settlement and cultivation and he therefore prays for the lot No. 7 on the South Side of the East and West line of Deputy Allan McLean late survey, South East Side of the Nashwaak River. Petitioner begs leave respectfully to State that he does not own any land, and is unable to pay for the lot now applied for at present, and understanding that there is a road to be made through the intended settlement, he humbly prays that a portion of making the same may be given to him at what may be considered a fair valuation to enable him to pay the purchase money for his land. The land now applied for is in its wilderness state no improvements having been made thereon.

And as in duty bound, Petitioner
Will ever pray
James his x mark Bonner

Fredericton
19th August 1841



Information on the back of the document


James Bonner

Land Applic.


No deposit paid


Aug 23, 1841

So, there you go. I don't think I will soon forget August 23.




1910- Wright City, Oklahoma and the Bonner Family

Well, it's been since May that I have written on this blog. Since then I have continued to research great grandfather, Thomas Henry Bonner. I have made some progress and will soon blog some of the information I have gathered. In the process of gathering information, I have realized that the 1910 census in Wilson, Choctaw, Oklahoma was an important one in my collection of information.

On that census, great grandmother Edna Bonner is widowed, working as a laundry woman and has five children. She indicated that the children's father was from Maine. The older of her sons was working at the Choctaw Lumber Company, probably to help support the family. Her other three sons also worked there as seen on their draft registration cards. I have since come to learn of the importance of the Choctaw Lumber Company to the area since 1910 and the importance of lumbering in the Bonner family.

The Choctaw Lumber Company became known as Dierk's Choctaw Lumber Company, named by the Dierk's brothers. They originally established the company in Bismark, OK which was not too far from Wilson, where the Bonner family was living. Bismark had it's first post office in 1910. So, here I am 100 years later trying to learn about the Choctaw Lumber Company and the reasons for Edna to have moved to that area after great grandfather died. Around 1920, the name of the town of Bismark was changed to Wright City. This year Wright City celebrated it's 100th Anniversary and had a celebration with parades, bar-b-ques and rodeos.

While exchanging emails with my friend and cousin, Muriel Sims Manning from Wright City, I began asking her questions about the area and the lumbering business. As she started to tell me about Wright City, I realized I could learn a good bit from her. Although she moved there 30 years after the Bonner's moved to the area, things might not have changed too much.

Muriel wrote several descriptions of the area for me and I would like to share one of them today. She wrote this in July 2010 at age 77. What follows are the words of Muriel Sims Manning and I think they paint a pretty clear picture.



"I moved to Wright City, OK in March of 1944 from Cove, Ark. I was 11 years old on March 31. The hwy.3 & 7 ended at the North Pole store, a short road ran from there to old 98 that ran from Idabel across a low water bridge on the Glover River thru Wright City to Valliant.In Wright City there was a saw mill, a planer, a box & window plant, a reworking plant, dry kilns, power house and a log pond where they unloaded logs into from the Dierks log train that had hauled the logs from the woods & Clebit called (the front). The train came in late evenings unloaded the logs and went back to Clebit that night. The T.O.& E. train hauled logs and ran from Dierks, Ark. to Valliant, Ok. There was a passenger car and a Depot. People rode the train to Valliant, OK and shopped then rode back to Wright City the same day. The Depot had an office and two waiting rooms one for whites and one for coloreds. There was a company office, an ice plant where they froze blocks of ice to sell.The town had an empty bank building, a post-office, a cafe, a barber shop with a dry cleaners in back. There was a doctor’s office on west side of the street and a boarding house and a hotel, an empty apartment building at the back. On the east side there was a movie theater, a big department store with groceries and clothes in the middle, on left side hardware, on the right side a drug store with a drink fountain & ice cream. In the middle, upon a platform, there was a thing where when people charged things. They put the ticket on a t and pulled a string that sent it to the platform. And Mrs.Bush, the store manager’s wife, took the ticket off and sent the carrier back to the department that it came from. If things were paid for with money, there were round paper mills for tax. On pay day there were two check lines, one for whites and Indians and one for coloreds. Another line to go thru to cash the checks and pay for the things charged that week. Some were lucky to have a few dollars left, a few dollars a week for house rent.There was a jail, a rock school for whites & Indians, a grade school for coloreds, they had a colored high school the other side of Valliant. There was an Assembly Of God Church, a Baptist church, a Methodist church, and a Colored church, a cemetery across the rail road tracks and behind the plants. This was our old town. Dierks sold to Weyerhaeuser about 1968/9. The mills closed down in 2009."

By Muriel Sims Manning, age 77 years old
July 8 ,2010

Saturday, May 1, 2010

Great Grandfather, Thomas H. Bonner

Thomas H. Bonner was my great grandfather and until recently I have known very little about him. I knew he was born in February 1845 in British America, but didn't know where. It could have been in the Caribbean Islands or a Canadian Province. Thomas married my great grandmother, Edna Bridwell in 1888 in Louisiana. He was 43 and she was 18. I've always wondered how and why a man from British America made it to Louisiana. With the age difference, I have thought he might have been married before. They had a child, Addie, born in Louisiana in 1889 who died at a young age. Their son Edward was also born in Louisiana in 1891. Then they moved to Mississippi where my grandfather Ross, his brother Robert and his sister Maude were born. Great grandfather is said to have died back in Louisiana in 1902. His son, Thomas Henry Bonner was born in January 1903, after his father's death.

The only census record I have of Thomas was 1900 in Perry county Mississippi. He was noted to have been born in British America in 1845. His parents were noted to have been born in Ireland. He was a carpenter, owned his home, was married to Edna and had four children.

I have searched records of deaths in Louisiana and in Mississippi and have not found Thomas. I have also searched Civil War records for both states and could not find him in any units from those states. Just a little over a week ago, I was searching some Civil War records for one of Don's relatives, Andrew Hicks Baker and his brothers from Texas. I was looking at Civil War Pension Index Cards for the Baker's. Don't ask me why, but while in the middle of the Bakers, I stopped and I searched the Civil War Pension Index for Thomas H. Bonner. I was shocked to find his index card.

The soldier was listed as Thomas Bonner, widow was Edna Bonner. Thomas had filed for a pension in October 1891 in Louisiana as an "invalid". Edna had filed for his pension in April 1903 in Louisiana, as a widow. The date 1891 matches the date in which Thomas and Edna would have been in Louisiana before moving to Mississippi. The 1903 date, when Edna filed as a widow, is consistent with Thomas have died in 1902 and son Thomas being born in January 1903 in Louisiana. The application and certificate numbers for both filings are on the card, so I can request copies of the pension applications from the National Archives.

The most enlightening news on the pension index card was that Thomas served as a Union soldier and was with the 6th Battery, 1st Maine Light Artillery. Of course, I started my search for information about the 1st Maine. I found that they were organized in Augusta, Maine in August 1862. Found the complete details of their timeline and the battles they fought. All the locations and battles of the 1st Maine were very near here especially Antietam and Gettysburg. While searching about the 1st Maine, I came across a researcher in Maine who had done lengthy research on this unit. I wrote to him and asked if he knew about Thomas Bonner. I explained that Thomas might have been born in British America.

I received an email response the next day that told me that Thomas Bonner (Bonnar) enlisted in the 1st Maine when he was 18 years old. Thomas listed his home town as Fredricton, New Brunswick, Canada. In less than one day, I had learned his military unit, the details of their battles and that Thomas was from New Brunswick. Going back to ancestry.com I found several other official records of Thomas' service. I also began reading details about some of the battles he fought and have gained some interesting information which I will share in the next blog post about Thomas Bonner. I went back to the 1910 census where Edna and her children were living in Oklahoma. Edna noted on the census that her children's father was from Maine. I had noticed that before, but now it had real meaning.

Although I now have only a small amount of information about Thomas Bonner, I believe it can lead me in the right direction.

Sunday, February 21, 2010

February 21, 2010-Thomas Manning's Dissertation

Thomas Jefferson Manning graduated from the University of Nashville Medical School in 1855. I have explored various ways to verify his attendance and graduation. In October 2009, I spent time researching the medical faculty that were there when he would have attended. In doing so, I came across the digital library of Vanderbilt University. On that site they had some dissertations that were completed by medical students at the University of Nashville about the same time he attended. (The University of Nashville Medical School subsequently became Vanderbilt University.) I contacted the library and asked if they had a dissertation for Thomas Jefferson Manning. They responded that they weren't sure, but they would have all of the University of Nashville dissertations on-line soon. They suggested I check back. Well, just this past week, I checked back and sure enough, Thomas Manning's dissertation was available on-line.

At the same site, I referenced a Report of the University of Nashville Medical School for the years that included 1855. In that report they listed the graduates, and again there was Thomas Jefferson Manning from Villanow, Georgia. So, in the course of a week, I now have two sources that verify Dr. Manning's attendance and graduation at the University of Nashville.

I hope you take a look at his dissertation, it's only 14 pages. It is handwritten in a beautifully written manner. He uses some eloquent analogies and clearly states his facts. The title of the dissertation is "An Inaugural Dissertation on Menstruation". From what I saw on the dissertation site, others chose the same topic. I think the opportunity to read what my Great, Great Grandfather wrote in 1855 adds a nice connection to him. It lets you look at his handwriting and see a document that allowed him to complete his medical training. Here's the link:

http://www.mc.vanderbilt.edu/sc_diglib/etexts/Dissertations/Manning_T_J.pdf

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

February 2, 2010- The Choctaw's Farewell

The transcript that follows was published in the Niles Register-February 25, 1832. It was authored by George W. Harkins, Choctaw Chief. It was written on board the steamboat Huron as Harkins and many of his fellow Choctaw are leaving their native home of Mississippi, having been removed by the U.S. Government. They were beginning their journey on "The Trail of Tears". It is The Choctaw's Farewell and it speaks for itself.


George W. Harkins to the American People
It is with considerable diffidence that I attempt to address the American people, knowing and feeling sensibly my incompetency; and believing that your highly and well improved minds would not be well entertained by the address of a Choctaw. But having determined to emigrate west of the Mississippi river this fall, I have thought proper in bidding you farewell to make a few remarks expressive of my views, and the feelings that actuate me on the subject of our removal. Believing that our all is at stake and knowing that you readily sympathize with the distressed of every country, I confidently throw myself upon your indulgence and ask you to listen patiently. I do not arrogate to myself the prerogative of deciding upon the expediency of the late treaty, yet I feel bound as a Choctaw, to give a distinct expression of my feelings on that interesting, (and to the Choctaws), all important subject. We were hedged in by two evils, and we chose that which we thought the least. Yet we could not recognize the right that the state of Mississippi had assumed, to legislate for us.—Although the legislature of the state were qualified to make laws for their own citizens, that did not qualify them to become law makers to a people that were so dissimilar in manners and customs as the Choctaws are to the Mississippians. Admitting that they understood the people, could they remove that mountain of prejudice that has ever obstructed the streams of justice, and prevent their salutary influence from reaching my devoted countrymen. We as Choctaws rather chose to suffer and be free, than live under the degrading influence of laws, which our voice could not be heard in their formation.
Much as the state of Mississippi has wronged us, I cannot find in my heart any other sentiment than an ardent wish for her prosperity and happiness.
I could cheerfully hope, that those of another age and generation may not feel the effects of those oppressive measures that have been so illiberally dealt out to us; and that peace and happiness may be their reward. Amid the gloom and horrors of the present separation, we are cheered with a hope that ere long we shall reach our destined land, and that nothing short of the basest acts of treachery will ever be able to wrest it from us, and that we may live free. Although your ancestors won freedom on the field of danger and glory, our ancestors owned it as their birthright, and we have had to purchase it from you as the vilest slaves buy their freedom.

Yet it is said that our present movements are our own voluntary acts—such is not the case. We found ourselves like a benighted stranger, following false guides, until he was surrounded on every side, with fire and water. The fire was certain destruction, and a feeble hope was left him of escaping by water. A distant view of the opposite shore encourages the hope; to remain would be inevitable annihilation. Who would hesitate, or who would say that his plunging into the water was his own voluntary act? Painful in the extreme is the mandate of our expulsion. We regret that it should proceed from the mouth of our professed friend, for whom our blood was co-mingled with that of his bravest warriors, on the field of danger and death.

But such is the instability of professions. The man who said that he would plant a stake and draw a line around us, that never should be passed, was the first to say he could not guard the lines, and drew up the stake and wiped out all traces of the line. I will not conceal from you my fears, that the present grounds may be removed. I have my foreboding; who of us can tell after witnessing what has already been done, what the next force may be. I ask you in the name of justice, for repose for myself and for my injured people. Let us alone—we will not harm you, we want rest. We hope, in the name of justice, that another outrage may never be committed against us, and that we may for the future be cared for as children, and not driven about as beasts, which are benefited by a change of pasture.

Taking an example from the American government, and knowing the happiness which its citizens enjoy under the influence of mild republican institutions, it is the intention of our countrymen to form a government assimilated to that of our white brethren in the United States, as nearly as their condition will permit. We know that in order to protect the rights and secure the liberties of the people, no government approximates so nearly to perfection as the one to which we have alluded. As east of the Mississippi we have been friends, so west we will cherish the same feelings with additional fervour; and although we may be removed to the desert, still we shall look with fond regard, upon those who have promised us their protection. Let that feeling be reciprocated.

Friends, my attachment to my native land was strong—that cord is now broken; and we must go forth as wanderers in a strange land! I must go—Let me entreat you to regard us with feelings of kindness, and when the hand of oppression is stretched against us, let me hope that a warning voice may be heard from every part of the United States, filling the mountains and valleys will echo, and say stop, you have no power, we are the sovereign people, and our friends shall no more be disturbed. We ask you for nothing, that is incompatible with your other duties.

We go forth sorrowful, knowing that wrong has been done. Will you extend to us your sympathizing regards until all traces of disagreeable oppositions are obliterated, and we again shall have confidence in the professions of our white brethren. Here is the land of our progenitors, and here are their bones; they left them as a sacred deposit, and we have been compelled to venerate its trust; it dear to us, yet we cannot stay, my people is dear to me, with them I must go. Could I stay and forget them and leave them to struggle alone, unaided, unfriended, and forgotten, by our great father? I should then be unworthy the name of a Choctaw, and be a disgrace to my blood. I must go with them; my destiny is cast among the Choctaw people. If they suffer, so will I; if they prosper, then will I rejoice. Let me again ask you to regard us with feelings of kindness. Yours , with respect, GEORGE W. HARKINS.

Source:
Niles’ Register, February 25, 1832, 41:480.
Note: Harkins’ letter was reprinted from a paper in Natchez, Mississippi. Preceding it was a prefatory statement from that paper, titled “The Choctaw’s Lament,” as follows:
“In our paper today, will be found an address to the American people, by George W. Harkins, the present chief of the Choctaw nation. Capt. Harkins, is the nephew, and successor in office of Greenwood Laflour [sic]; and is now on his way with a large body of people, to their new residence in the west. The address was hastily written with a pencil, on board of the steam boat Huron, the day before his arrival at our landing. The time was so short as to afford Capt. Harkins no opportunity to send us a revised sheet.
“To the speculators and land jobbers, whose grasping avarice force this people from their homes and the graves of their forefathers, the language of this address will be unintelligible; but there are others, who, we presume, are not entirely devoid of shame, and to whom some allusion is made, who will feel the full force of its mild, but pointed rebuke.”

Sunday, January 24, 2010

January 24, 2009-Jackson LeFlore, Mystery Photo



I recently acquired this photo. On the back is written, "Jack LeFlore, Louis LeFlore youngest son". Louis Leflore had a son named Jackson who died in 1854 at about age 39. The man in this photo looks older than 39 years. The photo was found among other documents that once belonged to a descendant of Clarissa LeFlore.

Jackson LeFlore is said to have married Caroline and had children Solomon Leflore, Daniel LeFlore and Mary LeFlore. Solomon LeFlore married Susan Juzan, daughter of Francis Juzan. Their children are said to have been Mary W., Luvertus (Lubertha), Martha and Bettie.

If you know something more about Jackson LeFlore, Caroline LeFlore, Solomon LeFlore, Daniel LeFlore or any of their offspring, I would like to hear from you. If you know the identity of the man in the photo, please leave your comment and I will contact you.

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

January 6, 2010- The Duchess of Windsor

I had planned to complete two more blogs before the end of the year, but the days got away with me. This is one I had planned to write. It will be short, but I find it interesting.

As I was Christmas shopping for old books by Mark Twain, I was focused on his work Joan of Arc. I had looked at several book sites on the internet and found the books to be about $50.00 each. Because the complete work was done in two volumes, that would mean that I would spend around $100.00. I decided to go to my favorite local used bookstore, Wonder Books and Video to see what they had. To my surprise, they had both volumes with copyright dates of 1901. They were in very good condition. I was thrilled to look at their price of $7.50 each. So, home I went with these great gifts for Don.

When at home, I began to look closer at the books. In the front of each book were identical book plates. The book plates indicated that they were given to "St. James Library, for the collection of R. Emory Warfield, by his son, Douglas Warfield". I knew these books were from some local collection, so I googled R. Emory Warfield and was pleasantly surprised to learn that he was the uncle of The Duchess of Windsor, Wallis Simpson.

Wallis Simpson's given name was Bessie Wallis Warfield. She was born at Blue Ridge Summit, PA just a short distance from here. She grew up in Baltimore and her parents were Teackle Wallis Warfield and Alice Montague. Teackle Wallis Warfield was the brother of R. Emory Warfield, for whom the book plate and the book were dedicated. Bessie Wallis Warfield married twice before she married the Duke of Windsor. First to Mr. Spencer and secondly to Mr. Simpson. If you recall, when Wallis Simpson, the American from Baltimore, married the Duke he gave up his rights to become the King of England. It seems Wallis being a divorced woman was what prompted the abdication.

Of course, I then wanted to read more about The Duke and Duchess of Windsor and so went back to my favorite book store to see what I could find. I found two great books, The Heart Has Its Reasons by the Duchess and The Kings Story by the Duke. In the book by the Duchess, she recalls her upbringing in Baltimore and mentions spending summers at the home of her uncle, R. Emory Warfield. She also discusses playing with her cousin, Douglas Warfield. The book is full of wonderful old pictures.

I know all of this has nothing to do with my family history, except that now my family owns two books that were donated on behalf of the uncle of the Duchess of Windsor. I guess that makes history!!!!!