Beckham B. Bonner (abt. 1806 - 1881)

Born about 11 Aug 1806 in Georgia, United States of America

Died 11 Jan 1881 at about age 74 in Omen, Smith County, Texas, United States of America

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Biography

Beckham Bonner, was born 11 August 1806, in Georgia, and moved to Alabama in 1818. There he was raised among Cherokee Indians, learned their language and became a friend and playmate of Chief Pathlahola.^[1]

He married Rebecca Wilson in 1831, in Alabama.^[1] He served two terms as tax assesor and collector of Autauga County, Alabama.^[1]

In 1848, he headed to Texas with his family, stopping in Washita County, Arkansas for about 8 months, working as a blacksmith. In spring 1849, he continued on to Texas; rented land near where Overton now is, made a crop; bought land on Mud Creek, and on 25 December, Christmas, 1849, pitched his tent about two miles west of Omen, (Canton). He lived there until he died January 11th, 1881.^[1]

In 1850, Beckham called B B and his family lived in Smith County, Texas, United States. The family consisted of B. B. Bonner, blacksmith, born in Georgia; Rebecca Bonner, 42, born in Virginia; Mary Ann C Bonner, 18, born in Alabama (Rebecca and Mary Ann are listed as being blacksmiths also); Walter B F Bonner, 16, farmer (Walter and the remaining children except Rebecca, were born in Alabama); William L Bonner, 14, farmer; Dixon H L Bonner, 10, farmer; Cynthia V Bonner , 6, farmer; Joseph B Bonner, 3, farmer; Rebecca J Bonner, 7/12, born in Texas, farmer. Since it's obvious that the census taker was making liberal use of ditto marks, because infants are never farmers, it is reasonable to question whether Rebecca and Mary Ann were actually blacksmiths.^[2]

The 1860 United States Census for Canton Beat 6, Smith, Texas, United States, enumerated the family: B B Bonner, age 54, born in Georgia; Rebecca Bonner, 51, born in Alabama; William himself, age 22, born in Alabama (as were Dickson, Cynthia and Baker); Dickson Bonner, 18; Cynthia Bonner, 15; Baker Bonner, 12; and George Bonner, 6, born in Texas. B B has given up blacksmithing and is farming with sons William and Dickson helping.^[3]

Besides farming Beckham held the office of Justice of the Peace for 14 years.^[1]

Children: See Rebecca's profile.

Benjamin was born in 1805.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4} Johnson, Sid S. Some Biographies of Old Settlers. Historical, Personal and Reminiscent. Volume I Tyler, Texas : Smith County Historical Society, 1965. Reprint of original published: Tyler, Tex. : S.S. Johnson, 1900. pp 224-227. Download Here Family Search. or a transcription can be viewed here.
2. ↑ "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXLG-PNF : accessed 30 May 2016), William L Bonner in household of B B Bonner, Smith county, part of, Smith, Texas, United States; citing family 410, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
3. ↑ United States Census, 1860 database with images, FamilySearch, (accessed 30 May 20160 Wm Bonner in entry for B B Bonner, 1860.

• "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXLG-PN8 : 23 December 2020), B B Bonner, Smith, Texas, United States; citing family , NARA microfilm publication (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).