Oyer Clark Bonine (1881 - 1951)

Born 31 Oct 1881 in Beresford, Lincoln County, Dakota Territory, USA

Ancestors

Husband of Mable Anna (Goodrich) Bonine — married 31 Aug 1906 (to 2 May 1908) in Basin, Big Horn, Wyoming, USA

Husband of Lydia Ann (Campbell) Bonine — married 3 Nov 1909 in Basin, Big Horn, Wyoming, USA

Died 2 Nov 1951 at age 70 in Worland, Washakie County, Wyoming, USA

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Biography

Clark Bonine is the descendant of a Huguenot emigrant.

Oyer Clark Bonine was born on 31 October 1881 on his parents' farm near Beresford in Dakota Territory. Its location was in Lincoln County, which was assigned to South Dakota on 2 November 1899 when Dakota Territory was split between the 2 new US states of North Dakota and South Dakota. "Clark Bonine," as he was called, was named for his grandfather, Clark Bonine, who had died of a freak lightning strike in 1856 in Iowa. Oyer Clark was the son of John Marion Bonine. He grew up with and was also close to his father's brother, Anthony North Bonine. Both John & Anthony's wives died in 1886 in South Dakota so Oyer Clark lost his mother early in life.

On the 1895 Minnesota State Census, as "Oier Bonine" (misspelled as Pier Bonine), he was recorded as 13 years old, living with his father, John Marion Bonine, in Maxwell Township, Lac qui Parle County, Minnesota. They were living with Oyer's older sister, Kathryn Caroline "Katie" Bonine, who had married farmer Charles Ludlow on 9 July 1890 in Vermillion, Clay County, South Dakota. John M. Bonine was a Blacksmith. Oyer Bonine graduated from High School in Minnesota.^[1]

At 17 years old, Oyer Clark Bonine left Minnesota, moving to Worland, Big Horn County, Wyoming, where he lived for many years, with only a short hiatus when he and his family lived in Des Moines, Iowa. According to his obituary, he was invited there by an older cousin, Oyer Clark Morgan, a prominent rancher in the Big Horn Basin. Later, in the early 20th Century, he was joined by his father, who became Worland's first Justice of the Peace, his brother, Harry La Rue Bonine, who became Clerk of the District Court, and sister, "Katie" (Bonine) Ludlow Willis and family. "All were prominent in the early history of the community," states his Casper, Wyoming 1951 obituary. ^[2]

On 22 October 1898, Oyer C. Bonine enlisted as a Private in the US Army Hospital Corps, as a resident of "Worland City, Washakie (Big Horn in 1898) County, Wyoming". He was still unmarried and lied about his age, declaring his birth date was 1 October 1880. He served only 5 months, leaving the Corps on 23 March 1899, returning to Worland, Wyoming. Thus, he was a veteran of the Spanish-American War. ^[3]

Oyer Clark Bonine married twice and had 3 sons. He was a cattle stockman, raising Hereford cattle on Wyoming's prairie lands. On 31 August 1906, in Big Horn County, Wyoming, he married a young divorcee, Mable Anna (Goodrich) Fifield, b: 8 Jan 1882 in Wyoming.^[4] They had one son, James Marion Bonine, born on 4 April 1908 in Big Horn County, Wyoming. Alas, Mable A. (Goodrich) Bonine passed away on 2 May 1908, following the birth of her son. She was buried at Mount View Cemetery, Basin, Big Horn County, Wyoming, USA. ^[5] Their son survived; he married, had a family & passed away on 30 April 1990 in California. James was raised by Catherine (Hoffman) Goodrich, his maternal grandmother, who adopted him. She owned a hotel in Basin, Big Horn County, Wyoming. James appears on her US Census reports, as "James Bo*" and then "James Goodrich," for 1910-1930. James Bonine lived in Highland, San Bernardino County, California. His California death certificate named his mother "Goodrich" & his father "Bonine," no given names.^[6]

Young widower, Oyer Clark Bonine, remarried to a young widow, Lydia Ann (Campbell) Holsinger on 3 November 1909 in Basin, Big Horn County, Wyoming. Lydia had been born on 2 Sep. 1884, in Polk County, Iowa. She had married John Grossnickel Holsinger in Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa on 21 Dec. 1899. He passed away on 29 Feb. 1908 in Basin, Big Horn, Wyoming. Lydia had a daughter, Vertie Irene Holsinger, b: 5 Nov. 1900 in Polk, Iowa, to raise.^{[7] [8]}

"Clark" Bonine and his 2nd wife, Lydia (Campbell) Bonine, had 2 sons together:

1. Oyer Campbell Bonine, b: 22 Aug 1910 in Worland, Wyoming; d: 16 July1969 ​​in Worland, Washakie, Wyoming, USA
2. Buren Clark Bonine, b: 10 Feb 1917 in Worland, Wyoming; d: 18 May 1996 in Miles City, Yellowstone County, Montana, USA

On the 15 April 1910 US Census, 28-year-old Oyer C. Bonine was recorded as married to 25-year-old "Lidia A. Bonine". They were living on their rented "general farm" in Worland, Big Horn County, Wyoming, with 9-year-old Vertie I. Holsinger, step-daughter; and 2 "Farm Laborers" in their 20's. The Census also recorded that the couple had married within the year, and that Lidia A. Bonine had had one child, who was still living. They were living next door to his cousin, Oyer Clark Morgan, 53 years old, doubtlessly their landlord. He was a "Stockman" cattle raiser. Oyer C. Bonine had been named for him.^[9] Shortly after the April 1910 US Census, Worland township was assigned to the newly-formed county of Washakie, Wyoming.

In 1918, Oyer Clark Bonine registered with the US Army draft during World War I. He declared himself a Farmer, working for himself, married to Lydia A. Bonine, and living on their farm in Worland, Washakie County, Wyoming. His draft enrollment form states he was "Tall, Slender, with Brown Hair and Blue Eyes". Interestingly, once again he mis-stated his age, declaring his birth date to be 30 October 1880 (instead of 31 October 1881). ^[10]

Two years later, the 1 January 1920 US Census recorded 38-year-old Oyer C. Bonine as married to 35-year-old Lydia A. Bonine. They were now living on their own ranch on Manderson Road, Worland Township, Washakie County, Wyoming, USA. With them were their 3 children: Vertie I. Bonine [sic=Holsinger], 19 years old, b: Iowa; Oyer C. Bonine, age 9, b: Wyoming; and Buren C. Bonine, 2 yrs. 10 mo., b: Wyoming. August Mazett, a 29-year-old cattle herder, b: in France, was their live-in "Hired Farm Hand". Many Basque-origin French cattle and sheep herders immigrated to Wyoming & Montana before World War I. ^[11]

In the late 1920s, Oyer C. Bonine and his family left Wyoming, moving south-east to Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa, where Lydia had grown up. The 1 April 1930 US Census recorded him there as "Oyer C. Boini," and family, the misspelling making finding the record difficult, a frequent occurrence in Bonine family research! Oyer C. Bonine was recorded as 48 years old, born in South Dakota, married and now living in Des Moines, Polk, Iowa, USA. He reported being a "Mechanic: Threshing Machine Factory" there. Lydia A "Boini" [Bonine] was recorded as 45 years old, born in Wisconsin (with both parents from Iowa); she was a "Folder: Laundry". Older son, Oyer C. [Bonine], now 19 years old, was a "Lineman: Electric Co." while his younger brother, Buren Bonine, age 13, was "In School."^[12]

On the 1 April 1940 US Census, having returned to Worland, Wyoming before 1935, during the Great Depression, Oyer C. Bonine, b: South Dakota, was recorded as 58 years old, married to Lydia A. Bonine, 55, b: Wisconsin. They were now living in Worland city, Washakie County, Wyoming. Oyer Clark Bonine was listed as a "Proprietor, Laundry business". Their now-married son, Oyer Campbell Bonine, age 29, was living with them with his wife, Ruth Alberta (Aaberg) Bonine, 25 years old, b: 1914 in Hot Springs, South Dakota. He was a "Proprietor: Cleaning business," while she was a "Beauty Operator". They had married on 25 Feb, 1939 in Worland.^{[13] [14][15]} In 1940, an 18-year-old "Housekeeper" and a 59-year-old "Lodger" completed the household. ^[16]

Oyer and Lydia Bonine's younger son, Buren Clark Bonine, had also gotten married. On 20 March 1935 in Yellowstone, Billings, Montana, at 21 years old, he married 17-year-old Helen Healy, daughter of Alexander Healy & Edith Sampson (Holden) Healy. ^[17] On 1 April 1940, the US Census recorded Buren & Helen Bonine as living with her parents in Worland, ED 5, Washakie County, Wyoming, USA. They had 2 children: Kathlyn Bonine, age 4; and Richard C. Bonine, 2 years old, living with them. Buren was working on his father-in-law's Sheep Ranch, calling himself a "Sheep Man". The Census noted they had been living on the ranch since 1935.^[18]

Oyer Clark Bonine passed away on 2 November 1951 at his home in Worland, Washakie County, Wyoming, USA. He had suffered two heart attacks within that year. He was 70 years old. His Casper, Wyoming, obituary states that he had been a Worland resident since the early 20th Century, except for 3 years when the family moved to Des Moines, Iowa [see above]. Oyer had retired from his business ventures in 1947 at 66 years old. The family worshipped at the Methodist Church and Oyer was a "Past Worshipful Master" of Cloud Peak Lodge, Fraternal Order of Freemasonry, A F & F M, and a "Past Worthy Patron" of Cloud Peak Chapter 24, Order of the Eastern Star. A Masonic leader gave the eulogy & performed Masonic rites at the funeral, held in the local Methodist Church. His wife, 2 sons and step-daughter, survived his passing.^[19]

He was buried at Riverview Memorial Gardens in Worland, Wyoming, USA.^[20] His wife survived his passing. Lydia Ann (Campbell) Bonine passed away on 17 June 1966 in Miles City, Custer, Montana, USA. She was buried next to her deceased husband at Riverview Memorial Gardens, Worland, Washakie County, Wyoming, USA.^[21]

Sources

1. ↑ "Minnesota State Census, 1895," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MQ63-HCC : 3 April 2016), John M Bonine in household of Charel H Ludlow, Maxwell township, Lac qui Parle, Minnesota; citing p. 5, line 16, State Library and Records Service, St.Paul; FHL microfilm 565,785.
2. ↑ "Rites Held for O.C. Bonine, Sr., Worland Resident," obituary in the Casper Star-Tribune, Casper, Wyoming: 11 Nov 1951, Sun, page 12. Obituary clipped by Tom Bonine. Added with thanks.
3. ↑ "United States, Veterans Administration Master Index, 1917-1940," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPC5-9CT6 : 17 October 2019), Oyer C Bonine, 23 Mar 1899; citing Military Service, NARA microfilm publication 76193916 (St. Louis: National Archives and Records Administration, 1985), various roll numbers.
4. ↑ "Wyoming Marriages, 1869-1923," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2DM-46YN : 17 March 2020), Oyer C Bonine and Mabel A Fifield, 31 Aug 1906; citing Marriage, Basin, Big Horn, Wyoming, United States, Wyoming State Archives, Cheyenne; FHL microfilm 968,074.
5. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #15705610
6. ↑ "California Death Index, 1940-1997," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VPX2-JHB : 26 November 2014), James Marion Bonine, 30 Apr 1990; Department of Public Health Services, Sacramento.
7. ↑ "United States Western States Marriage Index", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XZ8B-SP6 : 19 October 2018), Oyer Claek Bonine and Lydia A. Hulsinger, 1909.
8. ↑ Pedigree Resource File for Oyer Clark Bonine on FamilySearch; cites 25 sources. Gives marriage information for his 2 wives.
9. ↑ "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MPJV-N5W : accessed 29 March 2020), Oyer C Bonine, Worland, Big Horn, Wyoming, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 20, sheet 13A, family 98, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 1745; FHL microfilm 1,375,758.
10. ↑ "United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K68Q-VGB : 6 March 2020), Oyer Clark Bonine, 1917-1918.
11. ↑ "United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MNBN-GM2 : accessed 29 March 2020), Oyer C Bonine, Worland, Washakie, Wyoming, United States; citing ED 123, sheet 2B, line 61, family 36, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1992), roll 2028; FHL microfilm 1,822,028.
12. ↑ "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XMV2-369 : accessed 24 June 2020), Oyer C Boini, Des Moines, Polk, Iowa, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 82, sheet 4B, line 54, family 58, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 677; FHL microfilm 2,340,412.
13. ↑ Oyer Campbell Bonine on Myheritage.com Public view is an Index with limited data but names his 1939 bride.
14. ↑ Dorothy (Aaberg) Kennedy obituary; she was Ruth Bonine's younger sister. Obituary names their parents: Olaf & Susie (Carter) Aaberg.
15. ↑ Oyer Bonine obituary in the Billings Gazette, Billings, Montana, 20 July 1969, pg. 8. Son Oyer's obituary, gives marriage information. Clipped by Tom Bonine, added with thanks.
16. ↑ "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VTHM-PGQ : 29 February 2020), Oyer C Bonine, Worland, Election District 5, Washakie, Wyoming, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 22-6, sheet 11B, line 63, family 250, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 4577.
17. ↑ "Montana, County Marriages, 1865-1950," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F37B-W7L : 26 February 2020), Buren Clark Bonine and Helen Healy, 20 Mar 1935; citing Marriage, Billings, Yellowstone, Montana, various county courthouses, Montana; FHL microfilm 1,943,764.
18. ↑ "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VTHM-B6B : 20 May 2020), Buren C Bonine in household of Alex Healey, Worland, Election District 5, Washakie, Wyoming, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 22-6, sheet 61A, line 6, family 24, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 4577.
19. ↑ "Rites Held for O.C. Bonine, Sr., Worland Resident," obituary in the Casper Star-Tribune, Casper, Wyoming: 11 Nov 1951, Sun, page 12. Obituary clipped by Tom Bonine. Added with thanks.
20. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #34160081 - Oyer Clark Bonine
21. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #34160113

• https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XJZH-8J3

• https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/2:1:M45N-91V

• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 27 March 2020), memorial page for Oyer Clark Bonine (31 Oct 1881–2 Nov 1951), Find A Grave: Memorial #34160081, citing Riverview Memorial Gardens, Worland, Washakie County, Wyoming, USA ; Maintained by Connie (contributor 46804767) .

• Oyer Campbell Bonine Profile on RootsWeb - names parents: Oyer Clark Bonine & Lydia Ann Campbell Bonine.

• "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MPJJ-T6L : accessed 30 March 2020), Catherine Goodrich in household of James R Goodrich, Basin, Big Horn, Wyoming, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 18, sheet 6A, family 127, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 1745; FHL microfilm 1,375,758. Note: See "James M Bo*" = James Madison Bonine, grandson.

• https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GRXK-2RJ?i=20&cc=1488411&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AMNBL-WMW Note: 1920 US Census record for "James Goodrich," 11 years old, living with grandmother, Catherine Goodrich in Basin, Big Horn, Wyoming, USA.