The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1877-09-07
as that gentleman wes absent at the
time, it was not given:
BIOGRAPHY OF ROBT. BONHAN,

ET- PTss'feHt and Ftl15,g Pi3ass-s Of Haaos-s
county; Having. AZ a former meetingo OF your body
been assigned the duty oi writing a sketch ot the
| HE, labors and death o. our h0ao,ed friend Rob
ert Bonhaln late Of this county deceased. pro
eeed to the task not, il iS true witho,. pleasure
oat realizing that owing 10 a want OF certain
dates and facts, which have failed 10 ascertain
NY task viii be but imperiectly executed. give
facts as have been able TO collect them.
Robert Bonhan, sen, one Of the Pioneers OF
Hancock county, was born in the State OF Penn
syiVanla, April 9Th. l.9S. and when two years old
MS iather vi h his family, moved to the State OF
Nirg1nia. and settled on farm in Hamrshire
county, and it was there that Robert spent his
early years, Is boys usually do in going TO school
and helping his father on the farm Although
/ the school privileges then, were not Is good as
they are in our days, yet he obtained a good COM
mon school education. He lived in Virginia un-
I'll ISL, when he with his father and family re
moved to the State OF Ohio and settled on u farm
in Muskingum county. Being brought up on a
farm, he made that his principal occupation
through life, and he made it a success
shortly after he came to Muskingum county he
was united in marriage to daughter of John and
Jane Fleming, OF that county. By this union they
had two children, John and Sophia After enjoy
ing the society of his wife but for few years. he
I
the death of her he loved After the death of his
wife, he came to Hancock county, and ON the 18th
day OF August, 1sS0, he entered quarter section
OF land, two miles northwest OF Findlay, on which
he erected log cabin, in which he lived alone
for four or five years. He baked his own bread.
| MIXED his own cows and ehurned his own but
ter. II was then and there that he commenced
the hardships and labors which the first settlers of
/ this county had TO meet and pass through II re-
quired good deal OF fortitude labor and patience
To clear up farm in this wooden country; yet
with all these hariships before him, he proved
equal TO the task While living and laboring here
alone in the woods, he made great deal of maple
sugar and molasses, and in the woods he found a
great many bee-trees. So while he had to labor
hard TO clear up his farm, yet he enjoyed the
sweets of the land. After working hard To clear
up some land, and living alone in this new home
Tor four or five years, he was united in marriage
to his second wife Mrs Douglass. By this union
| they had three children viz Robert johnson and
Ellen Four OF his children survive their father
Ellen, wife OF DIR. Kimmel of Findlay, died a few
years ago.
Father Bonham, in course OF time was called
again to part with the companion of his bosom by
DEATH After the death OF his second wife. he re-
mained a widOwer for several years. and on the
lst day of December 1853, he was united in mar
riase to his third wife, Miss Anna Mccormick
By this union they had no children. The widow
still survives him, living ON the home farm
Father Bonham lived to see his farm cleared up
which proved to be good and productive one
He lived long to enjoy the fruit of his hard labor
Father BOnham was one OF those conscientious
men, who always act from principle of right
He never endeavOred to push himself forward or >
become popular. He was a straight forward. |
humble and good citizen. What he gave for be-
nevolent objects, he never sounded trumpet" |
nor bOasted of what he had done. He was liberal |
to the calls of the church.
Father BOnham had learned one thing. which
great many people never will learn, and that is
he attended TO his own business and let others do
the same. We would not say that he was without |
faults, but we will say that he had some noble |
traits of character; such as all wsuld do well TO
emulate.
Father BOnham had been a member of the NJ.
E church over forty years. He lived IA consistent
christian life before his family and his neighbors.
In his last sickness which lasted ten days he WIS
full OF hope in Him who doeth all things right.
He died in the triumph of a living faith. MAY
Ith, 1875, aged So years, month and days.
Let us forget his errors and emulate his virtues
May We strive to so live that when the time of our
dissolution comes, it may be said OF in the Ian
guage of John the RevelatOr. Blessed are the
dead who die in the Lord. Yea, saith the spirit
that they may rest from their labors and their
works do follow them"
Mr.. Mungen was unavoidebly absent
at the Pioneer Meeting Thursday, and
so could not deliver his poem, but as it
contains so many interesting ideas we
will give it in full below:
A PIONEERS THOUGHTS OF THE
PAST,