Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-08-11
WAS AUTHORITY ON
FINANCIAL MATTERS
MR.. RoMNIFIELD WAS ON A VISIT
AT HOME OF HIS DAUGHTER IN
! CEDAR RAPIDS WHEN THE END
I CAME.

w. B. Bonnifeld, pioneer OF OF
tumwa and one of the leading bank
ers Of the state, died yesterday at the
home of his daughter, Mrs. M. B. Hor-
mel at Cedar Rapids, where he had
been visiting when stricken with the
fatal illness. Death occurred at 8
o'clock, the immediate family, Mrs.
4Bonnifeld, w. B. Bonnifield. Jr., Mrs.
Horned and Mr.. and Mrs. F. w. Sim
mons, being present when death came
The funeral services will be held at
the family residence at Second and
Jefferson streets at o'clock tomorrow
(Tuesday) afternoon. The friends Of
the family will be welcome. The bur-
sial will be private.
AS mark of respect to one who
! was recognized as the nestor in Ot-
tumwa banking circles, the banks Of
OttumWa will close at 1 o'clock to-
morrow and will remain closed the re-
mainder Of the day.
Il Mr.. Bonnif1eld was a consistent
member of the First Methodist Epis-
copal church. He was Of deeply re-
ligiou5 nature. and a student of relig-
ious history. He was never possessed
OF rugged constitution, yet his vital.
ity was wonderful and he maintained
an active grasp Of affairs at an age
when few men remain in business life.
For the last few years his health
has been failing gradually, and though
his death at this time was unexpected,
1t was realized that his life work was
nearing the end.
Sketch of His Life.
A sketch Of the life OF Mr.. Bonnt.
field follows:
w. B. Bonnifeld was born in Ran
dolph county, West Virginia, on Feb.
ruaFy 23, 1927, and removed with his
parents to Jefferson county. Ia. in the
spring Of 1885. Ho first lived on a
farm, nine miles east Of Fairfield;
was there when the county was sur
Veyed, remaining until 1843. when he
attended school at Mt. Pleasant for q
year and half. He taught school
near Burlington and was engaged in
teaching and farming until 1S49, when
he attended Allegheny college at
Meadville, Penn, for two and a half
years. In the fall of 1857 he went to
Kentucky and taught two years and
afterWars taught one year in Missouri
In 1854 he went to California and en-
gagged in mining and stock raising un-
TIL 1860, when he came to Ottumwa..
Here he engaged in the private bank
ing business under the firm of Bonni-
field Brothers, from October is, 1851,
until the organization of the First Ma
tional bank, October 10, 1868. This
was In fact as we'll as in name, the
first national bank in this section of
the state. He was appointed cashier
and soon after president, which posi-
ton he has held ever since, with the
exception Of one year. Mr.. Bonnifield
was president and treasurer of the
Iowa Central Coal company at Oska-
loosa for one year; he was treasurer
of the st. Louis and Cedar Rapids
Railroad company about six years and
until the road was sold out He has
always been identified with railroads
and other public enterprises likely to
improve the material interests of OF
tumwa Mr.. Bonnifield was president
of the Ottumwa Water Power company
for g period dating from 1875.
Mr.. Bonnifield was married to AL
cinda Inskeep October 28, 1852. Three
children survive, Mrs. M. B. Harmed of
Cedar Rapids, w. B. Bonnifield, Jr., of
Ottumwa and Mrs. f. W. Simmons Of
Otfunoua