George bonner, sr. and margaret Edmonston: a midway fort family

From Scotland to Utah:

The Lives of George Bonner, Sr. & Margaret Edmonston Bonner and their Family, Emigration and the Making of a Pioneer Family

A Midway Fort Family, Midway, Wasatch County, Utah, USA

HEBER VALLEY HERITAGE FOUNDATION, INC.

A Non-Profit Corporation Written by Wendell T. Rigby

Dedication

This volume is respectfully dedicated to the memory of George Bonner and Margaret Edmonston Bonner, whose lives of faith, endurance, and quiet determination helped shape the foundations of family and community in the American West.

From distant homelands to new frontiers, their journey was marked by sacrifice, courage, and unwavering commitment— to one another, to their family, and to the principles they held dear. In an age of uncertainty and hardship, they pressed forward with hope, industry, and resolve, leaving a legacy not only written in records and histories, but preserved in the lives of their descendants.

This work is also dedicated to those who came before them, whose sacrifices made their journey possible, and to those who came after, who continue to carry forward their name, their values, and their story.

May this account stand as a tribute to their lives, an acknowledgment of their struggles and achievements, and a lasting remembrance of a family whose history is woven into the broader fabric of faith, migration, and settlement in America.

Foreword

I am a member of the Research Group of the Heber Valley Heritage Foundation, Inc. where 6 or 7 of us have been asked to research and write biographies for the members of the Midway Fort in the Heber Valley, Utah. As such, we can select from members of the Fort that we would like to research and write about – I have selected the George and Margaret Edmonston Bonner family. I have used primary sources in the writing of the biography. I do this as I know Richard and Carol Bonner. We lived in the same general area in Heber around 1991-1992.

I was always impressed with Richard, his energy and desire to help the young men of the valley in the area of wrestling. Because of Richard and the Clydes, the valley has a premier wrestling program that has produced state champions as well as one Olympic

wrestler. I am doing this work in honor of Richard and Carolle Bonner and their contributions to the people of the Heber Valley, their family and ancestors who have contributed so much to the community.

Before you begin reading this work, I would suggest that you first read a prior biography prepared by William F. Bonner and Kaye Bonner, entitled “George Bonner and Margaret Edmonston – from Ireland/Scotland to Midway”. This can be found on Family Search.org under the memories section of their ‘person page’. It is very well written and provides much detail about George’s and Margaret’s personalities and lives, which I could not provide. I have tried to add to what they authored and consider my work as a companion document to their work.

Dedication Foreword

Table of Contents

Introduction – Summary

Chapter 1 — George Bonner, Sr. (1816–1879) (KWJD-R61)

Chapter 2 — Margaret Edmonston Bonner (1830-1920) (KWJ4-KR9) Chapter 3 – Marriage & Family

Chapter 4 – Crossing the Atlantic

Chapter 5 – Arrival in America and the Earning of Funds

Chapter 6 – The Way Westward – (Florence, Nebraska to Salt Lake City,

Utah – 1861), The George Bonner Family in the John Riggs Murdock Company

Chapter 7 – Land Clearing and Farming in Heber Valley, Utah (1850-1890) Chapter 8 – The Last Years and Passing of George and Margaret Edmonston

Bonner

Appendices

Appendix A — Chronological Timeline – George Bonner

Appendix B — Chronological Timeline – Margaret Edmonston Bonner

Appendix C – The Great Irish Famine and Its Impact on the Bonner Family of County Fermanagh (1845–1852)

Appendix D – Bonner Family Reconstruction in the Monaghan–Fermanagh Border Region (c. 1800–1840): A Ranked Townland Analysis

Appendix E – Baptismal Record Analysis for Muckno and Currin Parishes (1820–1830): Evaluating the Evidence for George Bonner

Appendix F – Wages and Cost of Living in Industrial Scotland (ca. 1820–60) Appendix G – The Perpetual Emigration Fund (PEF): Organization and Operation

Introduction – Summary

The following are brief histories of George Bonner and Margaret Edmonston Bonner. They are meant only to provide a very brief summary of their lives. The other chapters in this biography will provide substantial amounts of documentation about them and their children.

Brief Life History of George

When George Bonner was born on 22 January 1823, in Ireland, his father, George Bonner Sr, was 27 and his mother, Ann Lee Traverse, was 23. He married Margaret Edmondston on 22 October 1849, in Whitburn, Linlithgowshire, Scotland, United Kingdom. They were the parents of 4 sons and 5 daughters. He immigrated to Illinois, United States, in 1856 and lived in Utah, in the 1870s and 1880s. He registered for military service in 1861. He died on 5 May 1905, in Midway, Wasatch, Utah, at the age of 82, and was buried in the Midway City Cemetery, Midway, Wasatch, Utah.

Footnote: FamilySearch/George Bonner/About

Brief Life History of Margaret

When Margaret Edmondston was born on 1 May 1830, in Whitburn, Linlithgowshire, Scotland, United Kingdom, her father, Thomas Edmondston, was 32 and her mother, Christina Sutherland, was 33. She married George Bonner on 22 October 1849, in Whitburn, Linlithgowshire, Scotland. They were the parents of 4 sons and 5 daughters. She lived in Utah, in the 1870s and 1880s. She died on 23 December 1920, in Midway, Wasatch, Utah, at the age of 90, and was buried in Midway City Cemetery, Midway, Wasatch, Utah.

Footnote: FamilySearch/Margaret Edmonston/About

Chapter 1 — George Bonner, Sr. (1816–1879) (KWJD-2VK)

A Scottish Industrial Migrant to Illinois and Utah

Narrative Biography

The Early Life of George Bonner (1823-1837) – Origins in County Fermanagh and Migration to Scotland:

Birth and Setting: Lerkin in County Fermanagh George Bonner was born on 22 January 1823 in the rural locality recorded as Lerkin, in County Fermanagh, Ireland. Though the precise spelling of this place name varies in surviving records, it is

consistent with the pattern of small townlands that formed the fundamental unit of Irish rural geography. These townlands—often consisting of only a handful of farms—defined both identity and landholding in early nineteenth-century Ireland.

County Fermanagh, situated in the province of Ulster, presented a landscape markedly different from the more densely settled counties of eastern Ireland. It was a region of lakes, waterways, and rolling drumlin hills, dominated by the Upper and Lower sections of Lough Erne. Settlement was dispersed, with families occupying small, leased plots carved out of marginal agricultural land. ¹

The county’s historical development was deeply shaped by the Plantation of Ulster in the early seventeenth century, during which land was redistributed to English and Scottish settlers under Crown authority.² This legacy produced a mixed population of native Irish and settler families, often living under a landlord–tenant system that imposed economic pressures on smallholders and laborers alike.

By the time of George Bonner’s birth in 1823, the region’s economy remained overwhelmingly agricultural. Most families relied on subsistence farming, supplemented by seasonal labor. Opportunities for advancement were limited, particularly for younger sons, and economic insecurity was a persistent feature of life. ³

II. Social and Economic Pressures in Early Nineteenth-Century Fermanagh

The decades preceding the Great Famine (Potato Famine 1845 – 1850) were marked by significant population growth throughout Ireland, including County Fermanagh. This increase has placed strain on already limited land resources. Holdings were frequently subdivided among heirs, resulting in progressively smaller plots that could barely sustain a family.

Even before the catastrophic famine of 1845–1850, outward migration had become a common survival strategy. Indeed, Fermanagh would ultimately lose a substantial portion of its population through death and migration during the mid-nineteenth century, reflecting the vulnerability of its rural economy. ⁴

For young men like George Bonner, prospects within the county were few. Agricultural labor was seasonal and poorly paid, and industrial development was virtually nonexistent. As a result, many families adopted a pragmatic approach: sons were sent abroad—often in their early teens—to seek employment.

III. The Ulster–Scotland Labor Corridor

George Bonner’s departure for Scotland at approximately fourteen years of age aligns with a well-established migration pattern linking Ulster to western Scotland. This movement, sometimes described as a regional labor corridor, predated the Great Famine and intensified during the early industrial era.

Scotland, particularly the industrial belt surrounding Glasgow and Lanarkshire, was undergoing rapid expansion in coal mining and iron production. These industries required large numbers of unskilled laborers, and Irish migrants—especially from Ulster—were readily employed.

By the mid-nineteenth century, towns such as Coatbridge had become major centers of industry, drawing “vast numbers” of Irish workers to staff mines and furnaces. ⁵ This demand extended even to young boys, who were frequently employed in mines or auxiliary roles.

Child labor was common in Scottish coalfields. Historical evidence indicates that children as young as eight or nine could be found working in mining environments, reflecting the harsh realities of industrial labor during this period. ⁶ George Bonner’s entry into coal mining at age fourteen was therefore entirely typical.

IV. The Journey from Lerkin to the Sea

The journey from a rural Fermanagh townland to Scotland began with overland travel to a regional center. The most likely point of departure for George Bonner was the town of Enniskillen, the principal market town of the county, situated between the Upper and Lower sections of Lough Erne. ⁷

From Lerkin, George would have traveled by foot or by cart along rural roads to Enniskillen—a journey that may have taken a full day. Enniskillen functioned as both a commercial hub and a point of connection to wider transportation routes.

From there, migrants typically proceeded toward one of two major ports:

Londonderry (Derry), accessible via overland routes and waterways
Belfast, an emerging industrial port in the 1830s

Travel to these ports could involve:

Walking long distances
Hiring space on carts
Utilizing river and lake transport along the Erne system

Such journeys were often undertaken in groups, with migrants following established routes known within their communities.

V. Crossing the Irish Sea

From an Ulster port, George Bonner would have embarked on a short sea crossing to Scotland. Unlike transatlantic emigrants, these travelers made a relatively brief journey across the Irish Sea, typically lasting one to two days.

The vessels used for such crossings included:

Small sailing ships
Early steam-powered packet boats

world of Scotland.

Conditions were often crowded and uncomfortable, particularly for labor migrants traveling at low cost. Nevertheless, the crossing represented a crucial transition—from rural agrarian life to the industrial

The most likely destination ports were:

Greenock, a major Clyde estuary port
Glasgow, reached via the River Clyde

These ports served as gateways to the industrial heartlands of western Scotland.

VI. Arrival and Employment in Scotland’s Coalfields

Upon arrival in Scotland, George Bonner entered one of the most rapidly industrializing regions of the British Isles. The Clyde Basin and surrounding areas were dominated by coal mining, iron production, and associated industries.

Coal mining had been established in Scotland for centuries, but the nineteenth century brought unprecedented expansion. Industrial centers required a constant influx of labor, and Irish migrants became a significant component of the workforce.

In mining districts, entire families often depended on employment from the coal mines. Boys like George were integrated into this system at a young age, performing physically demanding and often dangerous work underground or on the surface.

For George Bonner, the move from Lerkin to Scotland marked a profound transformation:

From subsistence agriculture to industrial labor
From rural isolation to urban-industrial society
From family-based economy to wage labor system

This transition was emblematic of a broader historical shift affecting thousands of Irish youths during this period. And for a boy of 14 years, it had to have been a difficult transition. Whether he had people he went with, or how the trip and employment had been arranged, we do not have records that indicate this information. In any case, to survive, he had to change and become a man at an early age, traits which would serve him well later in life.

VII. Conclusion

George Bonner’s early life reflects a common yet significant pattern in nineteenth-century Irish and Scottish history. Born into the rural townland structure of County Fermanagh, he was shaped by the economic constraints of agrarian life and the legacy of the Ulster Plantation. By adolescence, these pressures compelled him to join a steady stream of young migrants crossing the Irish Sea in search of work.

His journey—from Lerkin to Enniskillen, onward to an Ulster port, and across to the coalfields of Scotland—illustrates the interconnected nature of the British Isles during the early industrial era. It also underscores the resilience and adaptability required of those who left home at a young age to enter the demanding world of industrial labor.

Footnotes

“County Fermanagh, Ireland Genealogy,” FamilySearch, describing geography and dispersed

settlement patterns.

“Plantation in Fermanagh,” Enniskillen Castle
Fermanagh historical overview, Roots
“Roots Tourism in Fermanagh,” Fermanagh Genealogy
“Coatbridge—19th Century Industrial Growth,”
“The Coal Miners of Scotland,” National Mining Museum
“Enniskillen,”

VIII. Wages and Economic Contribution

At fourteen, George Bonner’s earnings, though modest, were essential to his survival and that of his family. In early nineteenth-century Scotland, wages for boys employed in collieries typically ranged between six and ten shillings per week. ¹ These earnings were not discretionary; rather, they formed a necessary component of the family economy, contributing directly to rent, food, and fuel.

To properly understand the value of these wages, it is necessary to consider contemporary currency relationships. Under the British pre-decimal system, twenty shillings equaled one pound sterling. ² During the mid-nineteenth century, the pound maintained a relatively stable exchange rate of approximately $4.80 in United States currency. ³ Thus, a single shilling equated to roughly twenty-four cents (U.S.) in contemporary terms. ⁴

Accordingly, George Bonner’s weekly earnings of six to ten shillings would have amounted to approximately $1.44 to $2.40 per week in mid-nineteenth-century American currency. ⁵ When adjusted for long-term purchasing power, this corresponds to roughly

$50 to $95 per week in modern terms, or between $2,600 and $5,000 annually. ⁶

Although such sums appear modest by modern standards, they represented a substantial contribution within a working-class household. Indeed, the wages of adolescent children were often indispensable, enabling families not only to subsist but, in some cases, to stabilize their economic position sufficiently to consider migration or occupational advancement. ⁷

Footnotes

Great Britain, Report on the Children’s Employment Commission (1842), Mines Report (Scotland section).
John Rule, The Labouring Classes in Early Industrial England, 1750–1850 (London: Longman, 1986), 89.
Lawrence Officer, “Dollar–Pound Exchange Rate from 1791,” MeasuringWorth Foundation.
Calculated from historical wage ranges in the 1842 Mines
Measuring Worth Foundation, “Relative Value of the S. Dollar.”
John Benson, The Working Class in Britain, 1850–1939 (London: B. Tauris, 2003), 15–18.

IX. Settlement in Provo Valley – Mound City (Midway)

After arriving in Salt Lake City, the Bonner family heard about a mountain valley where there was plenty of grass and had just opened for settlement – it was Provo Valley (Heber Valley). They decided to settle in the valley and spent a year building a house, garden, etc. At this point, I would refer to you the original 24-page history of the Bonners’, which is the place to look for additional information.

After the year, George heard from members of the Mormon Battalion that gold had been discovered in California, so George and others decided to set out for California tr find their fortunes.

X. George Bonner and the California Gold Fields A Journey of Risk and Opportunity

After establishing his family in Midway, in the Heber Valley of Utah Territory, George Bonner appears to have participated in a temporary but significant migration westward to the gold fields of California. Family tradition holds that he joined a small company of men who departed on foot, traveling with minimal provisions and relying largely on their own endurance and resourcefulness. Though dramatic in its telling, this account aligns closely with documented patterns of labor migration from Utah settlements during the mid-nineteenth century, when men periodically left their communities to earn wages in external markets. ¹

The journey from Midway to the mining regions of California would have encompassed approximately 650 to 800 miles. The most plausible route followed segments of the California Trail westward across the Great Basin, a path marked by extreme environmental conditions. ² Travelers crossed arid desert expanses where water sources were infrequent and often separated by distances of twenty to forty miles. Even well-equipped emigrant companies struggled under such conditions; for men traveling on foot, the journey demanded exceptional endurance.

Family accounts emphasize that George carried little more than a butcher knife for protection. While such details may reflect the compression of memory into symbolic form, they nonetheless underscore the reality that these men traveled lightly, without the support structures typical of organized wagon companies. Their journey also coincided with a period of regional unrest associated with the Black Hawk War, which heightened awareness of potential dangers along portions of the route. ³

Upon reaching California, Bonner would have entered a mining economy already transformed from the early excitement of the California Gold Rush. By the 1860s, easily accessible placer deposits had largely been exhausted. Mining required more intensive labor, and many men worked for wages rather than pursuing independent claims. ⁴

It is therefore likely that Bonner’s year in California yielded modest but meaningful financial returns rather than extraordinary wealth. Many Utah men who undertook similar journeys returned with sufficient earnings to support their families, acquire property, or invest in their home communities. ⁵ His temporary absence from Midway reflects a calculated effort to secure economic stability during the early years of settlement in Utah Territory.

Character and Interpretation

The decision to undertake such a journey reveals important aspects of George Bonner’s character. A man willing to travel hundreds of miles on foot across desert and mountain terrain demonstrates not only physical endurance, but also a disciplined willingness to endure hardship in pursuit of long-term goals.

Bonner’s actions suggest a balance between courage and responsibility. He did not abandon his settlement permanently but rather engaged in a temporary migration designed to improve his family’s circumstances. This pattern—of leaving, laboring, and returning—was common among early settlers who faced limited economic opportunities in isolated frontier communities.

If Bonner possessed prior experience in mining environments before his emigration to America, such background would have prepared him well for the demands of California’s mining districts. More broadly, his journey reflects a defining characteristic of nineteenth-century frontier life: the ability to move between stability and risk, between settlement and opportunity.

His journey to California was therefore not merely an episode of adventure, but an extension of a larger life strategy—one grounded in resilience, adaptability, and a deep commitment to providing for his family.

Footnotes

Leonard Arrington, Great Basin Kingdom: An Economic History of the Latter-day Saints, 1830–1900 (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1958), 195–198.
George Stewart, The California Trail (New York: McGraw-Hill, 1962), 178–185.

John Peterson, Utah’s Black Hawk War (Salt Lake City: University of Utah Press, 1998), 45–62.
Rodman Paul, California Gold: The Beginning of Mining in the Far West (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1947), 201–215.
Arrington, Great Basin Kingdom, 210–

XI. George Bonner’s Journey to Virginia: The Purchase of a Team

Introduction

Family tradition preserves a remarkable account: that after returning from his California gold venture, George Bonner undertook yet another demanding journey—this time traveling eastward from Utah to Virginia in order to purchase a “team.” In nineteenth-century frontier language, a team referred to a complete working unit—typically a pair of horses, mules, or oxen, often accompanied by a wagon and harness. ¹

Such a team represented far more than transportation—it was the foundation of agricultural productivity, freighting, and economic independence in the developing West.

XII. The Meaning and Value of a “Team”

In the Utah Territory of the late 1850s and early 1860s, draft animals were scarce and expensive. Following the disruptions of the Utah War, livestock availability declined sharply due to military movements, relocation of settlers, and economic instability. ²

A working team enabled a settler to:

Plow and cultivate land
Haul timber, crops, and goods
Travel between settlements
Engage in freight contracts

Figure. Probable route taken by George Bonner in his journey from Utah to Virginia and return (ca. 1860). The route follows established overland corridors used by emigrants, freighters, and livestock drivers, including the Platte River Road and associated trail systems. The return journey would have involved driving purchased livestock westward under significantly more difficult conditions.

Without such a team, economic advancement in frontier Utah was severely limited.

Xiii. Why Travel to Virginia?

Price Advantage

Livestock prices in eastern markets were significantly lower than in Utah:

Eastern states: $75–$150 per horse or mule³
Utah Territory: $200–$400 or more⁴

This disparity made long-distance acquisition economically rational.

Quality of Stock

Virginia and surrounding regions were known for:

Strong draft horses
Durable mules suited to long-distance hauling

These animals were highly valued in western territories. Trade Networks

By the early 1860s, overland routes connected Utah to eastern markets through:

The Platte River corridor
Missouri River staging areas
Established emigrant and freight trails⁵

Bonner’s journey likely followed these known pathways.

xiv. The Journey East

Distance and Route Estimated one-way distance:

1,800–2,200 miles

Likely route:

Northern Utah → Wyoming Territory
Along the Platte River (Nebraska)
Missouri River region
Eastward toward Virginia

Method of Travel

Family accounts stating that Bonner “walked much of the way and rode occasionally”

align with historical practice. Travelers commonly:

Walked beside animals to conserve their strength
Rode intermittently
Joined informal traveling groups for safety⁶

Time Required

A journey of this scale typically required:

3–4 months traveling east
1–3 months securing livestock
3–5 months returning west

Total: approximately 8–12 months, consistent with the family account of a year-long absence.

Financial Requirements Estimated Costs

Category Estimated Cost

Travel provisions $50–$100

Livestock purchase $150–$300 Equipment & incidental costs $25–$75 Total Investment: $225–$475

Return Value

In Utah, resale or utility value could reach:

$300–$600+⁷ This created either:
A valuable working asset
Or a modest profit opportunity

The Return Journey with Livestock

Driving animals west presented greater difficulty than the eastward journey. Challenges

Maintaining animal health and pacing
Securing grazing along the route
Risk of theft
River crossings
Weather exposure

Daily travel speed:

10–15 miles per day⁸

This required patience, skill, and endurance. Character Implications

This journey reinforces a consistent pattern in George Bonner’s life:

Willingness to travel great distances for opportunity
Physical endurance and resilience
Practical economic judgment
Independence and self-reliance

Such traits were characteristic of successful frontier settlers.

xv. Conclusion

George Bonner’s journey to Virginia to purchase a team, while extraordinary, is entirely plausible within the economic and logistical realities of the mid-nineteenth century. It reflects both the scarcity of resources in early Utah and the determination required to overcome such limitations.

Footnotes

John Unruh Jr., The Plains Across: The Overland Emigrants and the Trans-Mississippi West, 1840–1860 (Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1979), 312.
Norman Furniss, The Mormon Conflict, 1850–1859 (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1960), 189–210.
Carter Goodrich, Government Promotion of American Canals and Railroads (New York: Columbia University Press, 1960), 145.
Leonard Arrington, Great Basin Kingdom: An Economic History of the Latter-day Saints, 1830–1900 (Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1958), 191–195.
Merrill Mattes, The Great Platte River Road (Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1969), 87–102.
William Clayton, William Clayton’s Journal (Salt Lake City: Deseret News, 1921), entries on trial travel practices.
Arrington, Great Basin Kingdom,
Unruh, The Plains Across, 305–

XVI. Final Settlement in Utah and Activity in the Community

Rather than recreating what is already covered very well in the original 24-page biography mentioned previously, I will simply suggest to the reader that they once again refer to this original biography. I will simply say that George was well respected in the community and was active in it.

For example, from Wasatch Wave we find that he was very much involved in water matters in the community. In a number of Midway Waterworks Company, George Bonner is referred to as the treasurer of the company, a position which requires the trust of others and an ability to handle community funds.

We also know from other documents that he registered as part of the Utah Territorial Militia, serving in the Ira Jacob Infantry Company with many others on the west of the Provo River. During a battle in the area of Lake Creek (Heber Valley), he was wounded in the hip and dug the ball out by himself. As a result of the wound, he had a limp for the remainder of his life.

During the time of the Midway Fort, the Bonners lived on the northeast side of the fort with Ira Malfelz to this north and Henry Coleman, Sr. to the south. From the fort experience, the Bonners developed many close relationships which lasted a lifetime.

When the Black Hawk War was in its final stages and negotiations were being done, George was selected as one of the groups who went to Fort Duchesne to negotiate a peaceful end to the conflict. Another sign of trust and respect.

George had many cows, horses, and sheep plus other farm animals at their home. When high-grade ore was discovered in Park City and American Fork Canyon, he would pack eggs, butter, cheese, vegetables, and meat on his back and take them to the mines to sell. These backpacks typically weigh in the 75-pound range. George was always a good provider and had plenty to last his family.

Wasatch Wave News Article

Midway Waterworks Company

Location of General Place of Business, Midway, Utah.

ASSESSMENT NOTICE

Notice is hereby given that at a meeting of the Board of Directors held on the 23rd day of September, 1905, an assessment of 50 cents per share of stock was levied on the capital stock of the corporation, p treasurer of the corporation of payable to George Bonner, Jr. Treasurer of the corporation, at his residence, Midway, Utah, on or before the 11^th day of November 1905.

Any stock upon which this assessment may remain unpaid on the 11^th day of November, 1905, will be delinquent and advertised for sale at public auction, and unless payment is made before, will be sold on the 12^th day of Dec., 1905, to pay the delinquent assessment together with the cost of advertising and expense of sale.

Simon Epperson, Secretary.

Location of office Midway, Wasatch County, Utah. First publication September 29, 1905.

Footnote: Wasatch Wave, page 2, Nov. 03, 1905.

Chapter 2 — Margaret Edmonston Bonner (1830-1920) (KWJ4-KR9)

A Scottish Homemaker & Mother, Migrant to Illinois and Utah

I. A Short Sketch of Grandmother Bonner’s Life

My grandmother, Margaret Edmundson Bonner, was born May 1, 1830, in Woodburn, Lanarkshire, Scotland. Her father was Thomas Edmundson, and her mother was Christina Sutherland Edmundson.

She had two sisters (their names are not known) and five brothers, Thomas, John, Alexander, David, and Kenneth.

She married my grandfather, George Bonner, in Scotland and had two little boys, George and William and one little girl Christina. When my father, William, was two years old they bid goodbye to their native country and started for America. Grandpa had preceded her and came to New York one year before, He worked and saved enough money to bring Grandma and the three children to this country.

Mode of sea travel was different in those days— for six long weeks they were tossed by

the great waves and carried across the ocean. The journey must have been a tiresome one for Grandma and the three little children.

Grandfather was at the shore to meet them, and he took them to Missouri. In 1857 another little girl was born to them, Margaret, and their next move was to Des Moines, Illinois. In 1860 another girl, Ann, was born.

They made the trip across the plains with ox teams and settled in Midway, Wasatch County, Utah. They did it all for the gospel’s sake. In 1862 Dezzie was born. That year was a hard one———————- poverty stared them in the face and the only good things they had to eat was the boiled wheat without any salt to flavor it.

Grandma was uncomplaining, patient and a real helpmeet to her husband. She did wash for Mrs. Libby Van Wagoner and took for pay, flour to make a small mixing for bread.

She was a tender, loving mother. When her little boys grew to the age that they could work in the hills, getting out logs she was known to walk several miles and carry a baby to take their lunch to them.

When Grandpa heard of the gold mines in California, he rushed there for work. Grandma raised potatoes and worked for flour and kept the children from being hungry while he was away.

The nearest Post Office was in Salt Lake City, 50 miles away, Grandma with her little boy walked there to get a letter and some money that Grandpa was sending her.

Three other children, Thomas Edmundson, Mary Janes and Robert James were born to them while they lived in Midway.

Through all the hardships and troubles, she was kind, agreeable, and sweet. Everyone loved her and respected her. She did not take part in public work but was a good neighbor and a real friend to everybody.

In 1905 Grandpa died and she was left alone— she had a home that her boys, George and William, had built and she lived there the rest of her life. Her children were very good to her and before she died, she lost her eyesight. She mourned her affliction because she was independent and ambitious, but she was seldom heard complaining.

When she was 91 years old, in 1920, she died and was buried in the Midway Cemetery. Author unknown

II. Reflections by others of Margaret Edmonston Bonner

A Short Sketch of Grandmother Bonner’s Life

Contributed By Bill Bonner

My grandmother, Margaret Edmundson Bonner, was born May 1st, 1830, in Woodburn, Lanarkshire, Scotland. Her father was Thomas Edmundson, and her mother was Christina Sutherland Edmundson.

She had two sisters (their names are not known) and five brothers, Thomas, John, Alexander, David and Kenneth.

She married my grandfather, George Bonner, in Scotland and had two little boys, George and William and one little girl Christina. When my father, William, was two years old they bid goodbye to their native country and started for America. Grandpa had preceded her and came to New York one year before. He worked and saved enough money to bring grandma and the three children to this country.

Mode of travel was different in those days—- for six long weeks they were tossed by the great waves and carried across the ocean. The journey must have been a tiresome one for grandma and the three little children.

Grandfather was at the shore to meet them, and he took them to Missouri. In 1857 another little girl was born to them, Margaret, and their next move was to Des Moines, Ill. In 1860 another girl, Ann, was born.

They made the trip across the plains with ox teams and settled in Midway, Wasatch County, Utah. They did it all for the Gospels sake. In 1862 Dezzie was born. That year was a hard one———————- poverty stared them in the face and the only food they had to eat was boiled wheat without salt to flavor it.

Grandma was uncomplaining, patient and a real helpmeet to her husband. She did washings for Mrs. Libby Van Wagoner and took pay flour to make a small mixture of bread.

When grandpa heard of the gold mines in California, he rushed there for work. Grandma raised potatoes and worked for flour and kept the children from being hungry while he was away.

The nearest Post Office was in Salt Lake City, 50 miles away, Grandma with her little boy walked there to get a letter and some money that Grandpa was sending her.

Three other children, Thomas Edmundson, Mary Jane and Robert James were born to them while they lived in Midway.

Through all the hardships and trouble, she was kind, agreeable and sweet. Everyone loved her and respected her. She was quiet, and unassuming and she devoted her life to her family. She did not part in public work but was a good neighbor and a real friend to everybody.

In 1905 Grandpa died and she was left alone—she had a nice home that her boys, George and William, had built and she lived there the rest of her life. Her children were very good to her and before she died, she lost her eyesight. She mourned her affliction because she was independent and ambitious, but she was seldom heard complaining.

When she was 91 years old, in 1920 she died and was buried in the Midway cemetery. Six of her children have followed her to the great beyond. She has a large amount of posterity.

Truly the Lord will say, “Well done, thy, good and faithful servant, enter into the joys of

my kingdom.”

A Tribute to Grandma

I looked at your hands as you peacefully lay On your beautiful bed of chiffon.

And I could not but wish that my own were as fair, When my humble mission is done.

Though twisted and gnarled and shriveled from pain To me they were beautiful still.

Oh, fortunate hands, hands blessed to serve The mandates of love’s sweet will.

To be raised in defense of the right and the weak, To. smooth away anger and pain,

To labor untiringly, not for yourself But ever for others gain.

My heart swells with gratitude, Just to have felt The kindness of their caress.

Those hands that were ready to help those in need I am so eager to succor and bless.

I heard those around me with sadness exclaim, “How peaceful they look at rest”.

But your spirit so smiling seemed to assure They continue the work they love best.

…Likely by Ida Bonner Wooten about 1920

Arvilla’s Memories of Margaret

Contributed By Lynn W Johnson

Many fond memories come to me when I think of my dear Great-Grandmother, Margaret Edmondston Bonner. She lived across the street, north of us, and had the west side of the house. Uncle Tom and Aunt Adie lived in the east side. Grandma was blind for many years before she died at 90 years of age.

I went to see her every day; she always sat me on her knee and would give me a “nip” of cheese. I loved her dearly.

I well remember the day she died, just before her ninetieth birthday. I wanted to stay home from school, but Pa Bonner said; “Dearie, your grandmother would say ‘No Darlin,

you go to school and learn all you can; that is the best thing for you to do.'” I went to school crying for my dear, dear friend.

–Arvilla Wootton Ritchie

Footnote: www.FamilySearch.org/Margaret Edmonston/Bonner/Memories

Also, please see the original 24-page biography, last few pages.

Chapter 3 – Marriage & Family

The following chronology/biography was prepared by one of the descendants, Ermel J. Morton.

Introduction

When Margaret was 18 (two years after George’s baptism) the Whitburn Parish Register records: “George Bonnar and Margaret Edmonston both of this parish were proclaimed on the two Sabbaths ending the 22d of October 1849.” The custom was to proclaim the nuptial couple in front of the congregation for two or three weeks in a row. George and Margaret were then considered married. This is termed as “banns”, or “publishing their banns”.

The Bonners lived in Greenrigg (spelled “Greenridge” in the 1851 Census) and

Longridge (both within a mile of Whitburn) for about 6 years.

They were married on 22 October 1849, at Whitburn, Linlithgowshire, Scotland, United Kingdom.

During their marriage, they had 9 children, 4 boys and 5 girls and 62 grandchildren. They are as follows, from oldest to youngest. Also included under each child are their children.

Children

George Bonner, Jr. (1850-1913) (KWC6-M66)

Brief Life History of George

When George Bonner was born on 4 August 1850, in West Lothian, Scotland, United Kingdom, his father, George Bonner, was 27 and his mother, Margaret Edmondston, was 20. He married Phebe Annette Alexander on 12 July 1875, in East Millcreek, Salt Lake, Utah, United States. They were the parents of 1 son and 6 daughters. He lived in Utah, in 1870, and Wasatch, Utah, in 1900. He died on 5 March 1913, in Midway, at the age of 62, and was buried in Midway City Cemetery, Midway.

Footnote: Source – FamilySearch/George Bonner. /Memories.

Children of George Bonner, Jr.

John Bonner, Male -1879-1879 (K2H9-34D)

Pheobe Annette Bonner – Female, 1880–1917, (K2WQ-Q56)
Elizabeth Bonner, Female – 1881-1948, (KWJJ-G1N)
Margaret Bonner, Female – 883–1979, (KWCD-RZL)
Florence Edna Bonner – Female, 1888–1947, (KWC1-XBJ)
Pansy Bonner – Female, 1892–1951, (KWJJ-P3Y)
June Lavelde Bonner – Female, 1898–1985, (KWC6-M6Z)

Footnote: Source – Family Search/ George Bonner/Details

Wasatch Wave News Article

George Bonner, one of our most highly esteemed and respected citizens, died at his home Monday morning. He was taken to the Provo General Hospital and operated upon for appendicitis about three weeks ago, but owing to other complications was not strong enough to survive the ordeal. He was brought up from Provo to his home last Monday and gradually grew weaker until the end came peacefully Wednesday morning. He was the son of George and Margaret Bonner and was born in Greenrig, Lanarkshire, Scotland, on Aug 4, 1850. He has been a resident of Midway since childhood and has been one of the products of our little town. He leaves an aged mother, several brothers and sisters, a wife and six children and a host of friends to mourn his loss. The children are Mrs. Phebie Dayton, Miss Lizzie Bonner, Mrs. Maggie Stewart, Mrs. Flossie Buys, Mrs. Pansy Giles and June Bonner. The funeral will be held Friday, in the 1^st Ward chapel. His death has cast a gloom over the entire community, and we extend heartfelt sympathy to the bereaved family.

Footnote: Wasatch Wave, Mar. 07,1913, page 5.

Christina Bonner (1852-1930) (KW6D-DCJ)

Brief Life History of Christina

When Christina Bonner was born on 7 September 1852, in Whitburn, Linlithgowshire, Scotland, her father, George Bonner, was 29 and her mother, Margaret Edmondston, was 22. She married Albert Gallatin McCurdy on 15 April 1869, in Midway, Wasatch, Utah. They were the parents of 3 sons and 8 daughters. She lived in Midway, Utah in 1880 and Naples, Uintah County, Utah for about 10 years. She died on 22 April 1930, in Vernal, Utah, at the age of 77, and was buried in Vernal Memorial Park, Vernal, Uintah, Utah.

Footnote: Source – FamilySearch/George Bonner. /Memories.

Children of Christina Bonner

Almedia Loretta McCurdy – Female, 1870–1918, (KWCR-LDJ)
Albert Gallatin McCurdy – Male, 1872–1933, (KW8J-LJR)
George Bonner McCurday – Male, 1874–1954, (KWJZ-B1V)
Margret Edneston McCurdy – Female, 1876–1973, (KWZW-FJC)
Annie McCurdy, Female – 1878–1916, (KWCB-D8P)
Dezzie McCurdy, Female – 1880–1950, (KWZC-G3R)
Mary Jane McCurdy – Female, 1882–1975, (KWCR-Y4D)

Ina Lucretia McCurdy – Female, 1884–1935, (KWCV-WNM)
John Robert McCurdy – Male, 1887–1957, (K24D-L4M)
Elizabeth Lindsay McCurdy – Female, 1889–1894, (K24D-LWF)
Ethel May McCurdy, – Female, 1891–1901, (K24D-LWR)

William Bonner (1854-1925) (KWCY-7ZD)

Brief Life History of William

When William Bonner was born on 19 December 1854, in Longridge, Linlithgowshire, Scotland, United Kingdom, his father, George Bonner, was 31 and his mother, Margaret Edmondston, was 24. He married Sarah Eliza Bronson on 24 January 1877, in Midway, Wasatch, Utah. They were the parents of 6 sons and 4 daughters. He lived in Utah in 1870 and in 1920. He died on 18 July 1925, in Midway, Wasatch, Utah, at the age of 70, and was buried in Midway City Cemetery, Midway, Wasatch, Utah.

Footnote: Source – FamilySearch/George Bonner. /Memories.

Children of William Bonner

William Bonner, – Male, 1879–1930, (KWVP-KHX)
Ida Eliza Bonner – Female, 1881–1971 (KWZD-NNL)
Mary Clark Bonner – Female, 1884–1968 (KWJ8-7FP)
George Bronson Bonner – Male, 1886–1941 (KWZ1-5KP)
Charles Edwin Bonner – Male, 1889-1967 (KWCF-467)
Eva Margaret Bonner – Female, 1892–1963 (KWCQ-D9G)
Avis Luella Bonner – Female, 1895–1990 (KWCB-7MY)
Everice Floyd Bonner – Male, 1898–1982 (KWCY-7ZH)
Franis Clyde Bonner – Male, 1900–1903 (KWVP-KHV)
Wilmer Beryl Bonner – Male, 1902–1902 (KWVP-KHJ)

Footnote: Source – Family Search/ George Bonner/Details

Wasatch Wave News Article

Wm. Bonner Buried Here (son of William & Eliza Bonner)

Funeral services for William Bonner, a former resident of Heber and Midway but who has more recently resided in Salt Lake City, were held in the Stake Tabernacle last Saturday afternoon, a large attendance and many beautiful flowers bearing mute evidence of a wide circle of friends. Bishop Clark Bronson of Midway 1^st Ward conducted the services, and the opening prayer was offered by Patriarch John A. Fortie. A quartet composed of Mr. and Mrs. F.C. Montgomery, Mrs. Maybell Moulton and Mr.

Frank Epperson with Mrs. Lillian C. Moulton as accompanist, sang “O My Father,” and the duet, “Just Beyond the Veil of Passing Years” was sung by Mrs. Maybell Moulton and Mr. Epperson.

James B. Wilson and Bishop Jacob Probst, of Midway were two of the speakers. Both had been life-time friends and neighbors of the Bonner family and spoke in highest terms of praise of them as honest terms of praise of them as honest, industrious and

capable people, willing to serve in any capacity for public benefit. Referred to the fact that deceased had served with honor as county sheriff for some time. Said that all are here to learn to master self, having the power to choose to do our best or otherwise, but that there is a power which urges each to do his best, if he will but give strict heed to the spirit which thus prompts, and if each will so do, death will prove but a promotion in life. Miss Helen DeGraff, accompanied by Mrs. Lorraine Lefler, rendered a violin solo.

President D.A. Broadbent said that deceased was a man of ability, which ability was used better than many knew. He had a great desire to live and prove his real worth; was always devoted to his mother and this filial affection has been transmitted to his children, upon each of whom now rests the responsibility of adding either respect or disrespect to the name by every act of life, for all are architects of their own fate.

Closing remarks were made by Bishop Bronson and the quartet sang, “There is a Beautiful Valley.”

The benediction was offered by Geo. A. Huntington of Midway.

William Bonner was the son of Wm. And Eliza Bonner was born at Midway, Feb. 15, 1879. He is survived by his mother, three brothers and four sisters, and by his wife, Mae Clyde Bonner and by eight children, all of whom have the sincere sympathy of many friends in the sad bereavement.

Footnote: Wasatch Wave, Mar. 07. 1930, page 7.

Wasatch Wave News Article Midway Resident Called by Death

He was born at Midway, Nov. 15, 188, son of William and Eliza Bronson Bonner. He first married Ida Haueter of Midway, who died during the influenza epidemic of 1918-1919, leaving two small children whom he raised at the home of his mother. In December 1938 he married Mrs. Ida Bronson of Salt Lake City, who survives. He is also survived by three children, Mrs. Fay Sorrow and Bonnie Lee Bonner of Midway and George Bonner of Pioche, Nevada by 5 grandchildren, his mother, a stepson, Claude Bronson of Midway, and by the following brothers and sisters: Charles E. Bonner, Floyd

Bonner and Mrs. Ida B. Wooton of Midway. Mrs. Mary B McMullen and Mrs. Luella B. Fitzgerald all of Heber and Mrs. Eva B. Jensen, wife of President Jay C. Jensen of the LDS Japanese mission in Hawaii.

Mr. Bonner spent most of his life working in the metal mines of this region and briefly in. Mountain, Nevada. He was a member of the LDS Church.

Funeral services were held Wednesday at 1:30 in the Midway First Ward chapel in charge of Bishop George Johnson with interment in the Midway Cemetery.

Footnote: Wasatch Wave, Feb. 07, 1941, page 8.

Wasatch Wave News Article

Funeral Services for George B. Bonner

Funeral services were held on Wednesday, Feb. 5 in the First Ward chapel for George

Bonner, who died very suddenly on Sunday, Feb. 3 from a heart attack. Bishop George Johnson conducted the services, which were well attended by relatives and friends. Many people from outside of the county also came to pay respects. The speakers were Guy E. Coleman, President Nephi Probst and Bishop Johnson. The opening prayer was offered by George A. Huntington and the benediction by Charles E.

Buhler. The grave was dedicated to Clerk Bronson. Musical numbers were two numbers by the male quartet, Albert Kohler, Reed Kohler, Karl Probst and Roy Huffaker; duet, Roy Huffakeer and Rulon Huntington, Nina Kohler pianist; violin duet, Maurice Thomas and Jean Duke, Mrs. Vera Rasband pianist. The floral offerings were many and beautiful. Interment was in the Midway Cemetery.

Footnote: Wasatch Wave, Feb. 14, 1941, page 1.

Wasatch Wave News Article Charles Edwin Bonner

Charles Edwin Bonner, 78, Heber City, died on Nov. 22 in Heber following a long illiness.

He was born on January 14, 18809 to William and Eliza Bronson Bonner in

Midway, Wasatch County. He married Leona Averett on June 10, 1909, in Heber City. The marriage was later solemnized in the salt Lake LDS Temple. He was a retired employee of Heber-Light & Power Co., having operated the Snake Creek Power Plant.

Survivors: wife, Heber; sons, daughters, Charles Lynn, Heber City; William Floyd, Springville; Mrs. Alan (Wilma) Cochran, Tooele; Mrs. Howard (Eva) Sherwood, Bountiful; Mrs. Allen (Helen) Lindsay, Salt Lake City; brother, sisters, Floyd, Midway; Mrs. Ida B. Wooton, San Jose, California; Mrs. Mary McMullin, Mrs. Luella Fitzgerald, Heber City.

Services were held at 11 am on Friday in Midway First Ward chapel. Burials were in Heber City Cemetery.

Footnote: Wasatch Wave, Nov. 30, 1967, page 4.

Wasatch Waver New Article William Floyd Bonner

William Floyd Bonner, age 75, died Monday, March 14, 1994, at Dixie Regional Hospital.

Born July 20, 1918, in Midway to Charles Edwin and Leona Averett Bonner.

Married Faye Dorothy Farnsworth, Sept. 11, 1945, in Elko, NV. Graduated from Wasatch High School after which he worked in Park City Mines. He joined the CCC’s and worked helping build the Deer Creek Dam. Served from 1941 to 1945 in the United States Air Force during WWII. While in the military, he served in 32 states and for two years in Australia and New Guinea. Worked for the city of Springville for 10 years and later was superintendent of power for Spanish Fork. Lived in Northern Utah for most of his life before moving to Hurricane to be close to his children. He was a skilled clockmaker. His specialty was grandfather clocks, which have gone to owners all over the world. He was a member of the LDS Church.

He is survived by his wife, Faye; children: Mrs. Neil (Judy) Bennett, of Washington, and Brent Edwin Bonner, of Cedar City; 4 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren; three sisters, Wilmas Cochrane, of Tooele; Eva Sherwood, of Bountiful, and Helen Lindsay of Salt Lake City.

Graveside services were held on March 17 in Washington City Cemetery.

Footnote: Wasatch Wave, Mar. 23, 1994, page 20.

Margaret Bonner (1857-1899) (KWJ8-WDG)

Brief Life History of Margaret

When Margaret Bonner was born on 7 October 1857, in Saint Johns, Perry, Illinois, United States, her father, George Bonner, was 34 and her mother, Margaret Edmondston, was 27. She married Stephen Shelton on 11 September 1876, in Provo, Utah County, Utah. They were the parents of 5 sons and 4 daughters. She lived in Utah, in 1870 and Midway, Wasatch, Utah in 1880. She died on 8 April 1899, in Vernal, Uintah, Utah, at the age of 41, and was buried in Maesar-Fairview Cemetery, Maeser, Uintah, Utah.

Footnote: Source – FamilySearch/George Bonner. /Memories.

Children of Margaret Bonner

Margaret Shelton – Female, 1877–1952 (KWCV-B2Z)
Stephen Bonner Shelton – Male, 1879–1964 (KW8R-M2Y)
Abigail Shelton – Female, 1881–1882 (KWVR-K24)
Mary Jane Shelton – Female, 1883–1972 (KWZZ-45Q)
George Shelton – Male,1885–1943 (KWJ8-7TW)
William Shelton – Male, Male, 1887–1965 (KWCC-6K9)
Delilah Seralda Shelton – Female, 1889–1929 (KWCL-N1Y)
John Wallace Shelton – Male, 1892–1930 (K2MC-4DN)
Claude Shelton – Male, 1896–1896 (KWVR-K21)

Footnote: Source – Family Search/ George Bonner/Details

Anna Bonner (1859-1942) (KWCN-H2G)

Brief Life History of Anna

When Anna Bonner was born on 19 December 1859, in Du Quoin, Perry, Illinois, United States, her father, George Bonner, was 36 and her mother, Margaret Edmondston, was

She married Jesse Richmond Nelson on 19 December 1878, in Midway, Wasatch, Utah. They were the parents of 5 sons and 7 daughters. She lived in Utah in 1870 and Heber Election Precinct, Wasatch, Utah in 1940. She died on 23 December 1942, in Heber City, Wasatch, Utah, at the age of 83, and was buried in Heber City Cemetery, Heber City, Wasatch, Utah.

Footnote: Source – FamilySearch/George Bonner. /Memories.

Children of Anna Bonner

Margaret Nelson – Female, 1881–1881 (KWVG-LQ8)
Sarah Ann Nelson – Female, 1882-1882 (KWVG-L3P)
Jesse Richmond Nelson, – Male, 1882–1968 (KWC4-KGN)
Christine Nelson – Female, 1885–1959 (KWJD-J74)
George Nelson – Male, 1887–1963 (KWZX-T3D)
Elizabeth ‘Lizzie’ Nelson – Female, 1890–1939 (KWVG-LQC)

Wallace Nelson – Male, 1892–1969 (KWZS-9MW)
Dezzie Nelson – Female, 1895–1932 (KWVG-LQ7)
William Ray Nelson – Male, 1898–1971 (LRFP-X91)
Glen Henry Nelson – Male, 1902–1971 (KWJK-78C)
Bessie Nelson – Female, 1904–1917 (KWVG-LQ3)
Luella Nelson – Female, 1908-1992 (KWCN-H2V)

Footnote: Source – Family Search/ George Bonner/Details

Deseret Bonner (1862-1922) (KWV3-1ST)

Brief Life History of Deseret

When Deseret Bonner was born on 14 January 1862, in Midway, Wasatch, Utah, her father, George Bonner, was 38 and her mother, Margaret Edmondston, was 31. She married Alvah Alexander III in October 1880, in East Millcreek, Salt Lake, Utah. They were the parents of one son. She lived in Utah in 1870 and in 1880. She died on 24 February 1922, in Vernal, Uintah, Utah, at the age of 60, and was buried in Maesar-Fairview Cemetery, Maeser, Uintah, Utah.

Footnote: Source – FamilySearch/George Bonner. /Memories.

Children of Deseret Bonner

Alva Alexander IV – Male, 1881–1931 (K27T-T95)

Footnote: Source – Family Search/ George Bonner/Details

Thomas Edmonston Bonner (1865-1935) (KWNN-G3B)

Brief Life History of Thomas Edmondston

When Thomas Edmondston Bonner was born on 2 May 1865, in Midway, Wasatch, Utah, his father, George Bonner, was 42 and his mother, Margaret Edmondston, was 35. He married Ada Deanna Alexander on 10 June 1888, in Midway, Wasatch, Utah. They were the parents of 4 sons and 4 daughters. He lived in Utah in 1880 and Montello, Elko, Nevada, in 1920. He died on 30 November 1935, in Midway, Wasatch, Utah, at the age of 70, and was buried in Midway City Cemetery, Midway, Wasatch, Utah.

Footnote: Source – FamilySearch/George Bonner. /Memories.

Children of Thomas Edmonston Bonner

Daisy Elizabeth Bonner – Female, 1889–1935 (KWVR-4KL)
Florice Leon Bonner – Female, 1892–1892 (KWVR-4LS)
Barney Earl Bonner – Male, 1893–1927 (KWVR-42N)
Thomas Bertell Bonner – Male, 1895–1948 (KWJ8-W1H)
Mary Arvilla Bonner – Female, 1898–1973 (KWZ7-HC9)

Fay Alexander Bonner – Male, 1899–1901 (KWVR-42R)
Glade Alvah Bonner – Male, 1905–1963 (KWCD-596)
Glenna Afton Bonner – Female, 1905–1964 (KWCP-3P7)

Footnote: Source – Family Search/ George Bonner/Details

Mary Jane Bonner (1867-1938) (GQRT-YQV)

Brief Life History of Mary Jane

When Mary Jane Bonner was born on 28 June 1867, in Midway, Wasatch, Utah, her father, George Bonner, was 44 and her mother, Margaret Edmondston, was 37. She married Tipton Elias Epperson on 29 July 1885, in Midway, Wasatch, Utah. They were the parents of 3 sons and 2 daughters. She lived in Utah in 1880 and Elkhorn, Wasatch, Utah, in 1900. She died on 25 May 1938, in Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, at the age of 70, and was buried in Midway City Cemetery, Midway, Wasatch, Utah.

Footnote: Source – FamilySearch/George Bonner. /Memories.

Children of Mary Jane Bonner

Margaret Reva Epperson – Female, 1886–1951 (KWJZ-YLF)
Sidney Hyrum Epperson – Male, 1888–1962 (KWC1-8YV)
Alena Bell Epperson – Female, 1890–1955 (KWJ8-72G)
Leslie Epperson – Male, 1893–1912 (KWVG-FGB)
Tipton Elias Epperson – Male, 1895–1928 (KWVG-FPV)

Footnote: Source – Family Search/ George Bonner/Details

Robert James Bonner (1871-1904) (9C8P-SBR)

Brief Life History of Robert James

When Robert James Bonner was born on 2 October 1871, in Midway, Wasatch, Utah, his father, George Bonner, was 48 and his mother, Margaret Edmondston, was 41. He lived in Utah in 1880. He died on 17 February 1904, at the age of 32, and was buried in Maesar-Fairview Cemetery, Maeser, Uintah, Utah.

Footnote: Source – FamilySearch/George Bonner. /Memories.

Children of Robert James Bonner

Records show no marriage and no

Footnote: Source – Family Search/ George Bonner/Details

Chapter 4 – Crossing the Atlantic– (Liverpool to Boston & New York – 1856), George Bonner Leads the Way on the Ship Enoch Train, followed by Margaret Edmonston Bonner & Children on the Ship Columbia

I. Introduction

Just a couple of weeks after George was baptized, he boarded the Ship Enoch Train and headed to America alone. He did this so he could earn money to bring his family across the ocean. Margaret followed about 8 months later aboard the Ship Columbia along with her 3 children.

II. George Bonner – Most Likely Voyage and Ship to America

In the previously mentioned 24-page biography prepared by William F. Bonner and Kaye Bonner, on page 5, first paragraph, it mentions a specific date for George Bonner immigrating to America – 23 March 1856, which is significant. Other information about the voyage has been lost, but the date remains as proof of the beginning of the voyage. Also mentioned is that they authors were unable to find a record of George’s passage to America, they concluded that “he may have worked his way as a deck hand or, more likely, traveled as a stowaway”.

In reviewing the internet site called “Saints by Sea”, there is a ship, named the ‘Enoch Train’, which sailed from Liverpool on March 23, 1856, and arrived in New York on January 1, 1857. In reviewing the passenger list, there is no one listed as George Bonner. The explanations, however, contained in the Millennial Star article entitled “”NINETY-THIRD COMPANY” below, indicates that this is first group of saints traveling to Utah under the Perpetual Emigration Fund (PEF).

Since George was not traveling with a family and did not have a family to take care of, he could very well have been a deck hand as indicated above in the previous biography and would not have had to be a stowaway because it was a PEF voyage.

The PEF was a Fund by which Saints who did not have the funds to immigrate to America, could sign a document by which they committed to pay the fund back at a certain interest rate. If he worked his way across as a deck hand, or was considered a deck hand, he may not have been listed as a passenger on board the “Enoch Train.”

In any event, his apparent intention was to arrive in America, find a job and be prepared when his family arrived. I have looked through all of the ships on the “Saints by Sea” website for the entire 1856 year and he is not listed as a passenger. I feel the above is the most logical explanation for which ship he traveled, on, which is the “Enoch Train” and why he was not listed as a passenger on any LDS immigration ships for 1856.

Please see Appendix G for additional information about the Perpetual Emigration Fund. Below is information regarding the May 23, 1856, voyage of the ship “Enoch Train”.

George Bonner – Most Likely Voyage and Ship to America – Liverpool to Boston 23 Mar 1856 – 1 May 1856

A Compilation of General Voyage Notes

“DEPARTURES…… The ship Enoch Train, Captain Henry P. Rich, cleared on Saturday the 22nd ultimo, hence for Boston, with 534 souls of the Saints on board, of whom 19 were from the Swiss, 4 from the Cape of Good Hope, and 2 from the East India Missions, all under the presidency of Elder James Ferguson, Edmund Ellsworth, and Daniel D. McArthur. Among the distinguished personages on board we may name Elder Truman Leonard, from Bombay — East India mission, who arrived in Liverpool on the 9th of March. He has had a long and arduous mission in a country where the climate has much impaired his health, and where the benighted condition of the people has prevented him from reaping much fruit from his labors. Also, Elder Nathan T. Porter, who was appointed with Elder Stevenson, on a mission to Gibraltar, but who, being prevented from remaining there, returned to England in 1853, since which he has labored with great faithfulness in the Reading and Worcestershire Conferences, and he has presided over the latter during the past year. The company also included the following elders from the British Mission, presidents of conferences, etc. — Elders Spier

Crandall, John D. T. McAllister, John A. Hunt, Edward Frost, Robert Parker, Andrew Galloway, William Heaton, Walter Grainger, and Samuel Hargraves.

This is the first shipload of emigrants for Utah by the P. [Perpetual] E. [Emigration] Fund this season. The day was delightfully pleasant, and all things connected with the clearing of this company seemed peculiarly auspicious. Her Majesty’s officers had a word of admiration to express at the excellence of the arrangements which marked the embarkation of this first company who expect to cross the plains with handcarts. The elders on board seemed to feel the responsibility that rests upon them, and the whole was rendered particularly pleasing and cheerful by the performances of the band that goes out from Birmingham, which will be a means of much comfort to the journeying Saints. The Lord blesses all who bless them and sets his hand against those who afflict or hinder them in their great work of gathering “

MS, 18:14 (April 15, 1856), pp. 217-18

“THE ENOCH TRAIN. — This ship sailed from Liverpool on the 23rd of last March, and arrived at Boston on the 30th of April, after a voyage of 39 days. Although the passage was somewhat lengthy, it appears to have been pleasant and agreeable.

We have received an interesting report from Elder James Ferguson, president of the company of Saints who sailed in the Enoch Train, but it came too late for insertion in this Number of the Star. It will appear next.”

MS, 18:22 (May 31, 1856), p. 347

“NINETY-THIRD COMPANY, — Enoch Train, 534 souls. On Saturday, March 22, 1856, the ship Enoch Train, Captain Henry P. Rich, cleared from Liverpool, and sailed on the

twenty-third, bound for Boston, with five hundred and thirty-four Saints on board, under the presidency of Elders James Ferguson, Edmund Ellsworth and Daniel D. McArthur. Of the emigrating Saints nineteen were from the Swiss Mission, four from the Cape of Good Hope, two from Denmark and two from the East India Mission. The company also included the first emigrants for Utah by the P. [Perpetual] E. [Emigration] Fund in 1856 –who were to cross the plains with handcarts. There were four hundred and thirty-one of these emigrants, and one hundred and three called ‘ordinary’ passengers. The following named elders who had labored faithfully as missionaries in Great Britain, sailed with this company: Spicer W. Crandall, John D. T McAllister, John A. Hunt, J. Nathan, T. Porter (all Utah elders), Edward Frost, Robert Parker, Andrew Galloway, William Heaton, Walter Granger and Samuel Hargraves. Also, Truman Leonard, who was returning home from the East India Mission.

The following incidents of the voyage are culled from a letter written by the presidency of the company and published in the Millennial Star, Vol. XVIII, p.353:

While the ship was lying at anchor at Liverpool, Friday night, March 21, Mary Ann, wife of Elder Thomas Lyon, was delivered of a daughter, who was named Christina Enoch. On Saturday, the twenty-second, the presidency called together and organized the ship’s company into five wards, with John A. Hunt, Nathan T. Porter, Andrew Galloway, Spicer

Crandall and Truman Leonard as presidents; John D. T. McAllister was appointed captain of the guard and clerk of the company. On Monday, the twenty-fourth, Agnes, wife of Samuel Hargraves, was delivered of a son, named Enoch Train, and later in the day Elizabeth, wife of William Johnston, gave birth to a son named Hamilton.

On Monday, the thirty-first, Esther Devereaux died of consumption, aged sixty-nine years. On the seventeenth of April, Mary, wife of James Sheen, was delivered of a son. On the twenty-fourth, Jane Clotworthy, aged two years, died of consumption of the bowels. The voyage throughout was a very pleasant one, and the captain and other ship officers were very kind to the emigrants. On Thursday, May1st, at eight a.m., the ship arrived at Constitution wharf, Boston, and at four o’clock p.m., the following day, the passengers disembarked. They went by nine omnibuses to the railway station. They started by train at five p.m., for New York, where they arrived on the third of May. After a short stay in New York, where a few of the passengers remained temporarily, the company continued the journey by rail to Iowa City, where they arrived on the tenth of June.

The emigration agents found it advantageous, in 1856, to send most of the P. E. Fund Passengers via Boston, as those who passed directly through, without settling in the State of Massachusetts, were not charged the usual amount of one dollar for head money, which was required to be paid for all persons who stopped to reside in that State.

The P. E. Fund emigrants who crossed the Atlantic in the Enoch Train, were forwarded from Boston to Iowa City, via New York, for eleven dollars and fifty cents per head for adults — those over fourteen years old; and five dollars and seventy-five cents were paid

for children between the ages of four and fourteen; those under four years went free. One hundred pounds of luggage was allowed for each adult, and fifty pounds for each child over three years old. Owing to competition between the railway companies, the price for adult passengers from Boston to Iowa City was subsequently reduced to ten dollars, and children in proportion.

(Millennial Star, Vol. XVIII, pp.217, 356, 378, 414, 542; Deseret News, Vol. VI, pp.160, 166)” Cont., 14:1 (Nov. 1892), p.19-20.

“Sun. 23. [Mar. 1855] — The ship Enoch Train sailed from Liverpool, England, with 534 Saints, under the direction of James Ferguson. It arrived at Boston, May 1st. From that city the emigrants traveled by rail via New York to Iowa City, Iowa, whence the journey across the plains this year was commenced by wagons and handcarts. Daniel Spencer acted as general superintendent of emigration on the borders, assisted by George D. Grant, William H. Kimball, James H. Hart and others.”

Margaret Bonner & Children’s Voyage – Liverpool to New York, 18 Nov 1856 – 1 Jan 1857

A Compilation of General Voyage Notes

“DEPARTURE. — The Columbia, Captain Hutchinson, cleared for New York on the 17th of November, and sailed on the following day, having on board 223 souls of the Saints, under the presidency of Elders John Williams, George Baker, and Benjamin Lloyd.” MS, 18:49 (Dec. 6, 1856), p.779.

“NINETY-NINTH COMPANY. — Columbia, 221 Saints. Columbia left the dock at Liverpool on the sixteenth of November 1856, and sailed from the river Mersey on the eighteenth, bound for New York with two hundred and twenty-three Saints and some other passengers on board. The Saints sailed under the presidency of Elders John Williams, George Baker and Benjamin Floyd. During the voyage several strong gales and heavy squalls were encountered, in consequence of which considerable seasickness prevailed. On the eleventh of December Sister Skinner was delivered of a son. The cold weather and the heavy rolling of the ship prevented most of the sisters and children from leaving their berths during Christmas, which was spent on board.

Columbia arrived safely in New York, after a voyage of forty-five days, and toward evening of January 1, 1857, the passengers were landed at Castle Garden. The next morning, they were visited by brethren from the ‘Mormon’ office and others. Apostles Parley P. Pratt, John Taylor, George A. Smith and Erastus Snow also visited the newcomers at Castle Garden and gave them good counsel and advice. Soon afterwards most of the Saints continued the journey to St. Louis, Missouri, with a design to go ultimately to Utah. (Millennial Star, Vol. XVIII, pages 779; XVIX, pages 75, 106, 479; Deseret News, Vol. VI, page 37.)”

Cont., 14:1 (Nov. 1892), pp.22-23

“Tues. 18. [Nov. 1856] — The ship Columbia sailed from Liverpool with 223 Saints, under the direction of J. [John] Williams. It arrived at New York Jan. 1, 1857.”

Ship Columbia – Liverpool to New York 18 Nov 1856 – 1 Jan 1857

Letter from John Williams – January 5, 1857

New York, January 5, 1857.President John Taylor.

Dear Sir–That you may have a report of our voyage, and that our friends at home may learn of our arrival in safety, we forward you the following for publication in the Mormon–

The ship Columbia left Liverpool dock on the 16th of November 1856, and sailed from the River Mersey on the 18th, on her voyage for this port, with 221 Saints and other passengers on board. The Saints were under the presidency of Elders John Williams, George Baker, and Benjamin Lloyd. Before leaving Liverpool, Elders Calkin and Williams, from the Millennial Star office, came on board, and exhorted the Saints to observe cleanliness and order during the voyage, promising that, if they would obey the counsel and carry out the instructions given them by those who presided, they should have a prosperous voyage, and not one soul should be lost.

During the first three days, we had a fresh breeze, and then came on a calm, which continued for a week. On Sunday, the 23rd, the captain very kindly consented to allow preaching on the quarterdeck, when President John Williams set forth the first principles of the gospel to all on board. During the calm, the Saints partially recovered from their seasickness, of which most of them had had a very severe attack. On the 11th of December, Sister Skinner was confined of a son. From a few days before this time, up to the 23rd of December, we had strong gales and heavy squalls, which rendered it very difficult for the Saints to have their food cooked, which, at times, made it very unpleasant for them, nevertheless, as a general thing, contentment and peace reigned. On the 23rd of December, the weather commenced to be very cold and stormy. On Christmas eve, Christmas, and the following day, most of the sisters and children were compelled to remain in their berths on account of the coldness of the weather and rolling of the ship.

After the 26th, the weather became mild until the end of our voyage.

On the 30th, land was observed from the masthead, which made the hearts of the Saints greatly to rejoice, thinking that deliverance was so near at hand from their long and dangerous voyage.

Whenever the weather permitted, the bugle was sounded for the saints to attend the meetings for prayer and instruction. The captain, officers, and crew were very kind to the Saints.

We landed in New York towards evening of the 1st of January 1857, after a voyage of forty-five days. Two of the crew have gone on to St. Louis with the Saints that have gone there, with a design to go ultimately to Great Salt Lake City.

The majority of the Saints enjoyed good health crossing the Atlantic. The morning after our arrival, we were visited by brethren from the Mormon office, and other brethren.

President John Taylor, Parley P. Pratt, George A. Smith, and Erastus Snow, paid us a visit at Castle Garden likewise, and gave us every necessary instruction for our future comfort, for which the Saints feel to tender their grateful acknowledgments, and, at the same time, thank the branch of New York, with its president, for sending them a goodly portion of the good things from the festival.

We remain your brethren in the everlasting gospel,

John Williams, President George Baker, Counselor Benjamin Lloyd, Counselor Samuel Symon, Clerk. [p.106]

Chapter 5 – Arrival in America and the Earning of Funds

I. Arrival in America and a Divided Migration (1856–1857)

George Bonner entered the United States on 1 May 1856 as a passenger aboard the emigrant ship Enoch Train, part of an organized Latter-day Saint migration from Liverpool to the eastern seaboard.¹ The ship landed at Boston, a principal port used by Latter-day Saint emigrants during the mid-1850s as Church leaders increasingly routed

converts away from southern ports and into the expanding rail networks of the northeastern United States.

Family tradition preserves an important detail: George did not immediately continue west but instead remained in the United States to work, establishing himself economically before the arrival of his family. This pattern is well documented among Latter-day Saint converts, particularly those traveling under constrained financial conditions or relying on the Perpetual Emigration Fund. ²

On 1 January 1857, George’s wife arrived in America, and family accounts state that he met her at the dock in New York. Although he had originally landed in Boston, this suggests that George had already repositioned himself within the eastern transportation corridor—either for employment or to facilitate his family’s arrival. Such movement between Boston and New York was common, as both ports functioned interchangeably within the migration system.

II. Labor and Survival in the Eastern United States

During the months between May 1856 and January 1857, George Bonner likely engaged in wage labor typical of newly arrived immigrants. Employment opportunities in Boston and New York included dock work, railroad construction, freight handling, and general

manual labor. These occupations required little capital and were readily available to able-bodied men, particularly those arriving from the British Isles.

It is important to note that coal mining was not a viable occupation in this eastern phase of George’s experience. New England and the immediate New York region lacked significant coal

deposits; the coal consumed in those cities was imported from Pennsylvania rather than mined locally.³ Thus, if later family memory associates George Bonner with mining work, that association must be tied to his later residence in Illinois rather than his initial arrival period.

III. Inland Migration: Railroads to the Illinois Corridor

Following their reunion in early 1857, the Bonner family likely joined the established inland migration route used by Latter-day Saint emigrants. This route combined rail and river transport and represented one of the most efficient long-distance travel systems in the United States at the time.

The most probable route included:

Rail travel from New York through Albany and Buffalo
Continued passage westward to Chicago
Transfer southward via rail or river to Illinois towns along the Mississippi corridor

By the mid-1850s, emigrants could traverse this route in a matter of days, though conditions were often crowded and physically demanding. ⁴

IV. Settlement in Perry County, Illinois (1857–1861)

By October 1857, the Bonner family had settled in Perry County, Illinois, specifically in the Saint Johns–Du Quoin region. Their daughter Margaret Bonner was born there on 7 October 1857, followed by Anna Bonner on 19 December 1859 in nearby Du Quoin.

This location placed the Bonners within a documented Latter-day Saint cluster. A branch of the Church existed at Saint Johns as early as October 1856, and by March 1858 the Du Quoin branch had grown to between seventy and eighty members.⁵ The Bonners’ residence in this same locality strongly suggests that they lived among fellow Saints, benefiting from both religious association and mutual support during a period of delayed migration.

V. Coal Mining and Labor in Southern Illinois

One of the most important contextual clarifications concerns George Bonner’s likely occupation during these years.

Unlike the eastern seaboard, southern Illinois was an emerging coal-producing region by the 1850s:

Coal mining was already established in multiple Illinois counties by 1840
By the 1850s, coal from areas such as Du Quoin was being used to fuel railroads
Small-scale and developing mining operations were present in Perry County and

surrounding areas⁶

Given this context, it is historically plausible that George Bonner:

Worked in agriculture during initial settlement
Supplemented income through coal mining or related labor
Participated in the mixed labor economy typical of frontier communities

Thus, family tradition associating George with mining work aligns most convincingly with his Illinois residence rather than his eastern arrival period.

VI. The Utah War and the Suspension of Gathering

The Bonners’ extended residence in Illinois from 1857 to 1861 must be understood within the context of the Utah War.

As tensions escalated in Utah, Church leaders took the extraordinary step of suspending organized emigration. A Liverpool circular issued in October 1857 instructed that “it is deemed wisdom to stop all emigration to the States and Utah for the present,” effectively halting the gathering movement. ⁷

For the Bonners, this directive reinforced practical realities:

Limited financial resources
The need to support a growing family
Uncertainty about conditions in Utah

The result was a four-year period of stabilization, during which the family worked, established roots, and prepared for eventual migration.

VII. Renewed Gathering and Movement to Florence (1861)

By 1861, conditions had changed sufficiently to allow the resumption of organized migration. The Bonner family joined the broader movement of Latter-day Saints gathering once again to the Great Basin.

They traveled west to Florence, Nebraska, a principal staging ground for emigrant companies. There, wagons, livestock, and provisions were assembled in preparation for the overland journey.

On 4 July 1861, the Bonners departed Florence as part of an organized wagon company bound for Salt Lake City. Their journey would

cover approximately 1,000–1,300 miles across the plains and mountains, typically requiring three to four months of travel.

VIII. The Civil War Context

The Bonners’ departure coincided with the opening months of the American Civil War. Although the conflict disrupted transportation networks and increased costs, Latter-day Saint migration continued during this period. The Church’s established system—linking eastern ports, Midwestern rail hubs, and Missouri River outfitting points—remained functional despite wartime conditions.

Thus, while the Civil War likely introduced logistical challenges, it did not prevent the Bonners from completing their journey. In contrast, the earlier Utah War had played a more decisive role in delaying their migration.

IX. Conclusion

The Bonner family’s migration from 1856 to 1861 reflects a structured, multi-phase journey shaped by both institutional guidance and national events:

Immigration (1856–1857): Arrival, employment, and family reunification
Stabilization (1857–1861): Settlement in Illinois, family growth, and economic preparation
Gathering (1861): Movement to Florence and departure for Utah

Family traditions placed within this historical framework prove not only credible but highly informative. George Bonner’s labor in the eastern United States and his reunion with his wife in New York fit established migration patterns, while the association with mining work aligns with the economic realities of southern Illinois.

Together, these elements form a coherent narrative of perseverance, adaptation, and eventual fulfillment of the Latter-day Saint gathering ideal.

Footnotes

William Hartley, “The Enoch Train Emigration of 1856.”
Philip M. Taylor, Expectations Westward (1965).
General histories of S. coal distribution; eastern coal imported from Pennsylvania fields.
William Hartley, “Latter-day Saint Emigration during the Civil War,” Religious Studies

Center, Brigham Young University.

MormonPlaces database, Brigham Young University, entries for Du Quoin Branch (1856–1858).
Illinois coal development histories, 1840–1860
Millennial Star, October 1857, “Emigration to the States Stopped for the ”

Chapter 6 – The Way Westward – (Florence, Nebraska to Salt Lake City, Utah – 1861), The George Bonner Family in the John Riggs Murdock Company

I. INTRODUCTION

By 1861, Florence (north of present-day Omaha) had become the principal Latter-day Saint Missouri River staging ground. Emigrants arriving at Florence were incorporated into an organized system designed to prepare them for the overland journey to Utah. At this outfitting post, emigrants:

Camped while awaiting wagon and livestock assignment
Repaired or constructed wagons
Received provisions and supplies
Were organized into companies under appointed captains

This process marked the transition from independent travel to structured migration across the plains. ¹

II. Basic Facts (the “Company Card”)

Company Name: John Riggs Murdock Company
Captain: John Riggs Murdock
Outfitting / formed at: Florence, Douglas County, Nebraska
Company organized: 4 July 1861 Departed Florence: early July 1861 Arrived Salt Lake City/Company ended: September 1861Approximate size at departure: about 200–300 individuals; 40–60 wagons

The John Riggs Murdock Company was a “down-and-back” company—organized through a system in which wagon trains were sent east from Utah to assist emigrants and escort them west. ²

III. What “Florence Outfitting” Meant in 1861

Florence functioned as the critical point of transition for emigrants entering the overland phase of migration. By the early 1860s, this system had become highly structured and efficient.

Emigrants arriving at Florence:

Waited for company organization and assignment

Received wagons and team (either owned, pooled, or assigned)

Were grouped into traveling units
Received final instruction before departure

Florence functioned as the critical point of transition for emigrants entering the overland phase of migration. By the early 1860s, this system had become highly structured and efficient.

Emigrants arriving at Florence:

Waited for company organization and assignment
Received wagons and teams

This period could last from several days to several weeks. ³

IV. The Bonner Family at Florence

The George Bonner family, upon arrival at Florence in the summer of 1861, entered this organized migration system and were assigned to the John Riggs Murdock Company. As participants in this company, they would have:

Joined a shared wagon or pooled resource unit
Been assigned to a mess group (typically 10–20 individuals)
Participated in daily camp organization and preparation

As with many emigrant families of this period, no surviving documentation identifies the Bonners at the wagon-by-wagon level.

Route and Travel Pattern (What the Murdock Company Almost Certainly Did) The company followed the established Platte River / Overland corridor:
- Platte River Road → Fort Kearny
- Chimney Rock → Scotts Bluff
- Fort Laramie → Sweetwater River
- South Pass → Green River → Salt Lake Valley

This route is confirmed by numerous contemporary emigrant accounts and diaries from the early 1860s.⁴

VI. What the Journey Would Have Looked Like

For the Bonner family, the journey west would have followed the standard pattern of overland wagon travel:

Daily travel of approximately 15–20 miles
Six days of travel per week
Structured camp life and shared labor

Contemporary diaries from similar companies describe:

Long stretches of heat and dust along the Platte
Frequent river crossings and livestock management challenges
Occasional illness and fatigue within companies

For example, the 1861 trail journal of Joseph Horne describes steady daily travel, organized camp routines, and the physical demands of crossing the plains, noting both the discipline and hardship of company travel. ⁵

Likewise, accounts from the 1860–1861 migration period, including those recorded by William Woodward, describe the Platte River corridor as a continuous line of emigrant travel, marked by dust, livestock strain, and the steady westward movement of wagon trains. ⁶

These descriptions closely match the conditions the Bonner family would have experienced.

Wagon Assignment, Organization, and Livestock (What the Bonners would have experienced) Wagon Assignment

Not preserved in surviving records
Likely part of a shared wagon unit

Company Organization

Division into groups of ten wagons
Subordinate leadership structure
Communal labor and resource sharing

Livestock

No documentation of Bonner ownership
Most likely: shared or assigned team

VIII. Civil War Context (1861 Migration Conditions)

The Bonner migration occurred during the opening months of the American Civil War. While distant from the primary theaters of conflict, the war affected:

Transportation systems
Economic conditions
Migration coordination

Despite these challenges, organized wagon migration continued successfully in 1861.⁷

IX. Diary Mentions and Documentary Limits

The inclusion of contemporary diaries provides important insight into the lived experience of the journey; however:

Diaries typically emphasize leadership and major events
Individual families are rarely mentioned by name

At present:

No direct diary reference to George Bonner has been identified
Multiple diaries confirm the route, conditions, and structure of travel

Thus, diary evidence supports the context and experience, even when it does not document the Bonners specifically.

X. Migration Narrative

In the summer of 1861, the Bonner family reached the outfitting post at Florence, Nebraska, where they were organized into the John Riggs Murdock Company on 4 July. After a period of preparation, the company departed westward along the Platte River route.

Traveling within a structured wagon system, the Bonner family experienced the daily routines and hardships described in contemporary emigrant diaries—steady travel, communal labor, and the physical demands of the plains.

By September 1861, the company arrived in the Salt Lake Valley, completing the Bonner family’s overland migration.

XI. Summary Table

Category Finding

Company Membership John Riggs Murdock Company (1861)

Company Type Down-and-back wagon company

Wagon Assignment Not preserved

Route Platte River → Wyoming → Utah

Livestock Ownership Not documented; likely shared

Diary Evidence Contextual (Horne, Woodward)

Arrival in Utah September 1861

Footnotes

Merrill Mattes, The Great Platte River Road (Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1969), 132–140.
William Hartley, “Down and Back Wagon Trains: Bringing the Saints to Utah in 1861,”

Ensign (September 1985).

Stanley Kimball, Historic Sites and Markers Along the Mormon and Other Great Western Trails (Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1988), 85–90.
Mattes, The Great Platte River Road, 150–
Joseph Horne, Journal, 1861, Church History Library, Salt Lake
William Woodward, Pioneer Journal, 1860–1861, in LDS Church Archives
James McPherson, Battle Cry of Freedom (New York: Oxford University Press, 1988), 274–276.

Chapter 7 – Land Clearing and Farming in Heber Valley, Utah (1850-1890)

I. Introduction

Records indicate that George had a herd of cows, a number of horses, sheep and other farm animals. As such, her also had acreage where he grew Alf alpha and other crops to feed his animals. I thought it would add to the kind of person George became in the latter parts his life. Farming during this period in history was extremely physically intensive and required a strong personality to be successful.

It also points to the kind of person Margaret was and became as she had to provide equal labor on the farm to make it successful.

Between 1850 and 1890, the transformation of raw sagebrush land into productive Alf alpha and grain farms in Utah’s Heber Valley required sustained labor, environmental adaptation, and capital investment. This study situates the farming activities of George Bonner and his wife, Margaret Edmonston Bonner, within the agricultural realities of Wasatch County during the late nineteenth century.

II. Environmental Conditions of Heber Valley

Heber Valley lies at an elevation exceeding 5,500 feet, characterized by cold winters, short growing seasons, alkaline soils, and native sagebrush vegetation. Successful grain farming required careful timing of planting and harvest, irrigation from local streams, and gradual soil improvement.

Land Clearing and Preparation

Initial development involved clearing dense sagebrush using grub hoes, axes, and controlled burning. Breaking plows drawn by oxen or horses were employed to turn virgin soil, a process repeated over several years before full productivity was achieved.

Grain Cultivation Practices

Primary grains cultivated in Heber Valley included wheat, oats, and barley. Planting was done by hand broadcasting or seed drill, followed by harrowing.

Harvest relied on grain cradles and sickles, with threshing accomplished using flails or horse-powered machines.

Alfalfa farming also required similar activities and had to be harvested three times during the summer growing period, not mention the constant watering.

Draft Animals and Equipment

An 80-acre grain farm typically required two to four draft animals. Oxen were favored in early years for endurance, while horses gained prominence later. Essential equipment included moldboard plows, spike-tooth harrows, wagons, and harness gear.

Farm Buildings and Domestic Structures

The Bonner household would have occupied a modest log or framed dwelling, heated by a wood stove.

Outbuildings included a barn or stable, granary, equipment shed, and root cellar, all constructed by hand using local timber.

Labor and Family Economy

Farming labor was organized around the household. Margaret Bonner’s work included food preservation, poultry care, dairying, and field assistance during peak seasons.

Seasonal cooperation among neighboring farms was common during harvest and threshing.

III. Conclusion

Grain and alfalfa farming in Heber Valley demanded resilience, technical skill, and sustained effort. The Cunningham farm exemplifies the agricultural foundation upon which rural Wasatch County communities were built in the nineteenth century.

Primary Source Files Incorporated

Farming – Photo – Scoop Excavator: Illustrates a horse‑drawn soil scraper or scoop used for land leveling, ditch maintenance, and irrigation preparation, directly supporting discussions of field preparation and water control.
Farming – Picture – Cultivating: Depicts cultivators and secondary tillage implements used to break clods, control weeds, and prepare seedbeds following initial plowing.
Farming – Picture – Sowing: Visual representation of hand broadcasting seed, a common method of planting grain prior to widespread mechanical seed drills.
Farming in the 1900s: Included for contextual contrast, illustrating technological developments that post‑date the Cunningham era and clarifying which mechanized practices were not yet available during the 1850–1890 period.

Bibliography

Arrington, Leonard J. *Great Basin Kingdom: An Economic History of the Latter-day Saints, 1830–1900*. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1958.

Bogue, Allan G. *From Prairie to Corn Belt: Farming on the Illinois and Iowa Prairies in the Nineteenth Century*. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1963.

Danhof, Clarence H. *Change in Agriculture: The Northern United States, 1820–1870*. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1969.

Jeffrey, Julie Roy. *Frontier Women: The Trans-Mississippi West, 1840–1880*. New York: Hill and Wang, 1979.

Utah State Historical Society. *Wasatch County Agricultural and Irrigation Records*. Salt Lake City.

XII. Heber Valley Settlement Conditions

The Bonners were among the very first settlers to settle the Heber Valley and began to improve it for farming and animal raising.

The initial conditions they would have encountered would have been sage brush, no irrigation ditches, roadways, no homes or outbuildings – basically starting from scratch to create a homestead and a community from nothing but hard work and dedication.

XIII. Immediate Post-Arrival Pattern (1863–1865)

Typical settlement sequence for 1863 arrivals:

Temporary housing (log cabin, dugout, shared structure).
Assignment or claim of farming
Participation in irrigation ditch
Enrollment in ward

At age 47, John Morton Sr. would have been in less than prime agricultural labor years. His sons (Allan and John Jr., if teens) would have been critical manpower.

XIV. Land & Economic Transition

Based on indications of earlier coal-mining background, Morton likely transitioned from: Miner / laborer → subsistence grain farmer/stock raiser

Wasatch County farming in the 1860s required:

Sagebrush clearing
Irrigation trenching
Fence construction (willow/pole)
Log structure building
Oxen or shared team ownership

Chapter 8 – The Last Years and Passing of George and Margaret Edmonston Bonner

I. Introduction

In their final years, George and Margaret Edmonston Bonner stood as living embodiments of the pioneer generation that had carved homes out of the Intermountain West. Having endured immigration, frontier hardship, long separations, overland migration, and the rigors of settlement in Utah, they entered old age surrounded by family, community respect, and the enduring legacy of their sacrifices.

By the early twentieth century, George Bonner, Sr. was widely recognized in Midway and throughout Wasatch County as one of the original settlers whose life experiences connected the present generation to the earliest days of the community. His reputation was that of a man of determination, endurance, and quiet integrity—traits borne out not only in family memory but in contemporary accounts.

II. George Bonner’s Final Illness and Death (1905)

George’s final illness began in late 1904 and extended into the early months of 1905. Local newspaper reports provide a rare and valuable window into his declining health. In February 1905, it was reported that he was “very sick at his home in Midway,” indicating the seriousness of his condition and the concern felt within the community.¹ A subsequent report noted that he had been ill for approximately three months but was, at that moment, showing signs of improvement.²

Despite this temporary rally, his condition continued to deteriorate. His illness ultimately extended over a period of seven months, during which time he became entirely bedfast. On Friday morning in May 1905, George Bonner, Sr. passed away at his home in Midway at the age of eighty-two. ³

His obituary reflects both the personal and historical significance of his life:

“George Bonner was in every sense a pioneer both to Utah and to Wasatch County… with the passing of such sturdy old characters… much of the early history… passes into oblivion.” ³

This statement is particularly meaningful within the context of Utah’s settlement history. By 1905, many of the original pioneers were passing away, and with them went firsthand knowledge of migration routes, early settlement conditions, and community formation.

George represented that vanishing generation—men whose lives bridged the Old World, the American frontier, and the establishment of permanent communities in the Great Basin.

The obituary further emphasized the defining characteristics of his life:

His journey on foot to California during the Gold Rush era
His endurance in the face of hostile conditions
His humble beginnings in Wasatch County
His reputation as an “honest law-abiding man” respected by his peers³

These elements, when viewed together, reinforce the broader narrative of his life: one of perseverance, independence, and unwavering commitment to family and community.

Funeral services were held on Sunday following his death, and he was laid to rest in the Midway Cemetery, among the community he had helped establish.³ He was survived by his wife, Margaret, and their grown children, ensuring that his legacy would continue through a large and expanding posterity.

III. Margaret Edmonston Bonner: Widowhood and Final Years

Following George’s death in 1905, Margaret Edmonston Bonner lived for an additional fifteen years—a significant period during which she witnessed profound changes in both her family and the broader world. Born in Scotland in 1830, she experienced transatlantic migration, frontier settlement, and the transformation of Utah from a remote territory into an increasingly modern state.

Margaret’s life after George’s passing appears to have been centered on family, faith, and community. Her obituary portrays her as a woman of enduring kindness, faithfulness, and emotional strength—qualities that had sustained her through decades of hardship.

She was described as:

“a kind and loving mother”
“a faithful friend”
“Always cheerful and kind”
“Loved by all who knew her” ⁴

These descriptions are consistent with the role she would have played in a pioneer household—one requiring resilience, emotional steadiness, and a deep commitment to both family and religious life.

Her religious devotion is also clearly documented. She had been baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1856, shortly after arriving in America, and remained a faithful member throughout her life.⁴ This faith would have been central not only to her identity but also to the decisions that shaped her migration, settlement, and family life.

IV. Death of Margaret Edmonston Bonner (1920)

Margaret passed away suddenly at her home in Midway in December 1920 at the remarkable age of ninety-one years and eight months.⁴ Her death certificate listed the cause of death as “unknown,” with “old age” noted as a contributing factor—an indication that she had lived a long life largely free from prolonged terminal illness.

Her obituary provides a rich summary of her life and legacy. Born on May 1, 1830, in Woodburn, Lanarkshire, Scotland, she immigrated to America in 1856, initially settling in Missouri before moving to Illinois and ultimately to Utah in 1861.⁴ These movements mirror the broader migration patterns of many Latter-day Saint converts of the period.

She and George grew up in a large family of nine children, three sons and six daughters, though not all survived in adulthood. At the time of her death, two sons and one daughter had already preceded her. ⁴

Her posterity at the time of her death was extraordinary:

62 grandchildren
137 great-grandchildren
21 great-great-grandchildren⁴

Such numbers reflect not only longevity but also the establishment of a deeply rooted family network in Utah and beyond—one of the most enduring measures of pioneer legacy.

Her funeral services were held on December 26 in the Midway First Ward meetinghouse. Church and community leaders participated, including Bishop John VanWagoner and other local authorities. Musical selections and prayers offered by family and community members reflected both reverence and affection. ⁴

She was laid to rest beside her husband in the Midway Cemetery, reuniting in death the couple whose lives had been defined by shared hardship, faith, and perseverance.

V. Legacy of George and Margaret Bonner

The lives of George and Margaret Bonner encapsulate the full arc of the nineteenth-century immigrant-pioneer experience:

Old World origins in Scotland
Transatlantic migration during a period of religious conversion and economic change
Frontier struggle in the American Midwest
Overland migration to Utah
Settlement and community building in Wasatch County
Enduring family legacy extending into multiple generations

George’s life represents the physical and external struggles of the pioneer experience—migration, labor, exploration, and survival. Margaret’s life reflects the equally vital internal strength required to sustain a family and community through those same trials.

Together, they formed a partnership that not only endured the hardships of their era but transformed them into a lasting legacy. Their descendants, numbering in the hundreds by the time of Margaret’s death, stand as living testimony to that legacy.

As George’s obituary so poignantly observed, the passing of such individuals marked the loss of firsthand knowledge of the pioneer era. Yet through preserved records, family memory, and careful historical reconstruction, their lives continue to speak.

Their story is not merely one of survival, but of endurance, faith, and generational impact—a story that remains central to understanding both the Bonner family and the broader history of settlement in Utah.

Footnotes

Wasatch Wave (Heber City, Utah), February 17,
Wasatch Wave (Heber City, Utah), February 24,
Wasatch Wave (Heber City, Utah), May 12, 1905, 3.
Wasatch Wave (Heber City, Utah), December 31, 1920, 4.

Wasatch Wave News Article – Obituary of George Boinner, Sr.

After an illness of seven months during which time, he was bedfast, George Bonner, Sr. passed away at his home in Midway on Friday morning last. The funeral services were held Sunday, and internment was made in the Midway cemetery on Sunday afternoon.

Georges Bonner was in every sense a pioneer both to Utah and to Wasatch County and in his death we are again reminded of the fat that with the passing of such sturdy old characters as he, much of the early history of Wasatch County that can be gotten only from such characters, passes into oblivion.

On January 11, 1823, making him over 82 years of age at the time of death. He was among the early pioneers to Utah and after locating in Wasatch County and establishing his family in a humble home, he set out on foot for California led thither by the alluring tales of wealth amassed by gold seekers. That the man possessed qualities of grit and determination is evident from the fact that he accomplished this journey on foot at a time when the Indians were most hostile, and that he left his home here with a butcher knife.

Deceased was an honest law-abiding man and had the respect and confidence of his many friends. His wife and a family of grown children survive him.

Footnote: Wasatch Wave, pg. 3, May 12, 1905,

Wasatch Wave News Article – Obituary – Margaret Edmonston Bonner

Margaret Bonner one of our old and highly respected citizens died at her home quite suddenly last Tuesday morning at the ripe of age of 91 years and eight months. She was the daughter of Thomas Edmonston and Christia Sutherland and was born May 1, 1830, at Woodburn, Lanarkshire, Scotland, came to America in 1856 first settling in St. Johns, Mo.; later going to Illinois. She came to Utah in 1861 making their home in Midway. She was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1856 by Robert Archibald and confirmed by the same individual. She was the wife of George Bonner by whom she had nine children – three sons and six daughters. Two sons and one daughter have preceded her to the great beyond. She had a numerous posterity of 62 grandchildren, 137 great grandchildren and 21 great great grandchildren. Her funeral services were held Sunday, December 26 in the Midway 1^st Ward meeting house.

Bishop John VanWagoner presided and the speakers were James B Wilson, Henry T. Coleman, Bishop Jacob Probst and Bishop VanWagoner. A quartet consisting of Mrs.

Mae Bonner, Ida and Lysle Bonner and Sylvia Wooton rendered in a very pleasing manner, “Mother of Mine.” The opening prayer was offered by A.L. Alder, and the benediction was pronounced by George Watkins. Grandma Bonner was a kind and loving mother and a faithful friend, always cheerful and kind and loved by all who knew her and her children and relatives, have the sympathy of their many friends in their bereavement. The children who survive her are Mrs. Christine McMurdy, Mrs. Dessie Alexander of Vernal, Mrs. Annie Nelson of Heber, Mrs. Jean Epperson, Wm. And Thomas Bonner of Midway.

Footnote: Wasatch Wave, December 31, 1920, page
Margaret Edmonston Bonner’s Death Certificate lists “Unknown” as the cause of death and a contributory cause of “Old Age.”

Both George and Margaret are buried in the Midway Cemetery, Midway, Wasatch, Utah.

Appendices

Appendix A

— Chronological Timeline – George Bonner

Timeline

1823

Birth • Age 0

22 January 1823, Ireland

1836

Immigration • Age 12

Ireland To Scotland1836

Scotland, United Kingdom

1849

Marriage • Age 26

Margaret Edmondston

22 October 1849

Whitburn, Linlithgowshire, Scotland, United Kingdom

1850

Birth of Child • Age 27

George Bonner 4 August 1850

West Lothian, Scotland, United Kingdom

1852

Birth of Child • Age 29

Christina Bonner, 7 September 1852

Whitburn, Linlithgowshire, Scotland, United Kingdom

1854

Birth of Child • Age 31

William Bonner, 19 December 1854

Longridge, Linlithgowshire, Scotland, United Kingdom

1856

Immigration • Age 33

Scotland To United States of America,

23 March 1856 Illinois, United States

1857

Birth of Child • Age 34

Margaret Bonner, 7 October 1857

Saint Johns, Perry, Illinois, United States

1859

Birth of Child • Age 36

Anna Bonner, 19 December 1859

Du Quoin, Perry, Illinois, United States

1861

Immigration • Age 38

Illinois To Utah

12 September 1861, Utah, United States

Military Service • Age 38

19 October 1861

Heber City, Wasatch, Utah, United States

1862

Birth of Child • Age 38

Deseret Bonner, 14 January 1862, Midway, Wasatch, Utah, United States

1865

Birth of Child • Age 42

Thomas Edmondston Bonner, 2 May 1865, Midway, Wasatch, Utah, United States

1866

Military Service • Age 43, 1 May 1866

Heber City, Wasatch, Utah, United States

1867

Birth of Child • Age 44

Mary Jane Bonner

28 June 1867 Midway, Wasatch, Utah, United States

1870

Residence • Age 46 Utah, United States

1871

Birth of Child • Age 48

Robert James Bonner, 2 October 1871 Midway, Wasatch, Utah, United States

1880

Residence • Age 56 1880

Utah, Utah, United States

1899

Death of Child • Age 76

Margaret Bonner, 8 April 1899, Vernal, Uintah, Utah, United States

1904

Death of Child • Age 81

Robert James Bonner

17 February 1904

1905

Death • Age 82 5 May 1905

Midway, Wasatch, Utah, United States

Burial • Age 82, 8 May 1905

Midway City Cemetery, Midway, Wasatch, Utah, United States

1913

Death of son – George Bonner, Jr. – aftereffects of appendicitis, Mar. 5, 1913

Footnote: www.FamilySearch.org/George Bonner/Timeline

Appendix B

— Chronological Timeline – Margaret Edmonston Bonner

Please see the original 24-page biography for a full timeline.

Appendix C

The Great Irish Famine and Its Impact on the Bonner Family of County Fermanagh (1845–1852)

I. Introduction: A Crisis After Departure When George Bonner left his native County Fermanagh around 1837 to seek work in the

When George Bonner left his native County Fermanagh around 1837 to seek work in the coalfields of Scotland, he did so as part of a long-established pattern of labor migration from Ulster. His departure predated by nearly a decade the catastrophe that would later engulf Ireland: The Great Irish Famine.

While George himself escaped the immediate effects of this disaster, his family—remaining in rural Fermanagh—would have faced its full force. The famine not only reshaped Ireland’s demographic and economic structure but profoundly altered the lives of those who endured it.

II. Pre-Famine Migration Versus Famine Migration

Migration from Ireland to Scotland by did not begin with the famine. In the early nineteenth century, particularly in Ulster, seasonal and permanent migration formed a critical economic strategy. Young men and boys frequently crossed the Irish Sea to work in agriculture, textiles, and increasingly, heavy industry.

This pre-famine migration differed in several key respects from the later famine exodus:

It was often temporary or circular, with workers returning home seasonally
It was labor-driven, tied to employment opportunities
Migrants were typically young and able-bodied, like George Bonner

By contrast, famine migration (post-1845) was:

Desperation-driven, often involving entire families
Marked by permanent departure
Associated with extreme poverty, illness, and high mortality during transit

Thus, George Bonner represents an earlier cohort of migrants whose departure was rooted in economic necessity rather than acute crisis.

III. The Onset of Famine: Crop Failure and Collapse

The famine began in 1845 with the arrival of a destructive plant disease, Phytophthora infestans, which rapidly spread across Ireland. The potato crop—on which a large proportion of the rural population depended—failed repeatedly over successive years. For families in County Fermanagh, the consequences were immediate and severe:

Loss of primary food source
Collapse of already fragile subsistence farming systems
Rising food prices for alternative grains, which were often exported

Although Ireland continued to produce food during these years, much of it remained under landlord control and was not accessible to impoverished tenants. ¹

IV. Statistical Impact: Ireland and Ulster

The scale of famine’s devastation is reflected in demographic data:

Ireland’s population declined from approximately 2 million in 1841 to 6.5 million by 1851²
Over 1 million deaths are attributed to starvation and disease
Between 5 and 2 million people emigrated during the famine decade

Ulster, including County Fermanagh, experienced significant though somewhat less catastrophic losses than western counties. Nevertheless, Fermanagh’s population declined sharply through a combination of death and migration. ³

The famine thus accelerated trends already underway, transforming migration from a selective labor strategy into a mass exodus.

V. County Fermanagh During the Famine

County Fermanagh’s geography—characterized by wetlands, lakes, and marginal agricultural land—made it particularly vulnerable to crop failure. Many tenants occupied small plots insufficient to sustain diversified agriculture, leaving them heavily dependent on potatoes.

During the famine years:

Evictions increased, as landlords cleared tenants unable to pay rent
Relief efforts, including public works and soup kitchens, were implemented but often proved inadequate
Disease, including fever and dysentery, spread rapidly among weakened populations

Contemporary accounts describe widespread distress in Ulster counties, including Fermanagh, where entire communities faced displacement. ⁴

VI. Probable Effects on the Bonner Family

Although specific records for George Bonner’s immediate family during famine have not yet been identified, their experience can be reconstructed with a high degree of historical probability based on regional patterns.

As a rural family in Fermanagh, the Bonners would likely have: Experienced Severe Food Shortages

With the repeated failure of the potato crop, the family’s primary source of sustenance would have disappeared. Alternative foods—such as oats or imported grain—were often beyond the financial reach of small tenants.

Faced Economic Instability

Without adequate harvests, the family may have struggled to pay rent. This placed them at risk of eviction, a common occurrence during the famine years.

Encountered Disease

Malnutrition weakened immune systems, making families highly susceptible to infectious

diseases such as typhus (“famine fever”) and cholera.

Considered or Undertaken Migration

If the family survived the initial years of the famine, they may have:

Sent additional family members to Scotland (possibly joining George)
Emigrated overseas, particularly to North America

Relied on Remittances

It is also possible that George Bonner, already employed in Scotland, contributed financially to his family. Remittances from emigrants became an essential survival mechanism for many Irish households during the famine. ⁵

VII. The Separation of Families

One of the most enduring consequences of the famine was the fragmentation of families across regions and continents. George Bonner’s earlier migration placed him in a position both of separation and potential support.

For the Bonner family:

George’s absence meant the loss of a working-age male at home
Yet his presence in Scotland may have provided a lifeline, if he was able to send wages back

This dual reality—loss and opportunity—was characteristic of many Irish families during this period.

VIII. Conclusion: A Divided Experience of Catastrophe

The Great Irish Famine represents a defining moment in Irish history, but its impact was not uniform. George Bonner, having left Ireland prior to 1845, avoided the immediate physical dangers of starvation and disease. His family, however, almost certainly endured the famine’s harsh realities within County Fermanagh.

This divergence highlights an important historical distinction:

Pre-famine migrants like George were economic actors within an emerging labor system
Those who remained became victims of a systemic collapse that reshaped

Ireland’s population, landholding patterns, and global diaspora

The story of the Bonner family thus embodies both sides of this transformation—departure and endurance, survival abroad and suffering at home.

Footnotes

Christine Kinealy, This Great Calamity: The Irish Famine 1845–52 (Dublin: Gill & Macmillan, 1994), 52–75.
Joel Mokyr, Why Ireland Starved: A Quantitative and Analytical History of the Irish Economy, 1800–1850 (London: George Allen & Unwin, 1983), 291.
“County Fermanagh Population Statistics,” FamilySearch Research Wiki, summarizing

census trends and famine-era decline.

Peter Gray, The Irish Famine (London: Thames & Hudson, 1995), 88–
Kerby Miller, Emigrants and Exiles: Ireland and the Irish Exodus to North America (New York: Oxford University Press, 1985), 280–305.

Appendix D

Bonner Family Reconstruction in the Monaghan–Fermanagh Border Region (c.

1800–1840): A Ranked Townland Analysis

I. Purpose and Scope

This appendix presents a structured reconstruction of the probable Irish origin of George Bonner (b. 22 January 1823), based on:

Surviving family tradition (“Lerkin, Monaghan”)
Surname variant analysis (Bonner / Bonnar / Bonar cluster)
Geographic correlation within Ulster
Known migration patterns from the Monaghan–Fermanagh border region

Because no definitive baptismal record has yet been identified, this appendix employs a ranked probability model, standard in Irish genealogical methodology when working with incomplete early records.

II. Methodology

The reconstruction follows four guiding principles:

1. Surname Variant Inclusion

All research incorporates the variant cluster: Bonner, Bonnar, Bonar, Boner, Bonor. ¹

2. Phonetic Place-Name Analysis

The family-preserved name “Lerkin” is treated as a phonetic form, potentially derived from similar Irish townland names (e.g., Lurgan-, Lagan-, Larkin-type forms).

3. Parish-Level Reconstruction

Irish genealogical research is most successful when conducted at the parish and townland level, rather than by county alone. ²

4. Cluster-Based Identification

Priority is given to identifying family groups (parents + multiple children) rather than isolated individuals.

III. Ranked Candidate-Townland Table

The following table presents the most probable candidate locations for the Bonner family, ranked by combined phonetic, geographic, and historical criteria.

Rank Parish County Townland Rationale Probability Assessment

Muckno Monaghan Lurganmore Strong phonetic similarity to “Lerkin”; HIGH

Monaghan aligns with family tradition; viable migration corridor

Currin Monaghan Lurganboy Border parish; phonetic match; supports HIGH

Monaghan–Fermanagh confusion

Aghnamullen Monaghan Lurgangreen Variant Lurgan form; plausible phonetic drift; MODERATE HIGH

within correct regional cluster

Donaghmoyne Monaghan Lurganboys Broader phonetic match; slightly weaker geographic alignment MODERATE

Aghalurcher

(adjacent zone) Fermanagh Multiple candidates Border-region fallback; explains later Fermanagh association MODERATE (Secondarey

IV. Analysis of the “Lerkin” Placename

No modern standardized Irish townland spelling “Lerkin” has been identified in the surveyed sources. This strongly suggests that:

The name represents a phonetic memory, not a literal spelling
It may derive from Lurgan-type place names, which are common in Monaghan
It may reflect oral transmission distortion over multiple generations

Phonetic drift of this kind is well documented in Irish emigrant families, particularly where:

Literacy levels were limited
Names passed through multiple linguistic environments (Irish → English →

American English)

V. Surname Variant Considerations

The Bonner surname must be interpreted within its broader variant cluster.

Research tools such as those compiled by John Grenham Irish Surname Database demonstrate that:

Bonar / Bonnar / Bonner are closely related forms
The name is associated with Ulster and Scottish-origin populations
Variant spelling is expected in early records

This supports the hypothesis that the Bonner family:

May have Scottish roots
Settled in Ulster prior to George’s birth
Maintained variant spellings across regions

VI. Geographic and Migration Context

The candidate parishes lie within a region characterized by:

Close proximity to **County Monaghan and County Fermanagh
Established migration routes through:
- Enniskillen
- Belfast
- Londonderry

This region functioned as a migration corridor to Scotland, particularly for young laborers entering coal mining and industrial work.

VII. Working Family Reconstruction (Provisional)

Based on compiled family materials, the following structure is proposed:

George Bonner, 1823
Probable father: George Bonner (Sr.)
Probable mother: Ann Travers / Traverse

· Probable siblings:

Samuel

James
William
Mary Jane

This reconstruction remains hypothetical until confirmed by parish records.

VIII. Research Priorities (Next Steps)

To convert this reconstruction into proof-level identification, the following targeted searches are required:

1. Parish Baptism Records (Primary Objective)

Search all ranked parishes for:
- George Bonner (1822–1824)
- Sibling cluster under same parents

2. Tithe Allotment Books (c. 1820s–1830s)

Identify Bonner/Bonnar households
Confirm land occupancy within candidate townlands

3. Griffith’s Valuation (Mid-19th Century)

Trace continuation or relocation of family lines

4. Scottish Records (Critical Correlation Step)

Marriage or census records may confirm:
- Irish parish
- Parent names

IX. Conclusion

The reconstruction presented here represents the most probable geographic and familial origin of George Bonner based on currently available evidence.

While definitive proof remains outstanding, the convergence of:

Family tradition
Surname variant analysis
Phonetic place-name correlation
Geographic migration patterns

This strongly supports a location within the Monaghan–Fermanagh border region, with the highest probability centered in the Lurgan-type townlands of County Monaghan.

Footnotes

John Grenham Irish Surname Database, surname variant cluster for Bonner/Bonnar/Bonar.
FamilySearch Research Wiki, guidance on Irish parish-based genealogy
RootsIreland, Monaghan online sources, including baptismal records and Tithe Allotment
Irish townland structure and phonetic variation in historical

Appendix E

– Baptismal Record Analysis for Muckno and Currin Parishes (1820–1830): Evaluating the Evidence for George Bonner

I. Purpose

This appendix evaluates the availability, reliability, and implications of baptismal records for the parishes of Muckno Parish and Currin Parish during the critical period 1820–1830, corresponding to the reported birth of George Bonner (22 January 1823). The objective is to determine:

Whether surviving parish records could contain George’s baptism
Which denominations are most likely to hold relevant entries
How the record landscape affects the probability of identifying the Bonner family

II. Overview of Surviving Parish Records

Muckno Parish (Castleblayney Area)

Muckno Parish possesses one of the strongest early record sets in County Monaghan for this period:

Church of Ireland registers: begin 1810–1811
Presbyterian (1st Castleblayney): begin 1827
Presbyterian (2nd Castleblayney): begin 1820
Roman Catholic registers: begin later (c. 1835)

These dates are critical. A child born in 1823 would most likely appear in:

Church of Ireland records
Early Presbyterian registers

Roman Catholic baptismal registers for Muckno begin too late to capture this birth window. ¹

B. Currin Parish (Monaghan–Fermanagh Border)

Currin Parish presents a similar but geographically distinctive record structure:

Church of Ireland registers: begin 1812
Additional local custody records: extend back to 1810
Roman Catholic registers (Drumully area): begin later (mid-19th century)

Currin’s significance lies in its dual-county character, historically spanning both Monaghan and Fermanagh. ² This makes it a prime candidate for explaining later family confusion regarding county identity.

III. Denominational Implications

The record evidence leads to a critical conclusion:

Any baptism of George Bonner in 1822–1823 in these parishes would most likely appear in Protestant records, not Roman Catholic registers.

This conclusion rests on the following facts:

Catholic registers for both parishes begin too late
Church of Ireland and Presbyterian records cover the correct period
Ulster populations often included mixed or shifting denominational affiliations

This does not prove the Bonner family was Protestant; rather, it indicates that:

If the family were Catholic, the baptism may not survive in extant registers
If the baptism survives, it is most likely recorded in Protestant registers

IV. The Absence of a Verified Baptism

No publicly accessible baptismal record for George Bonner (or variant spellings) in these parishes has yet been verified through open web sources.

This absence must be interpreted carefully. It does not imply:

That George was not born in these parishes
That the family tradition is incorrect

Instead, it most likely reflects:

Limited public access to indexed transcripts
Incomplete digitization of early parish registers
Possible recording under variant surname spellings

V. Place-Name Variability: “Lerkin” and “Kiliver”

Two distinct place-name traditions survive in family materials:

· Lerkin, Monaghan”

“Kiliver, Monaghan County”

Neither corresponds directly to a verified modern townland spelling. This strongly suggests:

Phonetic distortion over time
Possible conflation of multiple placenames
Loss of the original spelling through oral transmission

This reinforces the need to prioritize:

Parish-level reconstruction
Family clustering over exact placename matching

VI. Comparative Parish Assessment

The following table summarizes the relative strengths of each parish:

Factor	Muckno	Currin
Record coverage (1820s)	Strong	Strong
Protestant register availability	Excellent	Excellent
Catholic register coverage	Late	Late
Geographic relevance	High	Very High
Explains county confusion	Moderate	Strong

Associated place-name candidates Moderate–High Moderate

VII. Interpretation

The combined evidence supports the following conclusions:

1. Both Muckno and Currin remain primary candidate parishes

Each has surviving records capable of containing a baptism for George Bonner.

2. Muckno is favored for record density and archival strength

Its multiple Protestant congregations increase the likelihood of surviving entries.

3. Currin is favored for geographic explanation

Its borderland nature aligns with the Monaghan–Fermanagh ambiguity in family tradition.

4. The absence of a confirmed baptism is not disqualifying

It reflects access limitations rather than negative evidence.

VIII. Final Assessment

The parish record evidence for the period 1820–1830 supports continued investigation in both Muckno and Currin, with the expectation that any surviving baptismal record for George Bonner would most likely appear in Church of Ireland or Presbyterian registers. The current absence of a verified entry reflects limitations of accessible data rather than a contradiction of the Monaghan-origin hypothesis.

Footnotes

Parish record availability data summarized from John Grenham Irish Genealogy Database, Muckno Parish listings (Church of Ireland and Presbyterian records beginning early 19th century; Catholic registers beginning later).

Parish description and jurisdictional structure from Samuel Lewis Topographical Dictionary of Ireland, entry for Currin Parish, noting its division between Monaghan and Fermanagh.

I. Purpose

Whether surviving parish records could contain George’s baptism
Which denominations are most likely to hold relevant entries
How the record landscape affects the probability of identifying the Bonner family

II. Overview of Surviving Parish Records

Muckno Parish (Castleblayney Area)

Muckno Parish possesses one of the strongest early record sets in County Monaghan for this period:

Church of Ireland registers: begin 1810–1811
Presbyterian (1st Castleblayney): begin 1827
Presbyterian (2nd Castleblayney): begin 1820
Roman Catholic registers: begin later (c. 1835)

These dates are critical. A child born in 1823 would most likely appear in:

Church of Ireland records
Early Presbyterian registers

Roman Catholic baptismal registers for Muckno begin too late to capture this birth window. ¹

B. Currin Parish (Monaghan–Fermanagh Border)

Currin Parish presents a similar but geographically distinctive record structure:

Church of Ireland registers: begin 1812
Additional local custody records: extend back to 1810
Roman Catholic registers (Drumully area): begin later (mid-19th century)

III. Denominational Implications

The record evidence leads to a critical conclusion:

Any baptism of George Bonner in 1822–1823 in these parishes would most likely appear in Protestant records, not Roman Catholic registers.

This conclusion rests on the following facts:

Catholic registers for both parishes begin too late
Church of Ireland and Presbyterian records cover the correct period
Ulster populations often included mixed or shifting denominational affiliations

This does not prove the Bonner family was Protestant; rather, it indicates that:

If the family were Catholic, the baptism may not survive in extant registers
If the baptism survives, it is most likely recorded in Protestant registers

IV. The Absence of a Verified Baptism

No publicly accessible baptismal record for George Bonner (or variant spellings) in these parishes has yet been verified through open web sources.

This absence must be interpreted carefully. It does not imply:

That George was not born in these parishes
That the family tradition is incorrect

Instead, it most likely reflects:

Limited public access to indexed transcripts
Incomplete digitization of early parish registers
Possible recording under variant surname spellings

V. Place-Name Variability: “Lerkin” and “Kiliver”

Two distinct place-name traditions survive in family materials:

· “Lerkin, Monaghan”

“Kiliver, Monaghan County”

Neither corresponds directly to a verified modern townland spelling. This strongly suggests:

Phonetic distortion over time
Possible conflation of multiple placenames
Loss of the original spelling through oral transmission

This reinforces the need to prioritize:

Parish-level reconstruction
Family clustering over exact placename matching

VI. Comparative Parish Assessment

The following table summarizes the relative strengths of each parish:

Factor	Muckno	Currin
Record coverage (1820s)	Strong	Strong
Protestant register availability	Excellent	Excellent
Catholic register coverage	Late	Late
Geographic relevance	High	Very High
Explains county confusion	Moderate	Strong

Associated place-name candidates Moderate–High Moderate

VII. Interpretation

The combined evidence supports the following conclusions:

1. Both Muckno and Currin remain primary candidate parishes

Each has surviving records capable of containing a baptism for George Bonner.

2. Muckno is favored for record density and archival strength

Its multiple Protestant congregations increase the likelihood of surviving entries.

3. Currin is favored for geographic explanation

Its borderland nature aligns with the Monaghan–Fermanagh ambiguity in family tradition.

4. The absence of a confirmed baptism is not disqualifying

It reflects access limitations rather than negative evidence.

VIII. Final Assessment

Footnotes

Parish record availability data summarized from John Grenham Irish Genealogy Database, Muckno Parish listings (Church of Ireland and Presbyterian records beginning early 19th century; Catholic registers beginning later).

Parish description and jurisdictional structure from Samuel Lewis Topographical Dictionary of Ireland, entry for Currin Parish, noting its division between Monaghan and Fermanagh.

I. Purpose

Whether surviving parish records could contain George’s baptism
Which denominations are most likely to hold relevant entries
How the record landscape affects the probability of identifying the Bonner family

II. Overview of Surviving Parish Records

Muckno Parish (Castleblayney Area)

Muckno Parish possesses one of the strongest early record sets in County Monaghan for this period:

Church of Ireland registers: begin 1810–1811
Presbyterian (1st Castleblayney): begin 1827
Presbyterian (2nd Castleblayney): begin 1820
Roman Catholic registers: begin later (c. 1835)

These dates are critical. A child born in 1823 would most likely appear in:

Church of Ireland records
Early Presbyterian registers

Roman Catholic baptismal registers for Muckno begin too late to capture this birth window. ¹

B. Currin Parish (Monaghan–Fermanagh Border)

Currin Parish presents a similar but geographically distinctive record structure:

Church of Ireland registers: begin 1812
Additional local custody records: extend back to 1810
Roman Catholic registers (Drumully area): begin later (mid-19th century)

III. Denominational Implications

The record evidence leads to a critical conclusion:

Any baptism of George Bonner in 1822–1823 in these parishes would most likely appear in Protestant records, not Roman Catholic registers.

This conclusion rests on the following facts:

Catholic registers for both parishes begin too late
Church of Ireland and Presbyterian records cover the correct period
Ulster populations often included mixed or shifting denominational affiliations

This does not prove the Bonner family was Protestant; rather, it indicates that:

If the family were Catholic, the baptism may not survive in extant registers
If the baptism survives, it is most likely recorded in Protestant registers

IV. The Absence of a Verified Baptism

No publicly accessible baptismal record for George Bonner (or variant spellings) in these parishes has yet been verified through open web sources.

This absence must be interpreted carefully. It does not imply:

That George was not born in these parishes
That the family tradition is incorrect

Instead, it most likely reflects:

Limited public access to indexed transcripts
Incomplete digitization of early parish registers
Possible recording under variant surname spellings

V. Place-Name Variability: “Lerkin” and “Kiliver”

Two distinct place-name traditions survive in family materials:

· Lerkin, Monaghan”

“Kiliver, Monaghan County”

Neither corresponds directly to a verified modern townland spelling. This strongly suggests:

Phonetic distortion over time
Possible conflation of multiple placenames
Loss of the original spelling through oral transmission

This reinforces the need to prioritize:

Parish-level reconstruction
Family clustering over exact placename matching

VI. Comparative Parish Assessment

The following table summarizes the relative strengths of each parish:

Factor	Muckno	Currin
Record coverage (1820s)	Strong	Strong
Protestant register availability	Excellent	Excellent
Catholic register coverage	Late	Late
Geographic relevance	High	Very High
Explains county confusion	Moderate	Strong

Associated place-name candidates Moderate–High Moderate

VII. Interpretation

The combined evidence supports the following conclusions:

1. Both Muckno and Currin remain primary candidate parishes

Each has surviving records capable of containing a baptism for George Bonner.

2. Muckno is favored for record density and archival strength

Its multiple Protestant congregations increase the likelihood of surviving entries.

3. Currin is favored for geographic explanation

Its borderland nature aligns with the Monaghan–Fermanagh ambiguity in family tradition.

4. The absence of a confirmed baptism is not disqualifying

It reflects access limitations rather than negative evidence.

VIII. Final Assessment

Footnotes

Parish record availability data summarized from John Grenham Irish Genealogy Database, Muckno Parish listings (Church of Ireland and Presbyterian records beginning early 19th century; Catholic registers beginning later).

Parish description and jurisdictional structure from Samuel Lewis Topographical Dictionary of Ireland, entry for Currin Parish, noting its division between Monaghan and Fermanagh.

Appendix G

– The Perpetual Emigration Fund (PEF): Organization and Operation

Contextualized for the Bonner Family Migration Narrative George Bonner (1823-1837): A Scholarly Family History

I. Founding and Purpose

The Perpetual Emigration Fund (PEF) was established in 1849 under the direction of Brigham Young to assist impoverished converts of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in emigrating to the Great Basin. Conceived as a revolving loan fund, the PEF provided financial assistance for travel while requiring repayment after settlement in Utah. ¹

This system proved especially significant for converts in Ireland and Scotland, where economic hardship often limited the ability of families—such as the Bonners—to finance transatlantic migration independently. ²

II. Legal and Administrative Structure

The PEF was formally organized in 1850 as a corporate entity within the developing Utah territorial system. Its governance combined ecclesiastical authority with practical administrative oversight.

Leadership rested with the First Presidency, while operational responsibilities were assigned to agents such as Daniel H. Wells and John M. Bernhisel. ³

The fund was capitalized through donations, tithing resources, and cooperative contributions from Church members. ⁴

Detailed financial records documented each emigrant’s loan, travel expenses, and repayment obligations, creating a traceable system that often intersects with genealogical reconstruction. ⁵

III. European Organization and Emigration Offices

The principal European headquarters for LDS emigration was located in Liverpool, which served as the central assembly point for emigrants from across the British Isles.

For Irish and Scottish converts—including families bearing the Bonner surname—this meant:

Traveling from local parishes to Liverpool
Enrollment in organized emigrant companies
Coordination of passage under Church supervision

This centralized process helps explain why many emigrants from geographically diverse origins appear together in ship manifests and company rosters. ⁶

IV. Transportation System

The PEF migration system followed a structured, multi-stage route one that is directly applicable to reconstructing Bonner migration patterns.

1. Ocean Passage

Emigrants departed from Liverpool to American ports such as New York, Boston, or New Orleans under negotiated group contracts. ⁷

2. Inland Transit

Upon arrival, emigrants traveled by rail and river to inland staging points, including:

Louis
Kansas City
Florence⁸

3. Overland Journey

From these outfitting locations, emigrants continued to Utah via:

Wagon trains
Handcart companies (introduced in the mid-1850s to reduce costs)

Companies were organized into structured units with captains and sub-leaders, a system that fostered discipline and communal cooperation. ⁹

V. Financial Model

The PEF operated as a revolving loan system in which emigrants received assistance covering transportation, provisions, and equipment. ¹⁰

Recipients agreed to repay the fund after settlement, often through agricultural labor or installment payments.¹¹

For families like the Bonners, this system often made the difference between remaining in Europe and successfully emigrating to Utah.

VI. Scale and Impact

Between 1849 and 1877, the PEF assisted more than 30,000 emigrants in relocating to Utah.¹²

A substantial proportion of these emigrants came from the British Isles, including Ireland and Scotland—regions directly associated with the Bonner family’s origins.

This migration contributed significantly to the settlement of northern Utah communities, including Box Elder County and surrounding areas where many immigrant families established permanent homes.

VII. Challenges

The PEF system was not without limitations:

Many emigrants struggled to fully repay their loans
Travel conditions included exposure to disease, weather, and supply shortages
Later federal scrutiny of Church finances complicated continued operation¹³

Despite these challenges, the system remained one of the most effective organized migration efforts of the 19th century.

VIII. Relevance to the Bonner Family Narrative

For the Bonner family, the PEF provides essential historical context for understanding:

How migration was financially possible
Why specific routes were followed
How emigrants were grouped and transported
What economic obligations existed after arrival

Even in cases where direct PEF participation cannot yet be documented, Bonner family members likely traveled within the same organized migration system or alongside PEF-assisted companies.

Thus, the PEF should be understood not merely as a financial institution, but as the structural framework through which Bonner migration occurred.

Footnotes

Leonard Arrington, Great Basin Kingdom: An Economic History of the Latter-day Saints, 1830–1900 (Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1958), 89–92.
Philip M. Taylor, Expectations Westward (Edinburgh: Oliver & Boyd, 1965), 45–47.
Arrington, Great Basin Kingdom,
Ronald Walker, “Perpetual Emigrating Fund,” in Encyclopedia of Mormonism (New York: Macmillan, 1992).
Church History Library, PEF ledgers and account
Taylor, Expectations Westward, 52–
, 61–65.
Richard Bennett, We will Find the Place (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1997), 210–215.
, 230–235.
Arrington, Great Basin Kingdom, 95–
Walker, “Perpetual Emigrating ”
Arrington, Great Basin Kingdom,
Bennett, We will Find the Place, 300–

End of Biography

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