Bonner Cemetery

For information about this cemetery contact Frank Bonner

Contributed by:  Eric Bonner Wood

You can find more information on each person at Find-a-grave use this link to get this listing
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gsr&GSsr=1&GScid=1964890&CScntry=4&CSst=46&CScnty=2600&

Background: Established for descendants of William and Dr. John Bonner.

Directions:
From Fairfield: Travel north on old State Highway 75 (which runs parallel to I-45 about .5 miles east of I-45) and go about 2 miles to FM 2547. Turn right on FM 2547 and travel about 5 miles to Stewards Mill community at the intersection of FM 833. At Stewards Mill, continue due north on County Road 141. Be aware that the FM 2547 road becomes County Road 141 at this intersection. Travel about 1.5 miles to Private Road 153. You have gone too far if you reach a bridge across Techuanca creek. Turn right on 153 and travel to the end of road (about 2 miles). The Bonner cemetery is on the right.

From the intersection of FM 3547 and FM 833 (about 8 miles north of Fairfield), go north about 1.5 miles on CR 141 to CR 151, then go northeast 1.8 miles to the cemetery.

Historical Marker:
Established in 1867 as a final resting place for William Bonner, Dr. John Bonner and their descendents. The two brothers, natives of South Carolina, came to Texas in the early 1850’s, settling in Freestone County. Here they amassed thousands of acres of land, which they developed, into great cotton plantations. Patriarch of the Texas Bonners was William Bonner (1783-1877) who started his career as a Waggoner. With a modest education and no financial help, he piloted his Texas land investments into a fortune. A veteran of the War of 1812, he married Ann Lee Joel in 1816. Of their eleven children, seven chose to live in this area. William Bonner was a staunch Presbyterian who was known for his shrewd judgment, unusual energy, humor, and common sense. John Bonner (1794-1879) was one of the three physicians among the five Bonner brothers. A person of great intelligence, he scorned sham and ignorance. He and his wife Eliza (Williams) had nine children, seven of whom moved to Freestone County with them. Among the five generations of Bonners interred here are teachers, doctors, lawyers, merchants, and farmers. For over a century the family has figured prominently in the development in the development of Freestone County.

Historical Grave Ceremony:
The Johnson-Sayers-Nettles SCV Camp located in Freestone County will be hosting a Confederate Grave Memorial Ceremony at the cemetery on May 2, 2009 at 9:30 am. The ceremony will honor the five Confederate soldiers buried there and a widow of a Confederate soldier who died at Fort Delaware while a POW there. The deceased POW was buried on the Jersey shore. The Valverde Artillery Battery and the John H. Reagan Camp Honor Guard will participate.