Notes for Marcus Seneca BONNELL

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Notes for Marcus Seneca BONNELL

History of Hamilton County Ohio
Portraits, (with biography), of Mr. and Mrs. M. S. Bonnell
between pages 316 & 317
transcribed by Karen Klaene
[includes etchings of marcus and his wife]
Marcus Seneca BONNELL, a prosperous farmer, occupying a beautiful residence on the dividing line between Harrison and Crosby townships, five miles northeast from Harrison and two miles northwest from New Haven, is a grandson of Aaron BONNELL who came
to the Miami country in 1805, with his brothers Benjamin and Paul, and his married sisters, Rhoda and Abigail - a strong delegation for one family at one time. They were all children of Benjamin and Rachel BONNELL, who came from England and settled in
New Jersey, where their family was reared. The father was drowned in the East river, near New York, with ten others. November 10, 1798, on a boat crossing from the city to Brooklyn, upon which a number of casks of rum rolled to one side and overturned
the frail vessel, with the terrible results above noted. He was then seventy-five years old. His wife survived him until 1812, when she departed this life, in the eighty-fifth year of her age. Aaron, the seventh child and fifth son, was born March 4,
1759, it is believed in Essex county, New Jersey. He was a brother-in-law to Judge Othniel LOOKER, the distinguished pioneer who settled near Harrison in 1801; they having married twin sisters - Judge LOOKER, Pamelia, and Mr. BONNELL, Rachel CLARK.
They had six children - two daughters and four sons, of whom the father of the subject of our sketch was one - Clark BONNELL, born November 18, 1790, in New Jersey. His father, Aaron, was the only one of the BONNELL colony who settled in Harrison
(formerly Crosby) township, the others stopping in the neighborhood of Carthage and taking farms there. Aaron entered the northwest quarter of section eighteen, due north of the subsequent site of Harrison village, in the valley of the Whitewater.
improved the place, and remained there until his death. During his lifetime he drew a pension as an artificer for the Government during the war of the Revolution. His wife also died upon the old place near Harrison. Some time before the death of his
parents. Clark BONNELL, who bad learned, in part, the trade of a shoemaker in New York State, before the removal of the family to the west, was married to Miss Elsey WYKOFF of a family residing near Harrison, on the Indiana side and removed to the
village, where he pursued his trade for many years and then removed to a country neighborhood in Ross township, Butler county, five miles from Hamilton, where he continued to follow his business. Remaining here about five years, he removed to New
London, Butler county, where he lost his wife by death. She was born February 7, 1794, and died in September, 1835. Her husband died in Cincinnati in 1864, in the seventy-fourth year of his age. Their children numbered nine, of whom Marcus Seneca was
the third, and the oldest son. He was born upon the old place near Harrison. m a cabin where his father was then residing, November 8, 1816. He had some schooling in the poor "subscription schools" of that day, which he attended for brief periods as
the pressing labors of the farm and workshop would allow and in due time learned his father's trade, beginning to help in a small way when he was but nine years of age. He did not take kindly to the business, as it was too confining, and he was
strongly predisposed to farm life; so he did little at shoemaking after he was fifteen years of age. For about eight years he served as a farm hand at various places in Hamilton and Butler counties, by the month or year, and for the next two years
worked Judge ANDERSON's farm in Butler county,' "on shares." Then for two years he similarly farmed the old place near Harrison, which had become the possession of his grandmother. He also managed it a similar term for the purchasers of the farm after
her death - Messrs. George ARNOLD and Peter RIFFNER. The latter was father of Martha R., who became the wife of Mr. BONNELL December 8, 1842. He was now residing on a rented farm on the other side of the Whitewater, in the edge of Indiana, where he
remained a year and removed to the FROST farm, on LEE's creek, in the north part of the township. This he occupied, on five-year leases, for the period of fifteen years, and so successfully that he was enabled to purchase the one-hundred-and-forty acre
tract upon which he now lives, in 1856, two years before his last lease expired. To this he removed at the expiration of his lease. and here he has since resided, adding one hundred and fourteen acres to his original purchase, and making a farm of such
high excellence and reputation that the award of the premium offered in 1880. by the Hamilton County Agricultural society, for "the best farm of forty or more acres, in the general plan of buildings, fields, fences. and the skill shown in drainage and
general cultivation of the several kinds of crops, in care of stock. implements, and tools, etc.," was made to Mr. BONNELL, after careful inspection of his place by a committee of the society. He has, among other improvements. as many as twenty-two and
one-fourth miles of under-draining. In 1860 he built the fine residence in which he now lives. and which appears to advantage in our illustration of his premises. He has devoted himself to his business, taking little interest in politics and holding no
public offices. He has been for many years a member of the lodge of Odd Fellows of Harrison.
Mrs. Martha Riley BONNELL was the third daughter of Peter and Elizabeth RIFFNER, and was born February 11, 1815, at the old home near Harrison village. She is still surviving, in a hale and happy age.
Their children have been:
Elizabeth Isabel, born September 23, 1843; married John S. BOWLES of Harrison township, December 22, 1866, a farmer, who went to South America in 1874 and is believed to be dead. She now resides with her parents.
Clark Marion, born March 18, 1845; married Sarah BUTTS September 11, 1872; died January 21, 1880.
Peter RIFFNER, born April 20, 1847, died May 22, 1874.
William Riffner, born March 30, 1849, married Miss Jennie COOK December 5, 1870; lives in Henry county, Indiana, a carpenter.
Stephen Easton. born June 21, 1851; died May 6, 1875.
Elsey Alice, born May 5, 1853; married William BUTTS, a farmer of Crosby township. February 29, 1872; died March 26. 1873.
Emma Angeline, born March 21, 1855; died September 10, 1855.
*****
MS Bonnell farmer was born near Harrison November 8 1816 He is a grandson of Aaron Bonnell who migrated to the Miami Country in 1805 with his brothers Benjamin and Paul and married sisters Rhoda and Abigail They were the children of Benjamin and Rachel
Bonnell who emigrated from England to New Jersey The father was drowned November 10 1798 iu the East river near New York with ten others the boat on which they were crossing having been overturned by the rolling to one side of several casks of rum The
mother survived until 1S12 Aaron Bonnell the seventh child was born March 4 1759 in Essex county NJ He married Rachel Clark and six children were born to them Of these Clark Bonnell was born November 18 1790 in New Jersey His father Aaron was the only
one of the Bonnell colony who settled in Harrison township the others stopping in the neighborhood of Carthage During his lifetime he drew a pension having been an artificer for the government during the war of the Revolution His wife also died upon
the old place near Harrison Clark Bonnell had learned in part the trade of a shoemaker in New York State before the removal of the family to the West Sometime before the death of his parents he was married to MissElsey Wykoff of a family residing near
Harrison on the Indiana side and removed to the village where he pursued his trade for mauy years and then removed to a country neighborhood in Koss township Butler county five miles from Hamilton where he continued to follow his trade Remaining here
about five years he removed to New London Butler county where his wife died in September 1835 she was born February 7 1794 Clark Bonnell died in Cincinnati in 18 5 4 in the seventy fourth year of his age Their children numbered nine of whom MS was the
third and the eldest son MS Bonnell wifc born upon the old place near Harrison in a cabin where his father was then residing He received some schooling iu the poor subscription schools of that day which he attended for brief periods as the pressing
labors of the farm and workshop would allow and in due time learned his lather's trade beginning to help in a small way when he was but nine years of age He did not take kindly to the business as it was too confining and he was strongly predisposed to
farm life so he did little at shoemaking after he was fifteen years of age For about eight years he served as a farm hand in various places in Hamilton and Butler counties by the month or year and for the next two years worked Judge Anderson's farm in
Butler county on shares Then for two years farmed similarly on the old place near Harrison which had become the possession of his grandmother He also managed it a similar term after her death for the purchasers of the farm Messrs George Arnold and
Peter Riffuer The latter was father of Martha R who became the wife of Mr Bonnell December 8 1842 He was then residing on a rented farm on the other side of the Whitewater near the edge of Indiana where he remained a year and then removed to the Frost
farm on Lee's creek in the north part of the township This he occupied on rive year leases for the period of fifteen vears and so successfully that in 1850 he was enabled to purchase the 140 acre tract upon which he now lives two years before his last
lease expired To this he removed at the expiration of his lease and here he has since resided adding 11 acres to his origiual purchase and making a farm of high excellence The Hamilton County Agricultural Society decided in 1880 to give a premium to
the owner of the best regulated farm in the county With this in view a committee composed of Lew Fowler IH Pendry A Brown M Hosbrook VB Sater and William Durham made a careful examination of every nook and corner of the farm and readily awarded Mr
Bonnell a silver medal Thirty one miles of uuderdrain have been constructed on this farm It is of interest to note that in 1842 Mr Bonnell sold corn at Harrison for 13 cents per bushel hogs at Cincinnati for $2.25 net and after spending four days
hauling 100 bushels of oats to Cincinnati he sold it for 6 cents per bushel in 1863 he sold hogs at SI 4 75 per hundred gross hay at $30 per ton at Harrison corn at $1 30 a bushel by the carload and wheat at $3 per bushel at home In connection with his
farming operations Mr Bonnell has raised horses for sixty one years and never lost one by death until April 2 1894 In 1881 Mr Bonnell was elected in the Hamilton County Agricultural Society and gave his assistance thereto for eleven years The fair
grounds are at Carthage and when it was necessary for him to be there he made trips from home and return a distance of eighty miles in a day and always bore his own expenses He was president of the Miami and Whitewater Valley Pioneer and Harvest Home
Association in 1888 and served with much credit to himself and the entire satisfaction of the organization More than forty years ago he became a member of Harrison Lodge No 140 IOOF and belongs to the Sterns Encampment No 183 and Daughters of Rebekah
No 300 He is also a Master Mason in Snow Lodge No 193 F & AM at Harrison Mr Bonnell has taken little interest in politics but has devoted his time to his farm and cared for two other families besides his own His brother Robert Burns Bonnell and wife
died in November and February 1870 respectively in Daviess county Ind leaving five children without a home Mary Ann born November 12 1856 Naomi born February 2 1859 Jacob W born April 15 1862 Emma J bom February 25 1864 and Robert born March 13 1867 Mr
brought them to his home on December 24 1870 and educated and cared for until they were able to make their own living His daughter Elizabeth Isabel after her husband left for South America whence he never returned came her father's home in the spring
of 1876 and Mr Bonnell has cared for her and three children to whom he gave good educational advantages Mr Bonnell's wife Martha Riley Bonnell third daughter of Peter and Elizabeth Riffner was born February 11 1815 at the old home near Harrison She
died August 4 1888 Their children were as follows Elizabeth Isabel born September 23 1843 who John S Bowles December 22 1866 and became the mother of three children Samuel C born November 3 1867 Seneca B born January 20 1870 and Martha B born May 10
1872 Clarke Marion borp March 18 1845 who married SarahButts and died December 21 1880 leaving one child Clarence C Bonnell born March 27 1874 Peter R born April 20 1847 deceased William R born May 30 1849 who married Sarah Cook December 5 1870 both
are deceased their only child Emma G born October 3 1871 was married June 15 1893 to Edward McKasson and has one child Clarence Leroy born March 24 1894 Stephen Easton born June 21 1851 deceased Elsey Alice born May 5 1853 who married William Butts and
died March 26 1873 and Emma Angeline bom March 21 1855 deceased Mr Bonnell is truly a pioneer of the Whitewater Valley James Andrews of Harriso is said to be the only person now living who was a resident of that town when Mr Bonnell was born Our
subject began to hew his own way through life with strong arms and a willing heart but with no financial inheritance The fortune he has amassed is the result of his industry frugality and honest dealings He and his companion who has gone to her reward
made many a neighbor happy by their generous hospitality and long after he has been stricken from life's roll on earth will the name of Uncle Seneca Bonnell be referred to by those who knew him He believes in learning of the country he loves so well by
travel In 1876 he and his wife left Cincinnati via the little Miami railroad for Philadelphia to witness the Centennial Exposition They spent the first night in Cleveland the second in Buffalo and the third at Niagara Falls where they took in all the
wonderful sights They proceeded to Rochester and Albany and taking a boat at the latter city beheld the beautiful scenery along the Hudson river to New York City Here they remained four days being there at the time Hell Gate was blown up experiencing
the shock which made the whole city tremble They went to Philadelphia saw the wonders of the Centennial and afterward visited Washington City and Mount Vernon the home of George Washington They returned home by way of Baltimore and Harper's Ferry It is
a remarkable fact that the railroad fare for himself and wife was only $42 for the entire trip Mr Bonnell also visited the World's Columbian Fair at Chicago in 1893.[History of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, Ohio, pp. 978-980]

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