My Genealogy Hound

JOHN BONNETT, farmer, deceased; was born in the State of Pennsylvania, in the year 1778; at an early day he emigrated to Ohio, and lived in Licking and Knox Cos. until he emigrated to Illinois. He was united in marriage with Elizabeth Yontz, at Mt. Vernon, Knox Co., Ohio, in the year 1820; she was born near Hagerstown, Md., February, 1802; she rode horse back from her native place to Licking Co., Ohio, in the month of February, when only 14 years of age; after living there a few years, they removed to Mt. Vernon, Knox Co., where her marriage with the subject of this sketch was celebrated; their children were nine in number, viz.: Susan, born April 27, 1821; William, March 1, 1823; Yontz, March 7, 1826; Isaac, November, 1828; Lewis, April, 1830; Daniel G., March 9, 1832; James, March 8, 1834; Sarah C., Oct. 21, 1835; and John, born Sept. 14, 1841. In the spring of 1828, Mrs. Bonnett visited her native State, making the trip upon horseback. In the spring of 1851, John Bonnett, with his wife and four children drove from Ohio to Illinois in a large three-seated carriage; the spring was unusually wet, and they experienced much inconvenience from high water; they came through Springfield, Indianapolis and Covington; they found the water of some of the streams which they crossed so high that the water came into the carriage, and the occupants were obliged to stand upon the seats to prevent getting wet; they crossed the Wabash and Sangamon Rivers in a ferry; near Monticello the bridge was unsafe; they walked across the bridge, hauled the carriage by hand, then secured long grapevines and tied to the horses’ necks, which they then swam across; their goods were shipped down the Wabash Canal, from Sandusky city to Covington, then overland by ox-teams to Monticello; in the fall, they removed to McLean Co., and located in Empire Township, two and one-half miles southeast of Le Roy; they located upon Sec. 35, where Mr. Bonnett purchased 300 acres, upon which they then moved; they experienced much difficulty that fall in obtaining flour and meal; the former being with difficulty obtained at $11 per barrel; they often went to Bloomington and Pekin to obtain provisions. In 1836, Mr. and Mrs. Bonnett both became members of the Episcopal Church, and lived consistent Christians to their death. Early in the year 1852, they suffered by death the loss of their youngest son. Upon the morning of the 27th of May, 1852, Mr. Bonnett, while reading his Bible was stricken with apoplexy, and upon the 2d of June, 1852, he passed down to the dark valley like unto his fathers before him, without a blot or stain; Mrs. Bonnett continued to live upon the old place with her son James until her decease, which occurred Sept. 4, 1873; they now lie buried in the beautiful cemetery located one mile east of Le Roy, and over their graves stands a large marble monument, erected sacred to their memory by their loving children, of which three are now living in Iowa; two, Yontz and James, live upon the old place; the surviving daughter was united in marriage with George M. Sellers, and lives within one mile of the old home; the biographies of the latter three appear among the sketches of Empire Township in this work.