Читать книгу History of Fresno County, Vol. 3 - Paul E. Vandor - Страница 23

In the life of this successful citizen of Fresno are illustrated the results of perseverance and energy, coupled with judicious management and strict integrity. He is a citizen of whom any community might well be proud, for men possessing the fundamental characteristics of which Charles G. Bonner is heir have ever been regarded as bulwarks of their communities. A native son of the Golden State, he was born in San Francisco, February 4, 1869, the youngest child and only son of Charles and Rosa (Gore) Bonner. Charles Bonner was born in Canada and was a descendant of an old and honored family of New York State. At the age of sixteen he came to California, via Panama, and upon his arrival went to the mines and in time he became an expert mining man. He went to Nevada and became superintendent of the Gould Curry mine at Virginia City. He died in San Francisco in 1871. His wife was born in Cambridge, Mass., and was a granddaughter of ex-Governor Gore of Massachusetts. She came to California in an early day, where she grew up and was married to Mr. Bonner. She passed away in San Francisco.

Charles G. Bonner was educated in the schools of San Francisco and in the University of California, which he entered in 1885 and from which he was graduated four years later with the degree of B.S. It was that same year that he came to Fresno County and purchased an interest in a tract of some 640 acres of land, from his stepfather Mr. Frank Locan. Of this tract 400 acres was set to vines and trees, and on the balance stock and alfalfa were raised. In 1892 the property was incorporated as the Bonner Vineyard, with Mr. Bonner as president, the existing partnership with Mr. Locan having been dissolved. From a modest beginning the Bonner Vineyard became a business of large proportions. Mr. Bonner began buying and shipping raisins and as the business expanded he erected a packing house suitably equipped to fill his demands, the machinery being operated by steam power.

In 1899 Mr. Bonner formed an association with James Madison, then of San Francisco, in the packing and shipping of fruit, the firm being known as Madison and Bonner, under which title it was incorporated in 1903, with Mr. Bonner as secretary and manager. The company own five acres at Locan's spur where the packing company located. In 1911 Mr. Bonner succeeded to the ownership of the business, the Bonner Packing Company being among the largest of its kind in the county and having a large volume of business. The same year the entire plant was destroyed by fire and the following year Mr. Bonner rebuilt and today owns one of the best equipped plants in the entire valley. The business extends throughout the United States and Canada.

The first marriage of Charles G. Bonner took place in Boston, in 1893, when Louise Tripp, a native of Fairhaven, Mass., became his wife. She died in San Francisco in 1895 leaving one daughter. Beatrice Louise. The second marriage was celebrated in 1903 in San Francisco, Marie Wolters, born in Sierra County, becoming his wife. Her father J. C. Wolters, was one of the founders of the Wolters Colony in Fresno County. Two children have blessed this union, Doris and Charles G., Jr. Mr. Bonner is a member of Fresno Lodge No. 439, B. P. O. Elks: holds membership in the Chamber of Commerce of Fresno; is a charter member of the University and Sequoia Clubs, also the Sunnyside Country Club: and belongs to the Commercial Club. He is a stanch Republican, a booster for Fresno County and a man who has made and retained friends wherever he has been.

During the World War he served on the Exemption Board in Fresno. District No. 2.