Algernon Sidney Bonham was born in Fleming county, Kentucky, February 20, 1816, and during the ninety-one years of an active life has so lived as to win and merit the veneration and esteem of all with whom he has come in contact. His father, Amariah Bonham, was born in Canada in 1773 and died from yellow fever on a flat boat en-route for New Orleans, July 10, 1820. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Rebecca Wiley, was born in Canada, September 14, 1775, and died November 10, 1858, at Macomb, Illinois. They were married September 10, 1795. They removed to Kentucky, where most of their children were born, and later went to Illinois at an early day, which made them pioneer settlers of Macomb.

Algernon Sidney Bonham was reared under the parental roof and having arrived at years of maturity, wedded Rachel Hayden, a daughter of Barnabus and Sarah Hayden, the wedding being celebrated in Fleming county, Kentucky, September 17, 1835. Mrs. Bonham was born November 22, 1815. They lived for some time in Macomb, Illinois, where for many years Mr. Bonham engaged in the nursery and milling business.

In 1864 he removed with his family to Council Bluffs, where he established and conducted a nursery business, and he also owned a fine farm in Kane township adjacent to the city, which he managed for about twenty years. During the time he has resided in Council Bluffs and up to a few years ago he also dealt in bee supplies. In all of his business relations he has ever been found upright and honorable, never taking advantage of the necessities of his fellowmen in any trade transaction.

Mr. and Mrs. Bonham have reared a large family. Their eldest son, Barnabus A., was born August 30, 1836, in Fleming county, Kentucky, and was married at Tecumseh, Kansas, October 11, 1865, to Rebecca A. Cromwell, whose birth occurred April 12, 1849. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and of the Union Veterans Legion, being entitled to membership in these orders by reason of the fact that he was a valiant soldier of the Fifty-fifth Illinois Infantry. In politics he is a republican. Unto him and his wife was born a daughter, Carrie, the wife of William Stephenson of Minneapolis, Minnesota, by whom she has two children, Russell and Shirley Maud Bonham, the second member of the family of Barnabus Bonham, became the wife of William Jeffries, of Pottawattamie county, and their children are Marguerite, Joseph Sidney, Marie, Gladys, Oscar, Beatrice, Harry, and Rachel, who died in infancy. The third child of Barnabus Bonham is Alice, who is living with her parents. The fourth child was Jessie, a daughter, who died in infancy. Ethel, the next member of the family, became the wife of Arthur Warner, of Council Bluffs, and they have two children, Gertrude and Alice. Oscar, the fifth child of Barnabus Bonham, married Hattie Moon and lives in Council Bluffs. Wilbur, the next member of the family, is at home, as is Mary Fay Bonham.

Alonzo McClelland Bonham, the second son of Algernon Sidney Bonham, was born October 17, 1838, married Martha Hamilton and is living in Council Bluffs. He is mentioned on another page of this work.

Trinvilla, the next member of the family, born December, 18, 1840, is the wife of O. J. Smith, of this city, and their children are Addie, Marian, Stanton, Frank, Ernest, Grace and Claud.

Malville Bonham, born February 14, 1843, and Montaville, born February 27, 1846, both died in infancy.

Anna Eliza, born April 8, 1848, became the wife of D. J. Smith, of Council Bluffs, and their children are Minnie, William, Bert and Elmer. John W., born November 18, 1850, lives in Council Bluffs. He married Clara Coacher and their children are Sidney, James, William and Paul. The youngest member of the family of A. S. Bonham is Arabelle, who was born December 11, 1853, and was the wife of Charles Parmalee, of Council Bluffs, by whom she had a daughter, Rachel. Mrs. Parmalee died June 11, 1901.

The death of Mrs. A. S. Bonham occurred November 11, 1902, when she had reached the advanced age of eighty-seven years. She was a devout member of the Christian church and in her life exemplified her religious faith. For sixty-seven years Mr. and Mrs. Bonham had traveled life's journey together when they were separated in death, their mutual love and confidence increasing as the years passed by, and they faced together the hardships and difficulties as well as the pleasures and prosperity of life.

Since the death of his wife Mr. Bonham has made his home with his son Barnabus at No. 317 East Pierce street. He, too, is a member of the Christian church and in politics is an ardent republican. It is given to few men to attain such an age as has been allotted to Mr. Bonham and there are indeed few who have so uniformly commanded the confidence and trust of those with whom they have come in contact. In the evening of life he can look back over the past without regret, resting contentedly in the consciousness of an honorable record, and when he shall be called from this life he will leave to his family the priceless heritage of an untarnished name.