Gaston, Joseph.  "The Centennial History of Oregon, 1811-1912."  Vol. 2. 
Chicago, Clarke Publishing Co., 1912. p. 318.
 
CHARLES A. BONNETT

     is a retired ranchman, stock raiser and dealer, owning six hundred and
forty acres of land, and an interest in a business block in Eugene, where he now
resides in his own comfortable home.  He was born in Van Buren county, Iowa,
February 21, 1851, the son of S. J. and Anis (Parsons) Bonnett, both of whom
were natives of Virginia.  The parents removed to Oregon in 1854 and were the
third family to settle in Eugene, where they resided for one and one-half years
and then bought three hundred and twenty acres of land in the vicinity, upon
which they made their home for forty years.  They then removed to Eugene and
there spent the remainder of their lives, the father's death occurring on the
20th of April, 1904, when he was ninety-two years of age, while the mother
passed away on the 29th of January, 1902, at the age of eighty-nine years.  In
their family were eleven children:  A. T., who is a retired farmer and now
resides in Eugene; Jasper, deceased; Paulina, the wife of S. H. Thomas, of
Walla, Walla, Washington; G. M., a retired farmer living in Eugene; Charles A.,
of this review; A. C. and P. N., who are engaged in farming near Coburg, Oregon;
Emily, the wife of R. P. Day, of Oakland, California.
     The youthful days of Charles A. Bonnett were spent principally in Oregon,
in which state he received a good common-school education.  At the age of
fifteen years he started to earn his own living, his father assisting him to
engage in the stock business.  Driving the few horses and cattle which his
father gave him to Wasco county, near Mitchell, he bought, sold and traded stock
as a business for ten years.  He then removed to Harney county and in 1886
settled on a three hundred and twenty acre donation land claim near Burns.
There he continued in the business of buying, selling and raising stock,
principally horses, which he shipped to the eastern markets.  For eighteen years
he was engaged in that business and at one time was the owner of twenty-seven
hundred acres of land.  he still owns six hundred and forty acres, but has sold
all of his other land interests and is now living retired in Eugene.  His land
interests consist of two farms near Eugene and a ranch in Linn county, as well
as his home in Eugene.  He is also a stockholder and director of the Central
Heating Plant of Eugene and is interested in general merchandising, handling
produce and dry goods in two stores, one at Halsey and the other at Holly,
Oregon.
     For his life companion and helpmate Mr. Bonnett chose Mrs. Manda J.
(Parsons) Campbell, widow of H. G. Campbell, and a daughter of Marion and Isabel
(Hutchinson) Parsons.  Mrs. Bonnett is one of two children born to her mother's
first marriage, the other member of the family being F. M. Parsons, of
Vancouver, British Columbia.  Her mother's second marriage was to J. B. Meador
who was sheriff of Lane county for about sixteen years, and to them five
children were born:  J. A., deceased; Ella, the wife of Bud Johnston, of
Oakland, California; Emma, the wife of Henry Meyer, of Ukiah, California; Clara,
the wife of Joseph Frost, of Spray, Oregon; and J. W., of Walla Walla,
Washington.  Mr. and Mrs. Bonnett are the parents of one child, Charles, born
November 23, 1906.  by her marriage to Mr. Campbell Mrs. Bonnett had two
children, D. F. Campbell, of Taft, California; and Blanche, the wife of R. A.
McCully, of Halsey, Oregon.
     Mr. Bonnett is a republican and although giving considerable attention to
public affairs, has never been an office seeker.  Fraternally he is a member of
the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and the Independent Order of Odd
Fellows,  in which orders he is much interested.  He resides at No. 422
Washington street and his home is justly noted for its whole-hearted
hospitality.  Mr. Bonnett has long been a resident of this state and has for
many years been universally considered one of the best business men of his
community, which in so large a measure he helped to develop to its present state
of excellence.  The Bonnett family, being among the earliest settlers, played a
most comprehensive part in wresting the community from the primeval wilderness
and, being a family of excellent traits of character, contributed very largely
through their influence toward maintaining the excellent social conditions which
that section has always enjoyed.  Mr. Bonnett is now enjoying the fruitage of a
life of toil together with good business management and is passing in
comparative retirement and rest the remaining years of his life.  Although by no
means an old man he had had rich experiences and he expectantly looks forward to
many years of enjoyment of the good things of life of which he is now possessed.


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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in December 2006 by Diana Smith. Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.