Gaston, Joseph. "The Centennial History of Oregon, 1811-1912." Vol. 2. Chicago, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1912. p. 847. E. J. BONDSHU Who is one of the thrifty and enterprising farmers of Washington county, was born in Cuyahoga county, Ohio, on the 21st of June, 1859, and has been a resident of Oregon for thirty-five years. He is a son of Charles and Emily (Lewis) Bondshu. the grandparents came from Germany and located upon a farm in Ohio, where the father was reared. In their family were two sons, one of whom, Frank, was last heard from in Michigan. The mother of our subject was a daughter of James and Harriett Lewis. She was born in Ohio, August 23, 1843. She grew to womanhood and was married to Mr. Bondshu in the Buckeye state. In 1866 Mr. Bondshu moved with his family to Iowa and two years later to Colorado. After spending a year in the state last named, he continued his journey westward to Merced county, California, and spent his last years in Los Angeles county. He died in 1911, after reaching the age of seventy-eight. In his family were four children, their names being: E. J., of this review; Charles F., who is now living in Chicago; Arthur, who died in Ohio; and F. A., who served as county recorder of Mariposa county and is now filling the office of county assessor. In 1874 the union of Charles and Emily Bondshu was annulled and Mrs. Bondshu was married to Charles Hope and to them were born four children, as follows: Mary, who is the wife of George Mensor; George and Thomas, both of whom reside in Mariposa county; and Nellie, who married Robert Halsted, of California. Mr. Bondshu of this sketch arrived in California in 1869, being then ten years of age, and completed his school education in that state. At the age of seventeen he started out to meet the world on his own account and came to Washington county, Oregon, where he secured work upon various farms. He settled upon the place he now occupies when it was almost virgin forest, only one acre being cleared. He has applied himself with great industry and now has one of the highly improved farms of this section. He erected the family residence, barns and outbuildings and in all his operations has displayed thorough knowledge of his calling. In 1885 Mr. Bondshu was married to Miss Martha J. Thatcher, a daughter of Harmon and Jemima (Dunbar) Thatcher. The parents of Mrs. Bondshu came to Oregon in 1847, making the trip from Indiana in a wagon drawn by ox teams. They started on the long journey immediately after their marriage and endured many hardships in crossing the plains and mountains but persevered to the end. Mr. Thatcher located upon a donation claim and as the years passed became one of the prominent and successful men of Washington county. There were nine children in the family of Mr. and Mrs. Thatcher: Isabelle, who is the widow of George Hadden Warren, who makes his home at Tillamook; Franklin, of Washington county; Marcia, who lives at Forest Grove; Lewis, who is deceased; an infant daughter also deceased; Julia, who married William Barker, of Tillamook, and is now deceased; Martha, who is now Mrs. E. J. Bondshu; and Norman, of eastern Oregon. Seven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Bondshu, all of whom are deceased. Charles Ivan, the second in order of birth, died at the age of seventeen of consumption. Otis died at the age of two years of brain fever and Carrie Blanche was called away May 30, 1911, at the age of seventeen, as the result of congestion of the lungs. The others died in infancy. Mr. Bondshu has been a supporter of the republican party ever since he arrived at his majority but has never aspired to political office, as his interest has centered in his business and his family rather than in public affairs. He is a valid member of the lodge of Woodmen of the World at Forest Grove. By a life of industry and well directed application he has won a competence and he has gained an enviable reputation in a business to which he seems thoroughly adapted and which presents attractive inducements to men of experience and good judgment. ******************* Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in September 2005 by Diana Smith. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.