Hull, Lindley M., compiler and editor.  "A History of Central Washington,
Including the Famous Wenatchee, Entiat, Chelan and the Columbia Valleys."
Spokane: Press of Shaw & Borden Co., 1929.  p. 432.

JESSE D. BONAR

     nephew of J. C. Bonar, emigrated from Iowa to the Puget Sound country in
the late eighties, and to Entiat in the fall of 1891. He bought relinquishment
rights of S. E. Morical for a claim next to Mad River, paying as the purchase
price two cayuses. Mad River appears to have derived its name from its tumbling
waters that come roaring down from the mountains. Like most of the bachelor
ranchers, he put logs into the river to get money or lumber in return for work.
In 1895 he was married to Miss Minnie Gray, and the following spring he was made
manager of the Entiat Improvement Company's big ranch. This position he
continued to hold until about the year 1909, when the big hay and stock farm was
changed into orchard tracts. He removed to Waterville and bought and operated
the big hotel of that place several years. He served two years as mayor of that
town. He finally returned to Entiat, and bought an orchard tract from the
Improvement Company, where he has since lived.
     In 1919, Mrs. Bonar died leaving one daughter, a very capable young woman,
who of late years has been teaching school.
     Mr. Bonar has been superintendent of the big irrigation ditch for many
years. With substantial concrete he has replaced the headgate and big flume and
lined much of the canal with the same material. This outstanding enterprise that
covers 1000 acres with water, and which has made such a splendid addition of
orchard homes to the community lying just north of town, had its inception with
the following men with business interests in Waterville: J. I. Case, A. L.
Rogers, M. B. Howe, and Frank Ford of Michigan. The company was organized and
incorporated in 1894, and with unerring judgment has made Mr. Bonar their
trusted agent for so many years.

     
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Submitted to the Washington Biographies Project in June 2009 by Diana Smith.
Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.