Collection Guide

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Administrative Information

Access and Restrictions: This collection is open for research.

Digital Surrogates: Except where indicated, this document describes but does not reproduce the actual text, images and objects which make up this collection. Materials are available only in the Special Collections Department.

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Use of Collections:  The University of Iowa Libraries supports access to the materials, published and unpublished, in its collections. Nonetheless, access to some items may be restricted by their fragile condition or by contractual agreement with donors, and it may not be possible at all times to provide appropriate machinery for reading, viewing or accessing non-paper-based materials. Please read our Use of Manuscripts Statement.

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Biographical Note

Josiah Bonney was born February 14, 1817 in Steuben County, New York. His father died the following summer and soon after that his mother moved to Tioga County, New York. At the age of fourteen he went to Elmira, New York, where he clerked in the dry goods business for about four years. In the fall of 1838 he emigrated west, where he settled about three miles from Keosauqua, Iowa. There he engaged in the mercantile business. In 1840 he was elected sheriff and thereafter he held many positions, including County Clerk, State Legislator, Secretary of State, Commissioner for the Improvement of the Des Moines River, and steward of the poor farm. On May 20, 1841, he was married to Orpha F. Stannard. They had six children: Mary J., Anna A., Arma F., Orpha, Estella R., and C. Hinman.

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Scope and Contents

This collection consists of correspondence and photographs. The correspondence is organized chronologically and ranges in date from1848 to 1856.

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Acquisition and Processing Information

Guide posted to Internet: June 2005

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Inventory

Correspondence

1821. Transcript of letter of Edward Bates upon the north boundary of the State of Missouri. (Transcript made January 10, 1841)

1848

December

D. R. Sparks

Josiah [Merritt?]

J. B. [Winn?]

David Drake

Spalding H. Phelps

15. J [T?] Abrahams

Charles Baldwin

24. Charles Baldwin

29. [Curtis?]

1849

January

6. Howell & Cowles

19. [?] Woodhead

19. George Nightingale

24. Thomas M. [Isett?]

30. Charles Corken

31. P. M. Casacy

February

7. E. M. Jones

7. J. Butler

12. Samuel J. Bayard

16. Howell & Cowles

16. John M. Roos

22. J. W. and R. B. Ogden

23. P. M. Casady

Palmer

March

1. B. [Ristin?]

1. William Wallbridge

3. A. L. Bonney

Gideon Willson

8. J. W. Ogden

9. J. Clark

23. [H. Benton, Jr.]

26. J.W. [Webber?]

April

2. James Sloan

9. L.A. [Munoz?]

16. Curtis [Robinson?]

May

2. [A.H. Haskell?]

10. S. [Rainey?]

3. [Benthart?]

3. John [G?] Stein

8. W. Weatherford

15. Elisha Cutler, Jr.

22. Jacob Butler

27. [A.H. Haskell?]

June

3. J. W. McManaman

4. Hugh W Sample

25. Seth Richards

July

14. Henry B. Notson

23. Ed Haren

30. Samuel McNutt

August

20. W. H. Lyons

22. H. M. Shelby

31. Amos Harris

September

24. William Thompson

27. Charles P. James

George Nightingale

October

17. John [Rousell?]

23. S. Scott

31. William Thompson

November

1. John D. Mitchler

2. George Jones

5. M. H. Clark

9. H.H. Barker

19. K. C. Knapp

20. Matthew Cresswell

28. Jon. M. Whitaker

30. A. Harris

December

5.[J?] Williams

6. William Steele

Illegible. 1849. J. Francis Crawford

Quit claim deed: E.D. & Elsa Briggs and L.A. & P. I. Webber. January 12, 1856

[n.d.] R. Spaulding. Print of Thomas H. Benton

Photographs

Arma Bonney Baldwin

Orpha Bonney

Mrs. Orpha F. Bonney

George Baldwin McKibben at 9 years. Christmas 1897

Methodist choir, 1904

Estelle B. Walker

Helen Walker aged 17 in rose colored wool merovingian dress made by E.B.W. [Estelle B. Walker?]

W.M. and Estelle B. Walker at Bonney View, 1918

William Walker. November 15, 1946 [1846?]

 

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