This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Bonner Cummings Yates McCreary Bradley Patterson McCrery Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/AiB.2ACE/1143 Message Board Post: WILLIAM BONNER, SR. Following is from the Fairfield Recorder, July 6th, 1877: "Died on Sabbath, the 1st day of July, 1877, ten miles north of Fairfield in this county, Mr. William Bonner. Thus another old landmark has passed away from the stage of action. Mr. Bonner came to this county from Wilcox County, Alabama, 24 years ago, and during his long residence here, he has ever been esteemed as a worthy citizen and exemplary CHRISTIAN man. He was born in Abbeville, South Carolina, and was a captain of artillery under Jackson in the Creek War of 1812. He moved to this county in 1853. He was a consistent member of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian church and along with the Jones families, is regarded as the patriarch of that demonination." ===================================================== NORA YATES CUMMINGS Source - "The Fairfield Recorder Obits (Sept 26, 1890-Sept 20, 1895)" Transcribed by Ann Farnsworth. Fairfield Genealogical Society, copyright 2003. p. 88 "Sept 20, 1895 Died - Mr. M. J. Cummings of Ward Prairie, had the great misfortune to loose his estimable wife last Tuesday, who died after a few days illness. The deceased was formerly Miss Nora Yates, a daughter of D. T. Yates, a well known and popular citizen of the prairie. A few months ago, she received a painful injury by falling out of the wagon with which the team was running away and she never recovered from the effects of the fall. She was comparatively a young lady and had many friends and relatives who deeply deplore her untimely death." ===================================================== REV. THOMAS JOELL BONNER Source - "The Fairfield Recorder Obits (Sept 26, 1890-Sept 20, 1895)" Transcribed by Ann Farnsworth. Fairfield Genealogical Society, copyright 2003. p. 80 "June 21, 1895 Death of Rev. T. J. Bonner Died June 13th, 1895 at the residence of his son, Walter Bonner, in Wortham, Texas, Rev. T. J. Bonner, aged about 74 years, 6 months. The deceased was a well known resident of this county having moved to Freestone in 1859. He was born in Alabama Dec. 22nd, 1820. He was educated at Erskine College of South Carolina where he graduated. He engaged in ministerial work at the age of 21 as a minister of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. During the first year of his ministry he traveled in Alabama and Georgia after which he settled in Wilcox County, Alabama near Camden. There he followed the avocation of preaching and farming until 1859 when he moved to this county, settling near the town of Bonner (then called Woodland) where he lived continuously until many years after the war. In 1884 he was elected County Treasurer of this county and served efficiently for two years. He lived in Fairfield until July 1891 when he moved to Palestine where he resided until about the first of May when he moved to Wortham and being quite feeble in health made his residence with son, Mr. Walter Bonner. Thus after going several milestone in life beyond the allotted "three score and ten" the deceased passed away and went to receive the rewards of a Christian life spent here on earth. He reared five children, three sons and two daughters all of whom he lived to see grown and become members of church. He had many friends and relatives in the county and had the esteem and friendship of all that knew him. He was a man of quiet, pleasant disposition, socialable and friendly with all; and his everyday walk in life showed that he was a patient humble Christian. After a long eventful life with many changing scenes, he now sleeps the short sleep of death, compared to the great eternity to come, and on the glorious resurrection morn, he will live forever with the saved through Christ. His remains were interred in the Wortham Cemetery. " ===================================================================== JOSEPHINE LEE McCRERY BRADLEY Source - "The Fairfield Recorder Obits (Sept 26, 1890-Sept 20, 1895)" Transcribed by Ann Farnsworth. Fairfield Genealogical Society, copyright 2003. p. 64 - "May 25, 1894 Death of Mrs. Josephine Bradley Last Thursday evening a large number of friends and relatives and acquaintances assembled in the Fairfield Cemetery to pay the last tribute of respect and love to one who is widely known for her kindness and generally loved for her goodness. Mrs. Josephine Bradley, wife of Mr. G. T. Bradley of Stewards Mill, died Wednesday morning, May 23rd, 1894. Mrs. Bradley was born in Wilcox County, Alabama about 50 years ago and had lived in the county 35 years. She leaves two children, a son and a daughter. The late W. H. McCrery was her brother. She was a member of the Presbyterian Church and died in the hopes that there is a rest for the children of God. When the summons of the Master came she was ready to go. There is a peace that the earth cannot give; there are comforts but they fall from immortal lips, there are smiles that strengthen and bless and save, but they have origin of eternity. May the bereaved family receive them all." p. 65-66 "June 8, 1894 In Memory of Mrs. Joe L. Bradley "O world! So few the years we live Would that the life which then dost give Were life indeed! Alas! They sorrows fall so fast, Our happiest hour is when at last The soul if freed." Steadily one by one the circle of our loved ones on the other shore is increasing. Those who are left are lives and hollowed our home are quietly passing from earth to the "city celestial" there to dwell and wait the coming of those left here. Silently as all the zephyrs stirred by the breezes does the angel of death beckon them across to join that sweet voice choir whose music rings on forever and no pain or sorrow do they know for there the fountain of perpetual peace runs. Again we have been called to mourn the loss of a dear one: the sunshine and happiness of a home has been blighted, a chair which had can never be filled is left vacant there, a lasting void is in our church and community in general in the death of a true Christian woman. Mrs. Joe L. Bradley, wife of Mr. G. T. Bradley, and youngest daughter of Rev. Joseph and Mary McCreary, was born Nov 27, 1844 in Wilcox County, Alabama, but moved with her mother to this county when quiet young, where she was raised and educated and lived surrounded by a host of friends and relatives who esteemed and loved her dearly until "Her soul to Him who gave it rose, God lead it to its long repose In glorious rest." May 23rd, 1894, the deceased was a member of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church in which she was a most dutiful and humble member, exemplifying in her every act the true Christian. She was a mother to the orphan, ever ready to fold them into her loving arms and quiet their sobs of woe with sweet words of consolation and hope; her hand was always open to the poor and needy, her heart was susceptible to the least touch of human sympathy, her ears heard the faintest cries of distress. She was ever ready and willing to perform the duties to advance the cause of her holy Master. We can truly say work and not words characterized her glorious life. Truly this loss is great; yet in the wisdom of God it is all good; and to those mourn there is a solace for even through our tears we can see that "He is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart and comforteth such as for a contrite spirit." We can not call our departed ones back to this transient sphere, but let us trust we may go to them. Then let us commit ourselves and our all into His hands and say in the words of the meek and lowly Jesus, "Thy will be done". ============================================================================== WILLIAM HEMPHILL McCREARY Source - "The Fairfield Recorder Obits (Sept 26, 1890-Sept 20, 1895)" Transcribed by Ann Farnsworth. Fairfield Genealogical Society, copyright 2003. p. 48. "Feb 20, 1893 Death of Wm. H. McCreary He Died Suddenly While Returning Home From Fairfield in a Buggy Mr. William H, McCreary, near Stewards Mill, died suddenly last Saturday evening while on his return home from Fairfield. He and Mr. J. T. Steward had been to town that day and started back home in a buggy together about sunset. Mr. McCreary just before leaving complained of feeling a little unwell, saying he feared an attack of colic which had had a week or two before. After going a short distance, he seemed to have gotten better and was soon laughing and talking. About two miles from town he suddenly became quiet and fell over against Mr. Steward, who soon realized that something serious was the matter. He hurried onto the residence of Mr. S. J. Talley and there got assistance and took Mr. McCreary out of the buggy and laid him on the gallery with a pillow under his head. He gave one or two gasps and was dead. His death the doctors say was from apoplexy. The deceased was an old resident of our county, a man about 51 years old and was held in high esteem by all that knew him. Jovial, pleasant, full of merriment, he had many friends and was liked by everyone. His death, sudden as it was and coming when in apparent health, was a shock to all his friends and a terrible blow to his family who have the sympathy of our entire community. Two of Mr. McCreary's daughters were off at school, one at Sherman and one at Huntsville. They were summoned home by telegraph and attended the funeral here last Monday. The remains were interred in Fairfield cemetery, Rev. W. L. Patterson officiating. A large number of people attested their respect of the dead by attendance at the burial. In his death, Freestone has lost a good and valuable citizen, one who will be long missed in the neighborhood in which he lived. Besides his wife and a large family of daughters, he leaves to mourn his loss, an aged mother, one sister, Mrs. G. T. Bradley o! f Stewards Mill."