Smiley H. Bonham (1814 -1879)

BONHAM, FRY

Posted By: Barry Mateer (email)
Date: 1/23/2022 at 16:57:11

Iowa City Daily Republican , Iowa City, Iowa
April 23, 1879 , page 4

Death of Hon. S. H. Bonham. Our readers will recall the mention in the Republican, a few days ago, of the serious illness of Hon. S. H. Bonham, a gentleman who has figured somewhat prominently in Iowa politics and who was personally known and highly esteemed by all our old residents. His death occurred on the 18th inst., at his home in Clark county, the immediate cause of his demise being pneumonia.

The deceased was born, in Knox county, Ohio, May 29, 1814, and, at the time of his death, was nearly sixty-five years old. He came to this county in 1839, and twice represented it in the Legislature, one term of which he served as speaker of' the house, in which position he displayed great adaptability to legislative work and won enviable distinction as a parliamentarian.

In 1869 he removed to Clark county and four years ago represented that county in what is known as the “Granger legislature.” He was a man of considerable force of character, great personal popularity and always commanded the respect and enjoyed the confidence of all with whom he was brought in contact. He leaves a wife and nine children, all of whom, (with the exception of Mitchell, who resides in Washington township, this county) being residents of Clark county.
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The Iowa city Daily Press , Iowa City, Iowa
April 29, 1879
Dates Served: 01/14/1873 – 01/09/1876

The death of Mr. Bonham at his home in Clarke county, has been already announced. Smiley H. Bonham was born in Knox county, Ohio, May 29th, 1814, and came to Iowa with the pioneers, settling in Washington township, Johnson county. He was a man of mark in those early times, for he was a man of culture. He made his home on a farm and occasionally filled acceptably the pulpit of the Christian Church, in which he was a minister.

His talent for affairs, eloquence of speech, uprightness of life marked him for public favor and he was elected to the legislature, serving in the 1st and 2nd General Assemblies (1846-1848). He was Speaker of the House during the 2nd General Assembly.

His far-sighted intelligence early foresaw the great future of the commonwealth and he was foremost in laying its foundations. When the Federal government granted lands in the Western States for State Universities, he drew the act of acceptance for Iowa and procured its passage. In that act was the germ of our present great University of Iowa. In that act was the germ of our present great University.

The passage of power from his party left Mr. Bonham in private life which he adorned by the same virtues that illustrated his public career. The growth of his family made desirable the possession of a more roomy estate, and about ten years ago he sold out and removed to new lands in Clarke county.

In 1873, he was again elected by that constituency to the House (15th General Assembly). and served during the celebrated “tied session” with good judgment and discretion.

Those who saw him again, in his old age and when hard work had made serious inroads upon his vitality, busied with public duties and bearing official responsibilities, could form a conception of the power and facility and intelligence which he brought to bear upon that field in his younger and stronger days.

A historical tablet should be one day placed in the solid walls of our University and high amongst the eminent men of Iowa whose strength went into its growth should be inscribed the name of Smiley H. Bonham.
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An Illustrated History of The State of Iowa, by Charles R. Tuttle, 1875
pages 694-95

Hon. Smiley H. Bonham
He was born in Belmont county, Ohio on the 29th of May, 1814. His father was a soldier in the war of 1812, and at the close of the war, removed to Knox county, Ohio, where two years later he died, leaving a family seven children of which the subject of our sketch was the youngest.

His educational advantages were limited, but the best the schools of that place afforded were given him. In 1838, at the age of twenty four, he was married to Miss Susan Fry, and in the fall of 1839, removed with his father-in-law and family to Johnson county, Iowa.

Mr. Bonham was foreman of the first grand jury that sat in Iowa City. He served for several years as justice of the peace, and also as town clerk, in what was then known as “Old Man’s Creek precinct.” He was a candidate for delegate to the first constitutional convention, and was defeated by thirteen votes. Was also a candidate for the territorial legislature, and defeated by a small vote. Was elected to the territorial legislature in 1846. The territory having been admitted into the union as a state, Mr. Bonham was elected a member from the district composed of the counties of Johnson and Iowa, to the first general assembly; and also was elected from the same district to the second state general assembly. At the meeting of this body, he was chosen speaker of the house, and received credit for being an able and impartial presiding officer.

After a residence of thirty years in Johnson county, Mr. Bonham, in the spring of 1869, removed to Clarke county, Iowa, where he at present resides, following the avocation of a farmer. In 1873, he was elected on the anti-monopoly ticket to represent Clarke county in the 15th general assembly. He was a member of the railroad committee during this session of the legislature, and took a very active part in its labors, which resulted in the passage of the present railroad law, in the state of Iowa.

Mr. Bonham is a member of the church of Christ, known in some localities as Campbellites. He is a member of and an earnest worker in, the order of Patrons of Husbandry, and is always ready to shiver a lance with anyone who opposes the grangers.

Since Mr. B.’s residence in Iowa, they have had born to them nine children, and all raised without a doctor’s bill. He is a firm believer in the climatic influence of growing timber, and has given much attention to the growing of rest and fruit trees.

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Iowa City Daily Citizen , Iowa City, Iowa
March 4, 1918 , page 8
John P. Irish, on S.H. Bonham

Editor of the Citizen:
Noting the celebration of the 71st anniversary of the founding of the State University, I have wondered if any yet living in Johnson county remember all about it.

The anniversary of course, dates from the signing of the organic act by Gov. Briggs, Feb. 25th, 1847, but who was the far sighted man in that legislature to whom Iowa City owes its distinction as the State’s leading seat of learning?

The organic act was drawn, introduced and successfully piloted to the passage by Smiley H. Bonham, member of the legislature for Johnson county. He was a pioneer, a farmer and a highly cultivated man.

By the adoption of the constitution of 1857 and removal of the capital to Des Moines, the old Capitol building was vacated for occupancy by the university, thus fulfilling the intention of Mr. Bonham’s bill ten years after it was adopted.

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