Thursday, April 6, 2017

Nelson P. Bonney admitted to the bar - 1900

Nelson Paul Bonney
Utica Saturday Globe, July 1900

 
Nelson Paul Bonney
1872 - 1948

Norwich [Chenango Co., NY]:  Nelson P. Bonney, for several years night train dispatcher at the Ontario & Western station, has successfully passed the examinations and has been admitted to the practice of law.  About three years ago Mr. Bonney began reading in the office of County Judge Albert F. Gladding, prosecuting his study daytimes and attending promptly and acceptably to his duties of dispatcher nights.  He is being congratulated by his many friends on his success in passing the examinations on his first attempt while many others have failed even when having all the time possible at their disposal for preparation.  He is a very methodical worker and to this coupled with his clear mental faculties and exceptionally retentive memory is due his success.  Mr. Bonney will continue as dispatcher until about August 1, when he will relinquish his work to his assistant, Mr. Marshall, and take up the practice of his profession.
 
Mr. Bonney is a native of Eaton [Madison Co., NY], where his father was station agent of the Ontario & Western Railway.  He early acquired a love of railroading and during his boyhood became familiar with the duties which daily devolved upon his father.  He pursued a college preparatory course in Colgate Academy, expecting to enter college, but by the death of his father, his plans were changed, and after taking a course in telegraphy at Syracuse he accepted a position with the Ontario & Western at Oswego.  His ability was recognized and he was rapidly advanced to the office of dispatcher which he has filled for the past several years, excepting a period of three months during the Spanish-American war when he volunteered and served with the United States Army Signal Corps in Cuba, resuming his work at the key upon his return.
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Obituary
Chenango Union, February 1948
 
 
Nelson Paul Bonney
Binghamton Press, February 18, 1948
 
Judge Nelson P. Bonney, senior member of the law firm of Bonney and Bonney, special jurist and member of an old distinguished family of central new York, died Tuesday, Feb. 17, at the family residence, 80 South Broad street [Norwich, Chenango Co., NY].  Judge Bonney, widely known as the dean of Norwich bowlers, had been confined to his home for more than two months.  He was born June 20, 1872, at Eaton, Madison county.  His grandfather was the civil engineer in charge of building the Saulte Sainte Marie Canal, one of the busiest inland waterways in the country.  His father, Elon Galusha Bonney, was a veteran of the Civil War, and died at 36, leaving his widow, Louise Frasier Bonney, with four small children.  Nelson Bonney, as a boy of 10, was doing responsible work in his father's feed and coal business and had already read the history of the world.  He graduated form Colgate Preparatory School and at 16 he was holding a job.
 
After serving in the Spanish-American War as a sergeant in charge of communications, Judge Bonney served as a night dispatcher for the New York, Ontario and Western Railway and studied law mornings for three years under judge Albert F. Gladding and after being admitted to the bar, September 4, 1900, served his clerkship under the late United States judge George W. Ray.
 
On January 4, 1899, Mr. Bonney married Julia Chapin of Oneida, daughter of Dwight and Hannah (Dyer) Chapin.
 
Judge Bonney served this city and county in many capacities, both public and private.  In conjunction with his professional duties he was called upon to serve in several special judicial capacities.  he served as a supervisor in 1906.  In 1928 he was chairman of the county Republican committee.  he served as special county judge and surrogate and judge of the children's court form 1920 to 1940.  He was city judge form 1922 to 1924 and during the recent world War, due to shortage of men he again acted as city judge although past the age of retirement.  He was a member of the First congregational church.  In his social affiliations Judge Bonney was a member and former president of the Norwich Club; a past master of Norwich lodge, 302 F. and A.M. and a member of Norwich lodge of Elks and the Masonic Club.
 
Mr. Bonney leaves surviving him, his wife, Julia Chapin Bonney; a son, Judge Theodore C. Bonney of Seneca Falls; a daughter, Miss Josephine Bonney of this city and a sister, Mrs. Levi Martin of Oneida. 
 
Private funeral services will be conducted Friday afternoon at the Devine funeral home.  A Masonic memorial service will be held at the Devine funeral home Thursday night at 8 o'clock.
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Julia (Chapin) Bonney
The Geneva Times, October 12, 1964
Norwich [Chenango Co., NY]:  Mrs. Julia Chapin Bonney, 92, of 80 Broad St., Norwich, died Friday evening in Auburn Memorial Hospital, Auburn, following a heart attack.  Born April 25, 1872, in Oneida, she was the daughter of Dwight and Hannah Dyer Chapin.  On January 4, 1899, she was married in Oneida to Judge Nelson P. Bonney.  He died Feb. 17, 1948. Surviving are one son, Theodore C. Bonney of Geneva; one daughter, Miss Josephine Bonney of Norwich; three grandchildren, Martha W., Sam Chapin Bonney and Julia Chapin Bonney, all of Geneva.  Mrs. Bonney spent her early years in Oneida High School.  She later graduated from the Oswego Normal School, which is now known as Oswego State College.  Mrs. Bonney was a member of the united Church of Christ First Congregational.  She was one of the charter members of the Captain John Harris Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. For many years she was active in the Monday evening musical Club.  Funeral services will be held Wednesday morning at 10 a.m. at the Devine Funeral Home.  Rev. Frank W. Gardner, pastor of the United Church of Christ First Congregational, will officiate.  Burial will be in the family lot in Mount Hope Cemetery. ...The family requests that anyone wishing to remember Mrs. Bonney, make a donation to their favorite charity in her memory.
 
 
 
 

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