Grave #448, Andersonville National Cemetery
(Photos provided by William J. Bonner, pictured.)
JAMES DAVID BONAR, the son of David and Eliza (Wilson) Bonar, was born about 1828. He married Elizabeth "Eliza" Jane Mason, daughter of Jacob and Hannah (Gorby) Mason, on 23 Apr 1848 in Marshall County, (W) Va. Elizabeth Jane Mason was born in 1830 in Ohio County, which Marshall County was a part of until 1835.
1850 Census, Marshall County, (W) Va.
BONAR (1480) James...Farmer...22-M...VA
Eliza J...20-F...VA
Jacob M...4mo.-M...VA1860 Census, Marshall County, (W) Va.
BONAR (882)
James...32-wm...farmer...VA
Eliza J...29-wf...VA
Jacob M...10-wm...VA
Jeremiah...8-wm...VA
William D...6-wm...VA
Hannah...4-wf...VA
Henry...2-wm...VAJames David Bonar served in the Civil War, in Co "L" 4th West Virginia Cavalry. He mustered in on 30 Aug 1863 and was captured at Medley Farm, Va, 30 Jan 1864. While a P.O.W. at Andersonville, Georgia, he died on 9 Apr 1864 and is buried in Grave #448 at the Andersonville National Cemetery.
James David Bonar and Elizabeth Jane Mason had the following children:
Jacob Mason Bonar, b 1850; married Jane Siburt 14 Jun 1885 in Marshall Co, W.Va.
Jeremiah Bonar b 1852; married Sarah White
William David Bonar b 1854; married Ida Emma Leach
Hannah Bonar, b 1856; married John Wilson
Henry Bonar, b 1858; married Mary Kessler
Marcellas A. Bonar, b 1862; married Ella RobenhallEliza Jane Bonar married Jackson Travis, son of William and Mary Travis, on June 23, 1870 in Marshall County. Jackson Travis' first wife, Eliza Jane Gray, had died earlier in 1870. Their marriage record contains errors, such as her first name stated as "Lou Jane" and her parents' surname stated as Bonar instead of Mason. In any case, they were both widowed and they got married.
According to the burials at Lynn Camp Cemetery, Marshall County, R. Jackson Travis died in 1871 and he's buried there. Also buried there is his first wife, Eliza Jane Gray Bonar.
At the time of the 1880 census of Marshall County, "Jane Travice," 51, was living with her parents, Jacob and Hannah Mason.
From the 1890 census of Veterans and Widows: "TRAVIS, Eliza J., late widow of JAMES BONAR, Private, Company (?), 6th WV Infantry. Enlisted 18/?/1861; captured and died in prison. Address: Adaline, WV. Disability Incurred: Died in prison at Andersonville. Remarks: Captured a New Creek, WV." (As written. James Bonar was actually in L 4th WV Cavalry.)
For more about the BONAR FAMILY, see: Descendants of William Bonar, & James David Bonar Family