Ventura County Republican Project: History and Genealogy

Ventura County Republican Project: History and Genealogy

"A Memorial and Biographical History of the Counties of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Ventura, California" (1891), page 449.

C. D. Bonestel [Editor inserted: Charles D. Bonestel]

C. D. Bonestel is a pioneer business man of the State, having landed on the golden shore in 1849. He was born May 30, 1826 in New York, a son of John Bonestel, who was a native of the same State. His ancestors on his father's side were German. His mother was a native of Connecticut. In their family were four sons and two daughters. Mr. Bonestel, our subject, and one of his sisters, are all that are now living. He was brought up on a farm and when grown he came to California by way of Panama, and during a part of the succeeding winter he followed gold-mining in El Dorado County, on Hangtown Creek, in partnership with three others. Intending to build a saw-mill, they obtained the material and machinery - the freight charges on which were excessively large - and the rains set in, compelling them to abandon the enterprise for the season. They continued mining until they obtained gold enough to pay these charges and other debts on the mill material, when Mr. Bonestel found he had about $700 left. Then, with a partner, he bought a log hotel in Placerville, at $3,000, with the aid of borrowed money. They ran this hotel for two years, and in 1854 erected a brick building at Placerville, a place then of 4,000 or 5,000 inhabitants. The lower story was rented for stores, and above was a concert hall. Mr. Bonestel speculated in cattle and horses, and during the winters of 1860-'63 he was clerk of the California State Legislature. In 1862 he started on a visit to the East, taking passage on board the Golden Gate, which had about 350 passengers. She was burned on the sea, only 150 passengers making their escape. The boat in which Mr. Bonestel was taking refuge was water-logged as night was approaching. The other two boats came along, one on each side, and took the passengers out, bailed the boat and the load was evenly distributed between the three boats. During the night the boats became separated. In Mr. Bonestel's boat were four sailors, and they supposed when morning came that, as the sea was against them, they would still be found above Mancinillo. They rowed hard and took turns at the oars all day. As night approached and no signs of the town appearing, they decided to land through the surf on a sand beach. They were upset in the surf, but got ashore. One man had $6,000 in a buckskin vest, and lest it should sink him he took it off. The sailors advised him to make it fast to the boat, and it would be wafted ashore; but he endeavored to bring it in his hands and was obliged to let go of it and it was all forever lost. Another man, who had a gold-brick of about $2,000 value, tied up in a handkerchief, fastened it to the boat and it came ashore all right.

After landing the party traveled several miles before finding potable water, arriving at a river. Soon afterward they reached a small Mexican hamlet and learned they were 100 miles below mMancinillo and could not go back on the coast, but would be obliged to make a detour back in the country to find a road on which they could travel. They were but partially clothed, as those who had clothes divided with those who had nearly nothing. They supposed that the country was infested with Mexican robbers, and were trying to engage the Mexicans to take them on horseback to the coast, when one little Frenchman, who had no garments, was particularly afraid of the Mexicans. While they were talking they heard the clatter of horses' feet and the clanking of spurs and swords. The Frenchman started into the brush as fast as he could run, to escape for his life, when the party came up and proved to be men from another village who heard of the disaster and came up to see what assistance they could render. Mr. Bonestel says he always laughs when he remembers the figure that little Frenchman made as he ran, in his red shirt and drawers, as fast as if he had been shot out of a cannon.

They finally reached the town, and twenty days elapsed after the disaster to their boat before they obtained another, on which they proceeded to New York. After remaining in New York three months visiting his family, he took passage on the steamer Ariel for California, which carried 800 men, women and children. Some apprehensions were entertained that the rebel vessel Alabama might fall in with them and capture them; and much sport was indulged in concerning the matter. Several times it was stated that the Alabama was sighted, which however proved each time to be a hoax; but when off the east end of the island of Cuba Mr. Bonestel and others were below, eating their dinner. The butler put down his head and cried out, "The Alabama is after us!" Mr. Bonestel replied, "Oh, that's chesnuts;" but in a very short time they heard the report of a gun, and he and his friends made an effort to get upon deck. They were met by a crowd of people trying to get below. The shot which they heard was indeed the Alabama firing a blank cartridge at them to make them slack their speed and surrender. The Captain of the Ariel did not stop, and soon they saw two puffs of smoke from two of the guns of the Alabama, and they saw, or supposed they saw, two large balls coming directly toward them. They seemed as plain as a base ball. One of them struck the main mast and tore a large piece out of it and caused the splinters of the mast to fly all over her deck. The Ariel was stopped and a boat was sent by the Alabama to take their captain. All the passengers were filled with surprise and terror; some of the ladies fainted, and others went into hysterics. When the officer, Lieutenant Lowe, came on deck, many implored him to spare them and asked him to save them. He replied, "Ladies and gentlemen, not one of you will be harmed or injured;" and then they began to ask him all kinds of questions what he was going to do with them. Their questions were all answered in a polite manner; and such was the gallant bearing of the officer that they actually began to admire him. It was finally decided that the passengers would be landed at Kingston; but when they arrived at that point a vessel came out, which was spoken by Captain Semmes of the Alabama. He then sent word for the Captain of the Ariel to come on board the Alabama, informing him that the yellow fever was raging in Kingston and he did not wish to disembark. He said that if the captain of the Ariel would give bonds for the value of the boat - $300,000 - he would let them go. The arrangement was made and they were permitted to resume their voyage, and they arrived at San Francisco January 2, 1863.

Mr. Bonestel resumed his place in the Senate that winter as clerk, and afters its adjournment went to Austin, Nevada, and speculated in mining property and also opened an office or bank, with a partner, and conducted it for two years. He then bought out his partner and the First National Bank was started there. He closed his business and was elected vice-president of the First National Bank of Nevada. At the end of a year he found his health failing, and he came to San Francisco, bought an interest in a book and stationery store, and remained there until 1871. Then, selling out, he made another trip to the East, and returned in the winter of 1872. He then was a resident of San Francisco until January, 1875, speculating in stocks; and finally he came to Ventura County and four years held the position of under sheriff. The next two years he speculated in grain and cattle. In 1882, forming a partnership with Messrs. Chaffee and Gilbert, under the firm name of Chaffee, Gilbert & Bonestel, they afterward added the lumber trade to their business of general merchandising, and since then they have been carrying on these trades until February, 1890. They then sold out their lumber business. In October the farmers organized and incorporated a lumber company under the name of the People's Lumber Company, and elected Mr. Bonestel their president and general manager of the company.

Mr. Bonestel was brought up a Democrat, but during the war became a Republican, and so has since remained.

He was married in 1868, to Miss Nannie Smith, a native of Louisiana, but brought when an infant by her parents to California. Their three children, all born in San Francisco, are: Cora, Alonzo and Edith. Cora is now the wife of F. J. Sifford, of Ventura.

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Descendants of Charles D. Bonestel

1 Charles D. Bonestel b: 30 May 1826 in New York d: in Ventura County, California
.. +Nannie Smith b: 1852 in Louisiana m: 1868 d: in Ventura County, California
........ 2 Cora Bonestel b: 1869 in San Francisco, California d: Aft. 1920 in Ventura County, California
............ +Frank Sifford b: 17 Jul 1865 in Grass Valley, Nevada Co, CA d: Aft. 1920 in Ventura County, California
................... 3 Jack Howell Sifford b: 19 Jan 1891 in Ventura County, California
........ 2 Alonzo Frank Bonestel b: 1872 in San Francisco, California
............ +Etheleen b: 1885 in California
........ 2 Edith Bonestel b: 1874 in San Francisco, California


Ventura County Republican Project: History and Rootsweb Genealogy posted by Jon Miller and Tony Larson.