Los Angeles County, CA, Biographies

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MAJOR GEORGE H. BONEBRAKE.

        It is not to her wealth, her manufactures, her agriculture and the 
political power she wields that Ohio owes her proud position in the sisterhood 
of States, but rather to the genius, enterprise, business acumen and the 
integrity of her sons that her wonderful progress is due. Wherever great cities 
have sprung up, wherever gigantic public improvements have been conceived and 
perfected, profound legislative or judicial problems solved, vast, victorious 
armies led, Ohio's sons have
come to the front. From the mother State to the remotest sections of the Union 
they have gone, bearing with them the impress of progress. One of Ohio's sons 
who has aided very materially in transforming Los Angeles from a sleepy Mexican 
village to an important commercial metropolis, graced with every art, invention 
and product of an advanced civilization, is Major George H. Bonebrake, the 
subject of this memoir. He was born in Eaton, Preble County, Ohio, and there, 
with such meagre advantages as were obtainable by attending the district school 
two months in the year, and by a diligent improvement of every opportunity for 
private study, he was prepared to enter college at the age of seventeen. In 
Otterbein University, the principal institution of learning of the United 
Brethren denomination, at Westerville, Ohio, he pursued his studies six years, 
graduating in the classical course with gratifying honors at the age of 
twenty-three. After leaving college he accepted a position in a neighboring 
seminary as Professor of Languages, for which he was admirably adapted, being a 
proficient scholar in Latin, Greek, German and French. The duties thus allotted 
him not being sufficient to fully employ his active, ambitious mind, he applied 
himself to the study of law under the preceptorship of General Thomas Brown, 
distinguished alike as a member of the bar and for his eminent services in the 
United States Congress during his fourteen years of connection with that body. 
His association with that great attorney-statesman was a fortunate circumstance 
in the career of Mr. Bonebrake. Not only did it lay the foundation for an 
enduring friendship mutually pleasurable and intellectually valuable, but a 
business co-partnership was subsequently established, under the firm style of 
Brown & Bonebrake, which resulted in no small pecuniary profit to the 
contracting parties. In the practice of his chosen profession, Mr. Bonebrake had 
hoped to concentrate his superior powers; but an unforeseen event suddenly 
changed the current of his life. The breaking out of the Rebellion was the 
turbid tide in his affairs which tested the loyal heroism of the man and led to 
honors, if not to fortune. In response to the call of his imperiled country he 
enlisted as a private soldier in Company C, Sixty-ninth Regiment Indiana 
Volunteer Infantry, in the early part of 1862, and entering upon the rigorous 
duties of this new position with the same conscientious devotion and energy 
which has characterized his efforts in every station in life, Mr. Bonebrake rose 
by successive promotions for gallant and meritorious conduct to the rank of 
Major, and was brevetted Lieutenant-Colonel before being discharged. When 
entering the army Professor Bonebrake resigned the principalship of the 
seminary, much to the regret of the friends, of the institution to which his 
efficient labors in that behalf had endeared him. On retiring from the army at 
the close of the war with a proud military record, having given over three years 
to the defense of the grand old flag, Major Bonebrake returned home and entered 
into the law partnership with General Brown, as before mentioned. His marriage 
with Miss Emma Locke, a former schoolmate, occurred upon his arrival home. Thus 
he cast aside the panoply of war to enshrine himself in the habiliments of that 
sweet peace born of the domestic loves. Twelve years of unruffled marital 
felicity followed this event, during which two children�Blanch, now seventeen, 
and Persey, eleven years of age�were born to Major and Mrs. Bonebrake, who still 
live to brighten the afternoon of their affectionate father's life. In 1869 the 
cashiership of the Citizen's Bank in Noblesville, Indiana, was tendered to and 
accepted by Major Bonebrake, in which capacity his remarkable financiering 
ability was demonstrated to the great satisfaction of the bank and the general 
public for nine years. In the summer of 1878 that insidious disease, pulmonary 
consumption, had made such encroachments upon Mrs. Bonebrake's health as to 
render it necessary for the Major to sever his connection with the bank and 
accompany her to the Pacific Coast, with the hope that the sanitary virtues of 
the climate of Southern California would stay the ravages of the dread malady. 
Eighteen months were passed by them in the most healthful retreats in this part 
of the State, and everything that affectionate solicitude and medical skill 
could suggest was done to restore the patient sufferer to health. But all proved 
unavailing, and on March 2, 1880, Mrs. Emma Locke Bonebrake, one of the most 
amiable of women, passed from earth. This ruthless invasion of his happy home by 
the grim reaper was a terrible blow to Major Bonebrake, but in the majesty of 
his strong manhood he arose from the tomb of his buried love with a calm 
resignation to the inevitable, and resumed the stern responsibilities of life. 
His investments were extensive and numerous, including city and suburban 
property, improved and unimproved, besides many enterprises of a public 
character. To Major Bonebrake and men of his class are the people of Los Angeles 
indebted for the substantial business buildings which line their teeming 
thoroughfares; the palatial homes environed by beautifully ornamented grounds, 
and the cable and horse-car lines that convey the pleasure-seekers to charming 
suburban scenes. The attention of every stranger in Los Angeles is attracted to 
the stately and elegant block on the corner of Spring and Second streets, 
covering an area of 103 x 120 feet, which bears upon its chiseled front the 
names of Bryson-Bonebrake. On the first floor of the magnificent structure, 
erected at a cost of $220,000, have been fitted expressly for the State Loan and 
Trust Company the most splendid suite of banking rooms on the Pacific Coast. 
They are supplied with every convenience and ornate with every embellishment 
that art can suggest or wealth supply. The mammoth vault is a marvel of modern 
invention, a model of strength and beauty, and is by far the finest in the 
State. A hundred tons of steel were used in its construction, requiring five 
freight cars for its transportation from Cincinnati, Ohio. It is as a financier 
and business man that the eminent ability of Major Bonebrake's mental powers 
have made him famous on this coast. Among the numerous institutions with which 
he is associated in this capacity as counselor and directing head are the 
following: He is a director of the California Central Railroad Company, the 
First National Bank of Pasadena, the First National Bank of Pomona, the Savings 
Bank of Southern California, the First National Bank of Santa Ana; and is 
president of the Los Angeles National Bank, the State Loan and Trust Company, 
the First National Bank of Santa Monica, and the Bank of Santa Paula. These 
facts speak volumes as to the respect and confidence reposed in the bearer of 
these great responsibilities by his fellow-men. In nearly every instance Major 
Bonebrake was one of the prime movers in organizing these banks, each one of 
which owns the building in which it is located, and the buildings are among the 
best in the respective cities. He was the first to establish a carriage 
depository in Los Angeles, opening at the same time branch offices in Stockton, 
San Jose, Oakland, and Portland, Oregon, a transaction which contributed greatly 
to the public convenience. He was the most influential in bringing the lines of 
the Atchison, Topeka & Santa F� Railroad into Los Angeles, and aided materially 
in securing and constructing the picturesque surf line to San Diego. He is an 
active member and was the second president of the Los Angeles Board of Trade. He 
has never sought nor desired political distinction, but rather shunned the 
precarious honors too often obtained through unscrupulous means. Unlike many 
successful financiers who are the architects of their own fortunes, Major 
Bonebrake is habitually approachable and courteous. To the sun-browned toiler, 
the sorrow-burdened child of poverty, the capitalist, count and congressman, he 
extends the same deferential, dignified, decisive attention. He possesses a 
large, well-poised brain, a vigorous mind, a strong sense of justice, and a 
kind, charitable heart. And in the high noontide of his day it may be written 
with truth, " His life is gentle, and the elements so mixed in him that Nature 
might stand up and say to all the world, he is a man."
 
An Illustrated History of Los Angeles County, California �  Chicago, The Lewis 
Publishing Company, 1889   Page 716
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler