BONETT, GEORGE W., son of Luther and Fanny (CARR) BONETT, was born
in Waterford in 1839. He attended the public schools of West Concord and
at the age of fifteen bought his time of his father and worked out three
years on a farm to pay for the same. At the age of eighteen he went to
St. Johnsbury and served a three years' apprenticeship with Luke BUZZELL
at the iron founder's trade. He enlisted from that town June 1st, 1861,
in Company C, Third Vermont regiment, and was mustered into the United
States service July 16th. With a splendid physique, a natural aptitude
for military life, united with fervent patriotism and
He rose steadily, by personal merit alone, was promoted corporal
a year after enlistment, and sergeant November 1st, 1862. He reenlisted
for the town of Waterford, December 21st, 1863. A good tactician, he often
acted as drill master of the new recruits. He was promoted first lieutenant
of Co. B in June, 1864, captain Co, A the following October, and breveted
major April 2d, 1865, for gallantry in the assault on Petersburg. He was
assigned to service on the staff which he performed with characteristic
efficiency. He was twice wounded, at Savage Station, June, 1862, and at
Winchester, September, 1864. He was excused from duty scarcely a single
day during his four years' service and participated in the battles of Lewinsville,
Warwick Creek, Fair Oaks, Golding's Farm, Savage Station, White Oak Swamp,
Charles City Cross Roads, Malvern Hill, Second Bull Run, Antietam, Sharpsburg,
Gettysburg, Frankstone, first and second actions at Fredricksburg, Rappahannock
Station, Mine Run, Wilderness, Spottsylvania, North Anna, Pamunkey, Hanover
Court House, Petersburg, Weldon Railroad, Washington, Winchester, Fisher's
Hill, Newmarket, Cedar Creek, Petersburg, 2d April, and Sailors' Creek.
In the action before Petersburg, April 2d, 1865, Major BONETT, then on
General L. A. Grant's staff, with two orderlies, took a whole company of
Confederates prisoners of war. These facts are from the official records.
Soon afterwards he was offered a captaincy in the regular army, but declined.
After his return from the tented field, Major BONETT was for ten
years in the employ of E. & T. FAIRBANKS & Co. Meanwhile, in 1865,
he had married Nancy J., daughter of Lindorf MORRIS of St. Johnsbury, and
settled in Paddock Village. They have one child, Mrs. Emma MONTGOMERY of
McIndoes, Vermont. In 1877 Major BONETT rented the old iron foundry, then
for a long time unused, of J. H. PADDOCK, and began business in a small
way. By energy, skill, and fair dealing he soon worked up a large business,
employing from ten to fifteen men and furnishing castings for the St. Johnsbury,
Lake Champlain, and Passumpsic division railroads. Owing to circumstances
beyond his control, he was induced to sell this successful business in
the fall of 1884 to the Acme Iron Works, and for several years following
was in the grocery business near the Avenue House. Since that time Major
BONETT has been employed at two different periods of half a dozen years
with the Fairbanks company, with whom he is now engaged; was one year with
O. V. Hooker, and three years was superintendent of an iron foundry at
Winchendon, Massachusetts. Major BONETT knows and always owns a good horse,
and has brought out several fast ones. A fine equestrian, he was for many
years chief marshal at the Caledonia county fairs, and as such formed a
wide acquaintance. He is an esteemed citizen and member of Chamberlain
post, No.1, G. A. R.
Source: Successful Vermonters,
William H. Jeffrey, E. Burke, Vermont, The Historical Publishing Company,
1904, page 74-75.
Prepared
by Tom Dunn Deember 2004
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