Luther BONETT was a veteran of the Civil war, enlisting in the Eleventh Vermont regiment from Concord after he was fifty-five years old. He died in that town in October, 1899, at the age of ninety-two. 

     Joseph BONETT, the grandfather of Luther, came over with General Lafayette as a drummer boy, and later became a sergeant in the American army. Charles' boyhood was spent upon the paternal farm near West Concord, where he attended school. He left home at fourteen years of age, and served a three years' apprenticeship at West Concord at the door, sash, and blind trade, and later came to St. Johnsbury, and worked at his trade a year or more with H. E. RANDALL. 

     He then engaged in the furniture business with DWINELL & ORCUTT at Paddock Village for nine years. In 1886 he went into the pattern shop of the Fairbanks Scale Co., and at present does, the pattern work for the Fairbanks brass valves. Mr. BONETT married Nellie P., daughter of Curtis L. and Viola (GRANT) STACEY, of West Concord, January 1, 1819, and they reside on Mount Pleasant street. Colonel BONETT inherits the traditional taste and attitude of his ancestry for military affairs. 

     He joined Company D, Vermont National Guard, June 1, 1884, and a year later was promoted quartermaster-sergeant of his company. His promotion was steady and well merited. 

     He became first lieutenant in 1890, and captain in 1892. In January, 1898, he was elected major of the First Vermont infantry, and May 16 was mustered into the United States service, and filled that position with great credit during the service of the regiment at Chickamauga camp. Mustered out November 7, 1898. He was elected lieutenant-colonel of the regiment in 1899. 

     He was present with a battalion of his regiment at the first inauguration of President McKinley in 1897, and at the dedication of Grant's tomb the same year commanded the First battalion, and also participated in the celebration of the Washington centennial in 1889. As captain of Company D his influence has been manifested in the high standing of that body. His most cherished souvenir is a magnificent sword and, scabbards, presented him by the members of Company D, in appreciation of his services as captain. 

     Like Roosevelt he believes in shooting straight, and teaches it by precept and example. He won the second regimental prize for marksmanship at Montpelier in 1891, and the first prize at Rutland in 1892 and fired the first shot for the Vermonters at Sea Girt, 1903, in the national team match, which was a bull's-eye. 
 

Source:  Successful Vermonters, William H. Jeffrey, E. Burke, Vermont, The Historical Publishing Company, 1904,  page 77-78.

Prepared by Tom Dunn January 2005