Samuel Boner
Samuel Boner, one of the highly respected pioneers of Holmes County, was born in West Virginia, November 30, 1820, a son of William and Sarah (Jorrell) Boner, natives of Maryland, of Irish descent. The family moved to Holmes County in 1821, and the father entered 160 acres of land in Prairie Townshiip, where a good home was made, and the children were reared. The father died at the age of sixty-seven years, and the mother when seventy years old. They had a family of nine children, seven of whom lived to maturity: William, Oliver, Samuel, John, Sarah, Basil, and Elizabeth, and of these but two are now living.
Samuel Boner was reared and educated in Prairie Township, learning the carpenter's trade in his youth, at which he worked twenty-five years. He has also given his attention to farming, and now owns 110 acres of land, eighty acres being in the homestead. He has been successful in his business affairs, and has gained the confidence of his fellow citizens, who have honored him with various official positions, among others, those of trustee and school director. In politics he casts his suffrage with the Democratic party. He was married in 1847 to Celenah, daughter of Jasper Poulson, of Holmes County, and they had five children: Elizabeth ( Mrs. Kelsar), Amanda ( Mrs. Brubaker), John, Maggie (Mrs. Shoup), and Hiram. Mrs. Boner died March 3, 1889. Mr. Boner is a member of the Disciples Church, as was also his wife.
From Commemorative Biographical Record of the Counties of Wayne and Holmes, Ohio, J. H. Beers & Co., Chicago, 1889