Joel Isaac Bonner, born December 1, 1895 at Bonnerville, was the eighth child born to Oliver Young Bonner and Sarah Hope Robinson. His name reaches back to the surname of Sallie's grandmother, Ann Lee Joel, wife of William Bonner, and was also the middle name of one of Sallie's sisters. Perhaps the Isaac is for Young's brother, Dr. James Isaac Bonner. During World War I, Joel served in the United States Army: Headquarters Company; 39th Infantry; 4th Division. As a member of the army of occupation, his station was Coblenz, Germany. For years a bag with his uniform and other military stuff was upstairs at his parents' home. Joel married Clara Elizabeth Schickon May 25, 1918. Clara was born in Freestone County on May 18, 1892. After living for a time in Bonnerville, Joel and Clara moved to Fairfield because Joel was the tax-assessor. His uncle, Theophilus Hunter "Offie" Bonner, gave him several acres on West Main Street west of US 75; in return, Joel was to care for him in his old age. Part of this tract formed a triangle bounded by Lovers Lane, Steward Land, and West Main Street. They built a house at 426 West Main across the street from Offie and Maggie Bonner, who lived at the southwest corner of what is now US 75 and West Main. For a time, she and Joel operated the Fairview Inn, a café at the corner of US 75 and Main Street in Fairfield. They also kept boarders. Wanda Willard Smith recalled, "I remember Mr. Bonner, coming in from the country, clad in khakis, cowboy boots, and beige felt Stetson." Famous for his egotism and braggadocio, Joel often stated that if he didn't have enough money to fill a pocket, he cut the pocket off. John recalled that his Uncle Joel was a "money man." He remembered him arguing with Boyd Shields about who had the most money and them emptying their pockets on the floor to count it. Well known, for his red neckties, Joel seldom dressed without one and cut quite a figure in his neatly starched and ironed western-cut shirt and khaki pants with the legs tucked into the tops of his highly polished cowboy boots. He also had the reputation of a "Ladies' Man." Wanda Willard Smith recalled that both Joel and Clara were football fans and often drove several young ladies to games, even those played out of town. He was also something of a hunter and went to South Texas searching for trophy deer; he really went more for the social aspects of it than for the hunting. Driving home with the deer tied to the fender of his vehicle for everyone to see was a big part of the hunt. In 1930, he was in charge of the dancing for the Confederate Reunion and announced "a full orchestra" would provide the music. Joel worked diligently at farming and ranching and he and Clara purchased several hundred acres of land in the county. Before his death, he arranged for his nephew, Roy Stanley Bonner, to purchase his land in the Bonnerville area. Hugh Bonner, another nephew, owned land adjoining Joel's on the Trinity River. They also worked out a purchase agreement. He was a member of Fairfield Lodge, No. 103, A.F.&A.M, . Both were members of Fairfield-Harmony Presbyterian Church. Joel died January 3, 1972 in Fairfield. Joel and Clara had no children.
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Texas Death Certificate: #1403

Name : Joel Isaac Bonner
Death date : 03 Jan 1972
Death place : Wadley Institute in Dallas, Dallas Co., Texas
Residence: Fairfield, Freestone Co., Texas
Birth date : 01 Dec 1895
Birth place : Texas
Age at death : 76 years
Gender : Male
Race or color : White
Marital status : Married
Occupation: Rancher
Spouse name :
Father name : Oliver Y Bonner
Mother name : Sallie Robinson
Informant: John L. Bonner
Military?: No
Cause of Death: CNS Hemorrhage due to Thrombocytopenia due to carcinoma of the colon known since Dec. 2, 1970
Burial: Bonner Cemetery at Stuarts [sic, Stewarts] Mill, Freestone Co., Texas
Funeral Home: Capps Funeral Home by James Williams