Jonathan was born the 9th of 12 children of William and Nancy Stinson Bertram. He was born in Wayne Co., KY on Dec. 13, 1823, and is buried there, along with his wife, at Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Sunnybrook. Jonathan was licensed to preach at Pleasant Hill United Baptist Church in March 1871, and preached at Taylor's Grove.

According to descendant, Georgia (BERTRAM) YORK, Jonathan was sometimes over-bearing with his wife, Pharaba. Reportedly Pharaba told him he was indeed the head of the household but she was the neck, and the neck could turn the head any way it wanted!

Mrs. Robbins' book, KENTUCKY KIN, says: "Jonathan's will, 12 Sept. 1894, left his land on headwaters of Carpenters Fork of Otter Creek in Sunnybrook to son Elzy. Left wife Pharaby and gandau. Nancy Bell Catron a white colt one yr. past, and $5.00 ea. to Rebecca Guinn, Alvin Bertram, Jane Brown's heirs, Catherine Asbury, Nancy Rigney, and Esther Long."

1850 Wayne Co., KY Census; Division #1; Sept. 5th; J.V. Warden, Enumerator; hh # 576-576: BUTRAM, Jonathan 27 KY; Farmer, $200: Feriba 25 (female) KY; Rebecca 7 KY; Alvin 5 KY; Jane 4 KY; Eliza 1 (male) KY

1860 Wayne Co., KY Census: #1554-1547; BUTRAM, Jonathan, 36, farmer,
$300-$200, KY; Faraba, 35, housewife, KY; Rebeca, 16, KY; Alvin, 14, KY; Jane, 13, KY; Elzy, 10, KY; Catherine, 8, KY; Nancy, 6, KY; Esther, 1, KY. (Monticello)

1870 Wayne Co., KY Census (Slickford Dist.): #180; BUTRAM, Jonathan, 46, farmer, $150-$250, Faraba, 45, keep house, KY; Elijah, 20, farm labor, KY; Catherine, 18, house keeper, KY; Nancy, 16, KY; Esther, 11, KY; Rose, 7, KY. (Next door to daughter Jane,and son-in-law, Elijah Brown.)

1880 Wayne Co., KY Census (108th Ennumeration Dist.): # 148-150; BERTRAM, Jonathan, 56, husband, farmer, KY, NC, NC; Pheriba, 55, wife, KY, KY, KY; Nancy, 24, dau; George F. (male), 6, grandchild. (Still next to Jane and Elijah Brown.)