James Butler Bonham (February 20, 1807 – March 6, 1836) was a 19th-century American soldier who died at the Battle of the Alamo during the Texas Revolution . He was a second cousin of William B. Travis and was a messenger of the Battle of the Alamo . His younger brother, Milledge Luke Bonham , was a brigadier general in the Confederate States Army in the American Civil War , and served as Governor of South Carolina from 1862 to 1864.
29-506: Bonham was born, along with his brother Milledge Luke Bonham in what is now Saluda County, South Carolina on February 20, 1807. He was the son of James and Sophia Butler (Smith) Bonham. The family home, called Flat Grove, is still standing and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Bonham entered South Carolina College in 1824. In 1827, in his senior year, he led a student protest over harsh attendance regulations and
58-493: A Confederate General during the American Civil War . Bonham was born near Redbank (now Saluda ), South Carolina , the son of Maryland native Capt. James Bonham and Sophie Smith Bonham, the niece of Capt. James Butler, who was the head of an illustrious South Carolina family. Milledge was a 1st cousin once removed to Andrew Pickens Butler . He was a descendant of an Englishman named Thomas Butler, who arrived to
87-519: A commission as a captain in the Texas cavalry. On January 11, 1836, Houston recommended to James W. Robinson that Bonham be promoted to major, for "His influence in the army is great, more so than some who `would be generals'". Bonham probably traveled to San Antonio de Béxar and the Alamo with James Bowie and arrived on January 19, 1836. On January 26 he was appointed one of a committee of seven to draft
116-587: A company of militia cavalry called the Mobile Greys to serve in Texas. The company reached San Felipe, Texas in November 1835, and Bonham was commissioned a lieutenant in the Texian Cavalry on December 3. On December 1, 1835, he wrote to Sam Houston from San Felipe volunteering his services for Texas and declining all pay, lands, or rations in return. In December 1835, he was commissioned
145-1027: A delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1868. He was a member of the South Carolina taxpayers' convention in 1871 and 1874. Retiring from public service, he resumed the practice of law in Edgefield and engaged in planting. He was appointed state railroad commissioner in 1878 and served until his death at White Sulphur Springs, North Carolina . He was buried in Elmwood Cemetery in Columbia. Two newspaper obituaries ( Fisherman and Farmer , Edenton, North Carolina 12 September 1890 and Swain County Herald , Bryson City, North Carolina from 11 Sep 1890) report General Milledge L. Bonham, railroad commissioner,
174-459: A preamble and resolutions on behalf of the garrison in support of Governor Henry Smith . On February 1 he was an unsuccessful candidate in the election of delegates to represent the Bexar garrison at the Texas constitutional convention. He was sent by Travis to obtain aid for the garrison at Bexar on about February 16, 1836. He visited Goliad , but the commander of the forces there, James Fannin ,
203-554: A prisoner-of-war camp for German soldiers. Parts of the camp, approximately 0.5 miles north of US 82, can still be visited today. According to the U.S. Census Bureau , Bonham has a total area of 9.8 square miles (25.3 km ), all land. Bonham's climate is characterized by hot, humid summers and mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Bonham has a humid subtropical climate , abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps. As of
232-459: A sawmill, two grain mills, a power plant, and about 2,300 inhabitants. 1890 saw the addition of streetcars, an ice plant, and the opening of the Texas Power and Light Company, the area's utility provider. In 1925 the city was connected to natural gas lines. In 1898, 1911–1914 and 1921–1922, Bonham hosted minor league baseball . The Bonham Boosters and other Bonham teams played as members of
261-526: A second lieutenant in the Texas cavalry, but apparently was not assigned to any specific unit. He had time to set up a law practice in Brazoria and was advertising the fact in the Telegraph and Texas Register by January 2, 1836. Bonham and Houston quickly developed a mutual admiration. After being in Texas for only one month Bonham recommended to Houston that William S. Blount of North Carolina be granted
290-532: The 2020 United States census , there were 10,408 people, 2,963 households, and 1,696 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,067.1 inhabitants per square mile (412.0/km ). There were 3,400 housing units. There were 2,963 households, out of which 28.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.3% were married couples living together, 15.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37% were non-families. 32.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 32.3% had someone who
319-822: The Confederate Congress . On December 17, 1862, the South Carolina General Assembly elected Bonham as governor by secret ballot. He served until December 1864. During his term, the General Assembly enacted a prohibition against distilling in 1863 and also that year, it demanded that more land be used to grow food instead of cotton to increase the supply of food in the state. Bonham rejoined the Confederate Army as brigadier general of cavalry in February 1865, and
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#1732780504540348-558: The Nullification Crisis in 1832. Bonham brandished a sword and pistol, condemning Andrew Jackson and the Washington politicians. His outspoken position brought him the rank of lieutenant colonel . At the same time he served as captain of a Charleston artillery company. In October 1834, Bonham moved to Montgomery, Alabama , where relatives lived. The following year he went to Mobile , where he helped organize
377-721: The Southern states that had seceded from the Union appointed special commissioners to travel to those other slaveholding Southern states that had yet to secede. A slaveowner, Bonham served as the Commissioner from South Carolina to the Mississippi Secession Convention , and helped to persuade its members that they should also secede from the Union. Bonham was appointed major general and commander of
406-597: The Texas A&;M Aggies and the South Carolina Gamecocks , Bonham's alma mater, began a cross-divisional rivalry in 2014 with the schools competing for the Bonham trophy. Milledge Luke Bonham Milledge Luke Bonham (December 25, 1813 – August 27, 1890) was an American politician and Congressman . He was later the 70th Governor of South Carolina from 1862 until 1864, and
435-790: The American colonies in the 1600s. He attended private schools in the Edgefield District and at Abbeville . He graduated with honors from South Carolina College at Columbia in 1834. He served as Captain and adjutant general of the South Carolina Brigade in the Seminole War in Florida in 1836. That same year, his older brother James Butler Bonham died at the Battle of the Alamo . Bonham studied law and
464-784: The Army of South Carolina by Gov. Francis W. Pickens in February 1861. He was appointed brigadier general in the Confederate Army on April 19, 1861, and commanded the First Brigade of the Confederate "Army of the Potomac" under P.G.T. Beauregard . He fought in the First Battle of Manassas , commanding his brigade as well as two artillery batteries and six companies of cavalry in the defense of Mitchell's Ford on Bull Run . He resigned his commission January 27, 1862, to enter
493-689: The Class D Texas-Oklahoma League (1911–1914, 1921–1922) and the Independent Southwestern League (1898). Bonham teams featured a different moniker each season. Baseball Hall of Fame member Kid Nichols was Manager of the 1914 Bonham Sliders. During the Second World War , a training camp and an aviation school for the United States Army Air Forces were in the vicinity of Bonham, as was
522-768: The South Carolina Militia. Entering politics, he served in the state house of representatives from 1840 to 1843. He married Ann Patience Griffin on November 13, 1845. Bonham was solicitor of the southern circuit of South Carolina from 1848 to 1857. He was elected as a Democrat to the Thirty-fifth United States Congress (succeeding his cousin, Preston Smith Brooks ) and the Thirty-sixth United States Congress , and served from March 4, 1857, until his retirement on December 21, 1860. In early 1861,
551-460: The aid of James Fannin (the county's namesake) at the Battle of the Alamo . Bonham is part of the Texoma region in northern Texas and southern Oklahoma. One of Texas's oldest cities, Bonham dates to 1837, when Bailey Inglish built a two-story blockhouse named Fort Inglish about 2 miles (3 km) from the current downtown. Inglish and other acquaintances settled there in the summer of 1837, and
580-524: The answer to his appeals, spat upon the ground, and galloped west into his own immortality." Thus, Bonham returned to the Alamo on March 3, bearing through the Mexican lines a letter from Robert McAlpin Williamson assuring Travis that help was on its way and urging him to hold out. Bonham died in the battle of the Alamo on March 6, 1836, aged 29. He is believed to have died manning one of the cannons in
609-578: The cities of Abilene , Amarillo , Bryan , Dallas , El Paso , Harlingen , Houston , McAllen , Midland , Odessa , San Angelo , San Antonio , and Temple . " Flat Grove ", Bonham's home in Saluda, is the only known birthplace of an Alamo defender still in existence. It is maintained as a museum. In World War II, the United States liberty ship SS James B. Bonham was named in his honor. In Southeastern Conference (SEC) college football ,
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#1732780504540638-492: The interior of the Alamo chapel. The town of Bonham, Texas , is named for him. Bonham is the county seat of Fannin County , named for the commander who Bonham tried to enjoin for assistance at the Alamo. A 1936 Texas Centennial Marker was placed on the courthouse square in the city of Bonham. The monument displays a statue of Bonham by Texas sculptor Allie Tennant . Many Texas schools are named after James Bonham, for example, in
667-532: The poor food served at the college boardinghouse. He was expelled, along with the entire senior class. In 1830, Bonham practiced law in Pendleton , but was found in contempt of court after caning an attorney who had insulted one of Bonham's clients. When ordered to apologize by the sitting judge, he refused and threatened to tweak the judge's nose. Bonham was sentenced to ninety days for contempt of court. He served as an aide to Governor James Hamilton Jr. during
696-677: The settlement was named "Bois D'Arc". The Congress of the Republic of Texas named the city Bloomington in 1843, but renamed it Bonham in honor of James Butler Bonham , a defender of the Alamo . On February 2, 1848, Bonham was incorporated as a city. A 1936 statue of Bonham by Texas sculptor Allie Tennant is on the courthouse grounds. After connecting to the Texas and Pacific Railway the city began to grow, and by 1885 there were six churches, three colleges, two public schools, three weekly newspapers,
725-406: Was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.4 and the average family size was 3.05. In the city, the population was spread out, with 21% under the age of 19, 9% from 20 to 24, 31% from 25 to 44, 23.5% from 45 to 64, and 15.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. The median income for a household in the city was $ 43,793, and the median income for a family
754-576: Was actively engaged in recruiting when the war ended. Near Greenville, South Carolina a group of troops positioned there, because of worry of federal invasion from North Carolina, named their emplacement, Camp Bonham, in his honor. Bonham owned an insurance business in Edgefield and in Atlanta, Georgia , from 1865 to 1878. Returning to politics, Bonham was again a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives from 1865 to 1866 and
783-602: Was admitted to the bar, in 1837, and commenced practice in Edgefield. During the Mexican–American War , he was lieutenant colonel (from March 1847) and colonel (from August 1847) of the 12th US Infantry Regiment . Two other members of his regiment, Major Maxcy Gregg and Captain Abner Monroe Perrin , would also become generals in the Civil War. After he returned home, Bonham was the major general of
812-475: Was found dead in his bed in his room at Hawood, White Sulphur Springs, North Carolina from hemorrhage during the night. WSS, North Carolina was a late-nineteenth resort in Surry County near Mount Airy, N.C. Bonham, Texas Bonham is a city and is the county seat of Fannin County, Texas , United States. The population was 10,408 at the 2020 census. James Bonham (the city's namesake) sought
841-477: Was unable to provide assistance. Bonham's inimitable spirit is best described by T. R. Fehrenbach in his Texas opus, Lone Star: A History of Texas and the Texans : "At the end, the weary Bonham, a lawyer, a Carolinian of exulted family and a friend of Travis, turned his mount around and rode back toward San Antonio. He was told it was useless to throw away his life. He answered back that Buck Travis deserved to know
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