THIRD GENERATION

4. Howard Eugene Bonnette was born on 28 Mar 1889 in Louisiana. He was a Farmer and Logger between 1900 and 1942 in Winn Parish, Louisiana. He was buried in Jul 1942 in Sanders Cemetary, Louisiana. He died on 14 Jul 1942 in Sanders Community, Louisiana. He was also known as Gene. Notes taken by Timothy Bonnette from discussion with J.D. Bonnette, Howard Eugene Bonnette's son. Notes taken in the mid 1980's.

Howard Eugene Bonnette used to walk everywhere sometimes he would ride his dark bay "Old Dan". He was farming unsuccessfully, and working at a sawmill also on the WPA program. He would walk to where he would work many miles. Bunions grew on the bottom of his feet. When he got home he would be so tired without a word he would sink into a chair and the kids would remove his shoes and wash his feet.

A loan he had received from the government was proving hard to repay. He mentioned this to his boss at the sawmill. He had asked for a day or two off to find a place to live. His boss asked what the problem was, he said he was going to loose his farm because he could not repay his loan. His boss loaned him a cross saw and other tools so he could cut cross ties and thereby repay the loan.

During his later days he would alternate between sanity and fits. He was removed to Pineville Hospital and had to be tied down. Uncle J.D. said he was very strong. At on point it took three men to get Ray, just a baby at the time, from his arms. He had asked to hold the baby, hugged it and did not want to give it back.

End.

I found the chattel mortgage in the old Bonnette home place after my Grandmother Bonnette died. I believe it was lying on the floor. At that time I did not have any ideal of how valuable it would be in bringing life to Uncle J.D.'s story. The mortgage is in Eugene Family Scrapbook. The pages list everything he and Delia owned included pots, pans, tools and food. Everything he owned was mortgaged for $127.00 because unfavorable weather conditions cut the 1939 crop very short. Also note on the bottom of the page a mention of the Old Bay named Dan.

As of 1940 the papers show Eugene had a net worth of $920.07, including 40 acres of land, with a total net cash income of $113.40. No wonder his death certificate shows cause of death as termnal exhaustion.

Notes taken by Timothy Bonnette from Howard Bonnette, Howard Eugene Bonnette's son.

H.E.B. used to play the fiddle when his first child was born he gave it up. Aunt Gracie Bonnette Jennings said there was a big fuss between Delia Bonnette and Charles Edward Bonnette over the fiddle. Seems Charlie came to the house wanting the fiddle. Delia did not particularly like Charlie because he was a mean man and drank a lot.

From: July 16, 1942 Winn Parish Enterprise
Eugene Bonnette Of Calvin Dies
Eugene Bonnette, about 50, of Calvin died in an Alexandria hospital Tuesday
afternoon. Funeral services were held at Sanders Chapel Wednesday afternoon
with interment in Sanders Cemetery.
Mr. Bonnette is survived by his wife, four daughters, Viola, Nina Jean, Ethel,
and Gracie Lee, of Calvin, six sons, McArthur, Ray, J. D., and Howard, of
Calvin, Johnny Bonnette of Goldonna, and Tech. Sgt. Jewel Bonnette of Camp
Beauregard; three sisters, Mrs. Lela Bundrick and Mrs. Bessie Mixon,
Winnfield, Rt. 3; and Mrs. Flossie Heck of Atlanta; and two brothers, Bill
Bonnette, Winnsboro, and Sam Bonnette, Camp Bowie, Texas.
He was married to Delia Baskie Cloud on 20 Aug 1915 in Winnfield, Louisiana.

5. Delia Baskie Cloud was born on 11 Oct 1897 in Louisiana. She died on 21 Mar 1976 in Winnfield, Louisiana. Children were:

i. Johnny Eugene Bonnette was born on 26 Aug 1916 in Sanders Community, Louisiana. He died on 4 May 1977 in Louisiana.
ii. Major Jewel Bonnette was born on 16 Nov 1918 in Sanders Community, Louisiana. He (or she) died on 2 Jan 1984 in Alexandria, Louisiana.
iii. Liller Viola Bonnette (Private).
iv. Ethel Bernice Bonnette was born on 29 Dec 1924 in Sanders Community, Louisiana. She died in Nov 1979 in Shreveport, Louisiana.
2 v. Howard Lee Bonnette.
vi. J.D. Bonnette was born on 9 Aug 1929 in Sanders Community, Louisiana. He died on 24 Oct 1994 in Winn Parish, Louisiana.
vii. Nena Jean Bonnette was born on 27 Aug 1932 in Sanders Community, Louisiana. She died on 19 May 1978 in Louisiana.
viii. Clovis Ray Bonnette (Private).
ix. Edna Gracie Lee Bonnette (Private).
x. Mac Arthur (Mac) Bonnette was born on 27 Mar 1942 in Sanders Community, Louisiana. He died on 20 Feb 2000 in Winn Parish. Mac Arthur Bonnette

Funeral services for Mac A. Bonnette will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 23,
2000 in the First Baptist Church, Winnfield. Dr. Calvin Phelps will
officiate. Burial will follow in the Garden of Memories under the direction
of Southern Funeral Home.

Mr. Bonnette, 57 of Winnfield, died Sunday, February 20, 2000 in Winnfield.
He was a graduate of Calvin High School and a long time employee of Neste
Resins Corporation in Winnfield.

Survivors are one son, Stoney Bonnette of Calvin, LA; three daughters, Tracy
McGee and Marlo McNaughton, both of Calvin, LA and Jill Garner of Longview,
TX; one brother, Howard Bonnette of Calvin, LA; two sisters, Viola Kelly of
Winnfield, LA and Gracie Jennings of Calvin, LA; and five grandchildren, Cody,
Kyle, Lindsey, Ashley and Legend.

Pallbearers are: Larry Blundell, Marlon Bonnette, Ewell Rutledge, Doug
Tarver, Benny Long and Tommy Provence.

Honorary Pallbearers are: Frederick Bonnette, Brandon Jennings, Jewell
Bonnette, Jr. and James "Jerky" Waters.