The medical profession in LaSalle county is represented in the various thriving towns by men who have achieved distinction and well won laurels. Doctor Bonar, of Streator, is one of its most successful practitioners, and is very popular with his medical brethren, as well as with the citizens in general.
A native of Pennsylvania, he was born at Coon Island, Washington county, July 31, 1852. His father, Samuel Bonar, was likewise a native of the county mentioned, born July 9, 1822, and was a son of Barnet Bonar, who was born January 14, 1778, on the same farm, where he lived until his death, February 1, 1870. The latter was a son of William Bonar, who was born in Scotland July 9. 1740, and whose father, Barnet Bonar, was born in 1695, near Edinburgh, and emigrated to America in 1740, coming to Washington county, Pennsylvania, in 1774, thus becoming one of the earliest settlers of that county. The Doctor's father was a farmer by occupation, and every one who had dealings with him respected and admired him for his sterling integrity and uprightness of character. He married Miss Elizabeth Andrews, a daughter of William and Elizabeth (McConnell) Andrews, all of Richland county, Ohio. Mr. Andrews was a carpenter by trade and was successfully engaged in contracting and building for many years.
The boyhood and youth of Dr. Barnet L. Bonar passed happily and all too swiftly in his native county, and after completing the common-school course he entered Washington and Jefferson College, where he graduated in 1877. He then took up the study of medicine, reading under the instruction of Dr. Thomas McKennan, of Washington. Subsequently he was a student in the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania at Philadelphia, and was graduated there in 1880. Going to Bucyrus, Ohio, he established an office and was occupied in practice at that point for about one year. In 1881 he came to Streator, where he soon obtained a foothold and gained a desirable reputation for skill and excellence in his chosen field of labor. In order to keep in the spirit of progress and thoroughly conversant with new methods, he is connected with several medical societies, among them being those of the county and state and that of north central Illinois.
In his political belief Dr. Bonar favors the platform and nominees of the Republican party. Socially he is a member of Streator Lodge, No. 607, F. & A. M.; Streator Chapter, No. 168, R. A. M., and Ottawa Commandery, No. 10, K. T. In 1888 the marriage of the Doctor and Miss Sarah Modes, a daughter of William Modes, of Streator, was solemnized. They have two children, Jessie and Barnet E., whose presence lends brightness and added happiness to their pleasant home.
Extracted by Norma Hass from Biographical and Genealogical Record of LaSalle County, Illinois published in 1900, volume 1, pages 32-33.
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