My Genealogy Hound

CARL FRANZ WILHELM VON BONNHORST was born Aug. 16, 1774, in Thalsheim, near Wallendorff, Westphalia, and emigrated to America in 1808. Dec. 8, 1808, he married, at Philadelphia, Rebecca, daughter of John and Anna (Huston) Taylor, and the fruits of this marriage were Charles Gustavus von Bonnhorst, born June 13, 1812, died Feb. 28, 1826; Sidney Francis von Bonnhorst, born Sept. 17, 1814, died July 23, 1887, and Frederick Alexander von Bonnhorst, born Nov. 14, 1815; died April 19, 1817. Shortly after his marriage Mr. von Bonnhorst removed from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh, and soon bought the large farm opposite Port Perry, on the Monongahela river, now known as the “Oliver farm,” where his children were born. After the death of his wife, which occurred in 1816, he came to Pittsburgh, studied law, and was admitted to the bar; was also elected one of the aldermen of the city. He was stricken with paralysis in 1843, and died one year later.

Sidney F. von Bonnhorst first entered business under John D. Davis, one of Pittsburgh’s leading merchants in the olden time. Afterward he was in the employ of Henry F. Schwoeppe, whom many of our older citizens will remember. He was also bookkeeper in the Bank of the United States, and was sent to New Brighton to close the affairs of the branch bank at that place. Afterward Mr. von Bonnhorst engaged in mercantile pursuits until elected secretary and treasurer of the P. & S. R. R. Co., which position he held until appointed postmaster of Pittsburgh by Mr. Lincoln in 1861, which office he held until 1866, when the People’s Savings Bank was chartered, and he was elected secretary and treasurer, which office he held until his death. Mr. von Bonnhorst married, in 1836, Miss Mary A. Murphy, daughter of Andrew Murphy, of Fleecedale, Chartiers township. Ten children were born to them, seven of whom still live.