OKGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any
format for profit or presentation by any other organization or
persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must
obtain the written consent of OKGenWeb State Coordinator.

Presentation here does not extend any permissions to the public. This
material can not be included in any compilation, publication,
collection, or other reproduction for profit without permission. Files
may be printed or copied for personal use only.
=====================================================================

DONALD R. BONFOEY
Vol. 3, p. 1101

The business career of Donald R. Bonfoey at Oklahoma City, dates
only from October, 1912, but during the short space of three years he
has built up an enterprise in the line of insurance which places him
among the substantial business men of the younger generation. Mr.
Bonfoey, who is a member of the firm of Beverly H. Bonfoey & Sons,
has also become widely known in military circles through his long
connection with the Missouri and Oklahoma National Guards.

Born in Putnam County, Missouri, June 29, 1887, Mr. Bonfoey is a son
of Beverly H. and Anna (WEBB) Bonfoey. His father, a native of Texas,
was a resident of Missouri for forty years, beginning life as a civil
engineer, subsequently practicing law for a time and finally engaging
in the insurance and investment business. Under appointment of
Governor Dockery, he was a member of the World's Fair Commission of
St. Louis, and acted as secretary of that body. Mr. Bonfoey's mother
is a sister of Alexander Russell Webb, who was for a number of years
city editor of the St. Louis Republic, and under one of President
Cleveland's administrations consul to Manila, Philippine Islands. In
the family Beverly H. and Anna Bonfoey there were five sons: Donald
R., of this notice; B. L., who is in the farm loan and insurance
business at Kirksville, Missouri; Percy W., who is secretary-
treasurer of the Bonfoey Loan & Investment Company of Oklahoma City;
L. P., who is sales manager of the Monroe Drug Company, at Quincy,
Illinois; and Warner T., who lives with his parents at Oklahoma City
and is a student in the high school.

Donald R. Bonfoey attended the public schools of Unionville,
Missouri, and in 1905 entered the University of Missouri, completing
in 1909, the law course and graduating with the degree of Bachelor of
Laws. During the next year he took a special course in agronomy in
the University of Missouri, and accepted a position with the
Travelers Insurance Company and remained for some time in the office
of that company at Hartford, Connecticut. Returning to Missouri, he
became special agent for the Travelers Company with headquarters at
St. Louis. In October, 1912, he moved to Oklahoma and became state
agent for the National Fidelity and Casualty Company, retaining the
position until June, 1914, when he resigned and was appointed state
agent for the London & Lancashire Guaranty and Accident Company and
the London & Lancashire Fire Insurance Company. His is the home
office for Oklahoma, and through industry and natural adaptability
for the work he has built up one of the leading businesses of the
state in his line.

At the age of thirteen years, by special permission of the major of
cadets, Mr. Bonfoey enlisted in the Fourth Infantry of the Missouri
National Guard. On August 9, 1907, he was promoted to the rank of
second lieutenant of Company B, of that regiment, and February 8,
1910, was promoted to captain of his company. While a student in the
University of Missouri, in which he graduated in military tactics and
science, he was commissioned colonel of the University Cadets. On
January 12, 1912, after coming to Oklahoma, he was commissioned
colonel on the military staff of Gov. Lee CRUCE. Under authority of
Adjt.-Gen. Frank CANTON, Mr. Bonfoey was chiefly instrumental in the
organization of Troop B, First Cavalry Regiment, Oklahoma National
Guard, at Oklahoma City, of which he was appointed captain, February
6, 1914. On January 22, 1915, he was commissioned major on the
military staff of Gov. Robert L. Williams. During his military
experience he was a private, corporal and sergeant before attaining
the rank of commissioned officer, and there-after filled the ranks of
lieutenant, captain, major, lieutenant-colonel and colonel and every
general staff office in the National Guard.

Mr. Bonfoey was married April 4, 1911, to Miss Lillian DONFORTH of
St. Louis, the daughter of a prominent grain dealer for many years
active in Southeast Missouri. She is a graduate of the University of
Missouri, class of 1909, and was a student also at one time of Hardin
College, at Mexico, Missouri. Mr. Bonfoey is a member of the
Presbyterian Church. He belongs to the Beta Theta Pi College
fraternity, at Columbia, Missouri and has filled all the offices in
his chapter, and is also a member of Siloam Lodge No. 36, Free and
Accepted Masons, Oklahoma City, the local lodge of the Benevolent and
Protective Order of Elks, and the Casualty Men's Association of
Oklahoma.

Typed for OKGenWeb by Lee Ann Collins, November 3, 1998.