Bonner, Robert

Aiton's Encyclopedia (1910)

Robert (1824-1899), an American publisher. He was born near Londonderry, Ireland. He came to America at the age of fifteen. He learned the printer's trade in the office of the Hartford Courant, where tradition runs that he was the fastest typesetter ever in the office. As soon as he had saved a little money he established the New York Ledger, a weekly literary paper. He advertised widely and paid enormous prices for contributions. He gave Henry Ward Beecher $30,000 for a novel, Norwood; Tennyson $5,000 for a short poem, and Dickens $5,000 for a short story. He kept a number of serial stories running and spent thousands of dollars, sometimes $25,000 a week, in spreading broadcast sheets containing portions of tales, always breaking off at an intense moment with the announcement that the continuation might be found in the New York Ledger of such a date. Before one story ended another began. The subscriber was kept in tow by the desire, ever renewed, to get the rest of some story that had taken hold of him. The Ledger brought Mr. Bonner a fortune. Bonner's son was graduated by Princeton University. The noted publisher, always a liberal citizen and a staunch Presbyterian, was accosted at commencement dinner by Doctor McCosh, the president, with "Weel, Mr. Bonner, we've graduated your son, what can you do for the college?" Mr. Bonner responded with a liberal gift. In 1887 Bonner retired from active business. He was a quick, intense man and was fond of speedy horses. He had an ambition to own the fastest trotter in the world. As soon as a fast animal appeared he bought it and took it from the race-track for his private buggy. He paid $35,000 for Dexter; $36,000 for Rarus; $40,000 for Maud S., and $41,000 for Sunol. It is estimated that his driving horses and stables cost him first and last $1,000,000.