Draft:William P. Bonney
Namesake of Bonney Lake, WA
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
William P. Bonney was a pioneer, historian, and the namesake of Bonney Lake, Washington, a town with a population of 22,487 as of 2020 census.[1] He authored History of Pierce County in 1926.
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Submission declined on 25 March 2026 by RangersRus (talk).
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William Pierce Bonney | |
|---|---|
 William P. Bonney, a Pacific North West Historian, photographed in 1905 | |
| Born | April 24, 1856 |
| Died | January 28, 1945 (aged 88) |
| Known for | Namesake of Bonney Lake |
| Notable work | History of Pierce County, Washington |
| Children | 4 |
| Signature | |
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Early life
William P. Bonney was born in Steilacoom, Washington and was raised in a blended household of thirteen children by Lydia Anne Wright and Sherwood Samuel Bonney.[2] William Bonney's experiences of growing up on the frontier and having a schoolteacher mother contributed to his lifelong passion of preserving regional history. He frequently played with his siblings and the family's farm animals on their property.[3][4]
Historian
In 1926, Bonney published his two-volume book History of Pierce County, a collection of maps, biographies, and civil records from the era. He also forwarded the book Told by the Pioneers, Volume II.[5] His work focused on preserving the stories of farmers, road workers, schoolteachers, and other ordinary people, alongside more prominent figures. Bonney also served as an advisor of the Washington Pioneer Project[6] and as the secretary for the Washington State Historical Society.[7][8][9] He was a curator of the Ferry Museum in Tacoma[10], cataloging artifacts from the period, including those of governors from the area.[11][12][13]
Gallery
Grave of William P. Bonney in the Tacoma Cemetery
Historian William P. Bonney in the Ferry Museum in Tacoma, Washington sitting at the desk of Governor E.P. Ferry, first Governor of Washington State, and sitting in the chair belonging to Governor Stevens, first Governor of Washington Territory
William P. Bonney
William P. Bonney holding the rifle Lyman Cutler used to kill his British neighbor's pig on San Juan Island, beginning the Pig War
Legacy and namesake
After World War II, when a new town was established in Pierce County, the community decided to name the town Bonney Lake, celebrating William P. Bonney's contributions to preserving the area's history.[7]
Origin of Geographical Names of Tacoma/Pierce County Washington by Gary Fuller says Bonney Lake was named after "William Bonney, a settler who arrived about 1900 and whose cabin was one of the first on the hill where the town was built." [14][15]
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