Allegheny West in Philadelphia in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Lieutenant Joseph Bonnell

a Hero of the War for Texas Independence

Photographed By Steven L Bonnell

1. Lieutenant Joseph Bonnell Historical Marker

Located in PA - provided by TX

Inscription. On April 7, 1836, Lieutenant Joseph Bonnell, West Point Class of 1825, 3rd Infantry Regiment, U.S. Army, Fort Jesup, Louisiana, was sent alone into Texas by U.S. General Gaines to quell an uprising of 1,700 hostile Indians which threatened the small Texas Army of General Sam Houston. Lieutenant Bonnell completed this dangerous mission by successfully negotiating with Caddo Chief Cortes to have the warriors return to their villages and live in peace. Bonnell’s success greatly assisted Houston’s Army in prevailing at the Battle of San Jacinto on April 21, 1836. Captain Joseph Bonnell, who died on September 27, 1840, was the only active duty U.S. Army officer who was a Hero of the War for Texas Independence.

Erected 2005.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Military • War, Texas Independence. A significant historical month for this entry is April 1736.

Location. 40° 0.259′ N, 75° 11.291′ W. Marker is in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia County. It is in Allegheny West. Marker can be reached from Ridge Avenue, 0.1 miles south of West Clearfield Street. Located in the Bonnell-Bringhurst Family Plot (Section B, Lot 102) next to the Captain Joseph Bonnell grave marker, just west off of Cemetery

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Rd (within the cemetery grounds). This is within a few hundred feet of the Main Entrance to the Laurel Hill Cemetery at 3822 Ridge Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3822 Ridge Avenue, Philadelphia PA 19132, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Laurel Hill Cemetery (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Laurel Hill Cemetery (within shouting distance of this marker); Gatehouse (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Laurel Hill Cemetery (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Laurel Hill Cemetery (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Laurel Hill Cemetery (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Laurel Hill Cemetery (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Laurel Hill Cemetery (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Philadelphia.

Regarding Lieutenant Joseph Bonnell. Joseph was involved with Sam Houston and the Texan Army prior to and during the Texas War for Independence - he was General Sam Houston's Aide-de-Camp in November 1835 - the First Aide-de-Camp of the Texan Army. This was during the time of The Alamo and The Battle of San Jacinto when the Texas Revolution

Joseph Bonnell Grave image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, March 14, 2011

2. Joseph Bonnell Grave

ended in April 1836.

Joseph was born 04 August, 1802 and died 27 September, 1840, both in Philadelphia.

He may be the true Namesake of Mount Bonnell in Austin, TX

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. To better understand the relationship, study each marker in the order shown.

Also see . . .
1. Joseph Bonnell Grave Markers. (Submitted on July 12, 2009, by Steven L Bonnell of Montoursville, Pennsylvania.)
2. Laurel Hill Cemetery. Burial Site of Lt. Jospeh Bonnell (Submitted on July 17, 2009.)

3. Reward - Mount Bonnell. Details and Information concerning the recent research into the namesake of Mount Bonnell, updated as new information is found. For a quick overview, see Mount Bonnell Timeline (11). (Submitted on August 9, 2009, by Steven L Bonnell of Montoursville, Pennsylvania.)

4. The Joseph Bonnell Story. An 11 minute video produced by the West Point Society of Central Texas in Austin that relates the story of Joseph Bonnell, his friendship with Sam Houston, and his heroism during the War for Texas Independence. (Submitted on December 6, 2010, by Frederick Bothwell of Georgetown, Texas.)

5. Biography of Joseph Bonnell,. Texas State Historical Association; Handbook of Texas (Submitted on April 12, 2015, by Frederick Bothwell of Georgetown, Texas.)

Marker in Laurel Hill Cemetery image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, March 14, 2011

3. Marker in Laurel Hill Cemetery

Credits. This page was last revised on February 2, 2024. It was originally submitted on July 11, 2009, by Steven L Bonnell of Montoursville, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 2,816 times since then and 24 times this year. Last updated on March 9, 2011, by Frederick Bothwell of Georgetown, Texas. Photos: 1. submitted on July 12, 2009, by Steven L Bonnell of Montoursville, Pennsylvania. 2, 3. submitted on March 14, 2011, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.