Douglas Samuel Bonar
Kentucky Post, Thursday, 16 April 1942, page 1
COLORFUL CAREER-One of those colorful careers in the annals of the medical profession ended Wednesday night with the death of Dr. Douglas S Bonar, oldest practicing physician in northern Kentucky, at his home, 115 Electric avenue, Southgate. He was 83. The veteran physician continued his daily routine of making calls on patients and maintaining office hours until last Thursday at his office, 43 E Third street, Newport.
For the past 57 years Dr. Bonar visited the bedside of the sick in Campbell county. A native of Pendleton county, he first began the duties of his profession at California in rural Campbell county. Forty years ago he moved his office to Newport. It was while located in California that Dr. Bonar became one of the first physicians for the Chesapeake & Ohio RR in the local area, administering to convict laborers used in constructing the railroad's roadbed.
Those were the days of the typical country doctor, a public servant who by necessity must be a surgeon and dentist as well as general practioner. Rural residents would knock at his door at all hours of the day and night, and the physician would go by horseback or horse and buggy over dirt roads to far corners of the county to ease human pain. Dr. Bonar saw all of the modern conveniences come into use. In those years at the turn of the century, he played a prominent role in Democratic political circles in Campbell county. His home was the headquarters of party candidates who journeyed to California by boat or train and were taken into the surrounding section to campaign in buggies from Dr. Bonar's stables.
Dr. Bonar was born Jan 15, 1859, the son of William L Bonar, a Pendleton county magistrate for many years and prominent political figure in that section. The physician's wife, Mrs. Mary A Bonar, whom he married Dec 19, 1883, died about ten years ago. A daughter, Miss Vera C Bonar died eight years ago. Dr. Bonar was a member of Mayo Masonic Lodge, California. In March 1934, despite his 75 years, Dr. Bonar seized the weapon of an armed bandit who attempted to rob him in his Newport office. He wrestled with the intruder, the latter eventually fleeing after his intended victim had been beaten on the head shouted for help.
A testimonial dinner was tendered Dr. Bonar at the Highland Country Club in June 1936, in honor of his 50 years as a physician. He leaves one son, Claude, advisory state highway commissioner for the northern Kentucky area, with whom he lived; one sister, Mrs. Maude Rader of California and one grandson, Douglas Bonar. Funeral services will be held at the Muehlenkamp, Costigan & Roll funeral home, Newport at 3 pm Saturday. Burial will be in Grandview Cemetery at Mentor.
*******
Kentucky Post, Saturday, 18 April 1942, page 1
BONAR FUNERAL-Congressman Brent Spence of Ft Thomas was in northern Kentucky Saturday to attend funeral services for Dr. Douglas S Bonar, veteran Campbell county physician, who died Wednesday night at his Southgate home. Funeral services for Mr. Bonar were to be held at the Muehlenkamp, Costigan & Roll funeral home, Newport, at 3 pm. Burial will be in Grandview cemetery at Mentor.