Charles Lafayette Boner (Bunner, Bunnard, Bonner and Shields)

When Charles Lafayette Shields (Bunner) was born on December 16, 1870, his father, David Milton Shields, was 33 and his mother, Cynthia Ann Clevenger, was 27.

At the time of his conception and birth his father, David Milton Shields was married to Mary Matilda Johnson. David and Mary were married in 1858 and had 6 children, one of which was born July 13, 1870 (Ira Lee Shields).

At the time of his birth, Cynthia was married to Adolphus Boner (Adolphus and Cynthia were married May 11, 1870), it does not appear that David Milton Shields and Cynthia Clevenger were ever married nor in a documented relationship at either the time of conception or birth. It should be noted that Adolphus was known to use different spellings of his last name to include Bonner and Bunner, which his step son Charles seems to have copied as well). At this time I have not found a DNA match to support the Shields connection, but I do have DNA matches to Cynthia Clevenger – I have also found documentation to support that Charles Lafayette Bunner’s legal name was Charles L Shields.

Charles Lafayette married Della Francis Vansickle December 25, 1891. The marriage registration shows his name as Lafayette F Bunner, but both children used the last name Shields. Their son John Edward Shields was born May 16, 1894 and Charles Lafayette’s & Della’s daughter Lola May Shields** (my great grandmother) was born Dec 15, 1896, both children were born in Indiana.

Charles Lafayette married Mattie Lyons in 1900/1901 (Mattie was the daughter of James Lyons and Anna Smith, Mattie was born March 25, 1887). Charles and Mattie’s son Fred Bunner was born Aug 8, 1901 and son Horace Bunner was born Feb 12, 1908.

Charles Lafayette then married Margaret Ellen Buckley Sept 14, 1912.

To Charles Lafayette and Margaret were born:
April 21, 1913, Evelyn Bunner, daughter, (name later changed to Buckley)
May 10, 1916, son, Charles Levi Shields who later changed his name to Robert Charles Shields (also shows as Buckley).
January 5, 1919, daughter, Catherine Frances was born, name later changed to Buckley as well.

In 1921 an infant daughter was born to Margaret and Charles Lafayette, this was discovered after it came to light approximately two years later that the child had died and been buried by Charles under the chicken coop, the child’s birth nor death were ever reported to authorities.

Daughter Cyntha Ann was born November 17, 1922, she died in November 2, 1923, and she was less than a year old at time of death.

Another infant daughter was born on March 1, 1924 believed to have been stillborn. Due to lack of medical care Margaret also died after giving birth to this stillborn daughter. Charles Lafayette then admitted to authorities he buried this stillborn baby and the previously noted infant daughter under the chicken coop on the family farm. There is no indication the first infant’s remains were ever recovered by authorities. Charles Lafayette was arrested and sentenced to almost 2 years at the Putnamville State Penal Farm for burying the baby without permission and the neglect of the other children as well as his wife.

At the time of Margaret’s death, the surviving children Evelyn Bunner, Charles Levi Bunner (later changed to Robert Charles Shields) and Catherine Frances Bunner went to live with Margaret’s father (the children’s maternal grandfather) Alexander Francis Buckley and his wife Sarah. This is confirmed by the 1930 US Census showing Evelyn Buckley, Robert Buckley and Catherine Buckley residing with the Buckley’s (note their names changed to Buckley at that time).

Charles Lafayette Boner died February 3, 1936. At the time of death he was living at 2609 South Elm Street in Muncie Indiana. His obituary shows 7 surviving children, Lola Boner (this would be Lola May Shields), John Boner (John Edward Shields, Uncle Johnny) of Rushville, Fred, Horace, Evelyn, Kathleen* (believe this was a transcription error and it should be Catherine?) and Charles Boner (Robert Charles Shields) of Muncie.