Manifesting a decided liking for the printer’s trade, he was placed at an early age in the office of the “Hartford Courant,” where he took his first lessons in the art of setting type.  He entered upon the business with the determination to learn it thoroughly, and when he had mastered his trade soon acquired the reputation of being the best workman in Hartford.  As a compositor, he was not only neat and thorough, but was remarkably rapid as well.  On one occasion, when the “Courant” was endeavoring to publish the “President’s Message” in advance of all its competitors, Mr. Bonner is said to have worked at the rate of seventeen hundred ems an hour—­a feat absolutely unparalleled.

In 1844, he removed to New York and engaged in the office of a new journal, called the “American Republican,” then lately established as the organ of the American party in that city, upon which he worked steadily during its brief career.  His wages were small, and it was only by practicing the most rigid economy that he could live upon them.

When the “Republican” suspended publication, Mr. Bonner was employed in the office of the “Evening Mirror,” published by Morris, Willis & Fuller.  Here he made himself so useful, that the business of getting up or displaying advertisements attractively was soon left entirely to him.  His taste in this department was almost faultless, and the advertisements of the “Mirror” soon became noted for their neat and handsome appearance.

At this time there was published in New York a small, struggling paper, exclusively mercantile in its character, called the “Merchants’ Ledger.”  This paper was almost entirely dependent upon its advertising patronage, and the attention of its proprietor was called to Mr. Bonner’s skill, as exhibited in the “Mirror,” in displaying advertisements to the greatest advantage.  The result was that Mr. Bonner received an offer, which he accepted, to take charge of this paper.  This was the origin of his connection with the journal which he has since rendered famous.

Being fond of composition, he made frequent contributions to the editorial columns of the paper, which were well received by the general public, but which seem to have aroused the petty jealousy of the proprietor of the “Ledger.”

Soon after forming his connection with the “Ledger,” Mr. Bonner purchased it.  From his boyhood up, it had been his ambition to become the proprietor of a journal which should be carried out upon his own ideas, and he believed that the “Ledger” offered him the best means of doing this.  It was generally doubted at that time that a literary paper could flourish in New York—­Boston and Philadelphia having apparently monopolized such enterprises.  Mr. Bonner, however, had a clearer view of the matter, and was convinced from the first that the great center of American industry was the very best place for such an undertaking.  He proceeded very cautiously at first, however, changing the character of his paper very gradually, from a commercial to a literary journal.