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With
Halloween upon us, it’s time to remember the old Bonner house west of Lufkin,
which has been called the perfect haunted house.
But it had also has a
rich history.
At one time, the house--which was recently torn down--was
a two-story mansion, one of the largest in Angelina County, built by a family
prominent in business enterprises, including farming, lumbering and oil.
The
original Bonner, W.H., left his home in Louisiana in 1831 with his wife Nancy
and a small child, W.H. Jr., to come to Texas. At
the time, there was only one well-defined road in Texas,
known as the King’s
Highway or the Nacogdoches-San
Antonio Road. Indians often killed and robbed travelers on the road. After
weeks of perilous travel, Bonner and his family finally reached San
Augustine, where he remained for a year. But because of frequent Indian raids,
he decided to carry his family to the safety of the Old
Stone Fort in Nacogdoches.
Enroute, he and his family camped near what is now Chireno.
Short on provisions, Bonner started for a store several miles away. He
secured what he needed and started back to his family’s camp when he was surprised
by a band of Mexicans, robbed and killed. His horse, however, continued to his
family’s camp.
Fearing for her husband’s life, Nancy mounted the horse,
found her husband’s body and buried it near the trail. She and her small son then
rode to the Old
Stone Fort, where they remained until after the Battle
of San Jacinto.
Mrs. Bonner later married W.G. Lang and her son, W.H.
Bonner Jr. grew to manhood, and married Melinda Blackburn. They had nine children,
all of whom left a legacy as merchants, farmers, lumbermen and oilmen in Texas.
W.H. Bonner Jr. earlier spent his boyhood days on the Texas frontier fighting
Indians as far away as Brown and Comanche counties.
Bonner also fought
for the South during the Civil War, returned to his home, created a farm and built
his home on what is now known as Bonner Road.
Bonner was persuaded by
the people of Angelina County to seek election to the Texas Legislature. After
leaving the Legislature, he ran and won a race for County Clerk in the county.
Bonner
died at Lufkin in 1888 and was
buried with Masonic honors. His wife followed him in death in the l890s.
©Bob
Bowman
Bob
Bowman's East Texas > October 17, 2010 column
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