The story of "Frank Bonner and Sophronia Mangum Gallion Darby" is an intriguing one. Frank Bonner came to East Texas probably in the early 1860's, from Macon County, Alabama. He, however, is not found in the 1860 Census in Polk County. Augustus Darby came to East Texas with his wife, Mary Ann Turk Scurlock and their five children, along with Mary Ann's mother, Lucena Turk Scurlock, (it is not known whether or not Frank Bonner accompanied them, as he is not in the 1860 census), Eliza Caroline Scurlock Bonner, and their two children Ida and Mattie. They brought their slaves with them. Shortly after arriving, the War Between the States broke out, and Frank Bonner enlisted at Livingston, Texas,9 Sep 1861, as a private, Co.F, 4th Texas Cavalry, Reilly's Regiment. He was captured in Bayou Teche, La, April 14, 1863. Confined at the Customs House Prison, New Orleans, La, sent to New Iberia, La for exchange. On furlough March 1, 1864. The Company disbanded at Hempstead, Texas, May 1865. Surrendered by E. Kirby Smith, June 2, 1865, Galveston, Texas. ("There Never Were Such Men Before - The War of Northern Aggression Soldiers and Veterans of Polk County, Texas, 1861-1865" by Ruth Peebles, Polk County Historical Commission, Livingston, Texas)
After the War, Frank returned home. His sister-in-law, Mary, had died in 1862, and "Gus" Darby had married Sophronia Mangum Gallion, the daughter of a prominent citizen in Trinity County. She was 27 years younger than Gus and 4 years younger than he was. Sophronia had a son by her first husband, John Gallion, and now she had a 15 month-old son by Gus.
In the spring of 1866, Frank and Sophronia began meeting privately while Gus was away on a trip. They fell in love and conspired to elope - leaving their families behind.
Life for Sophronia had been difficult since her marriage to Gus. She had to help attend to his five children from his previous wife, Mary Ann. Gus had 1500 acres, a leather business, and there was more work than she was accustomed to.The house in which they lived was in a remote area in Polk County, and supplies for building a larger home was in short supply. Sophronia had married Gus on March 30, 1864 in Trinity County. She and Gus had their son, Columbus Toliver ("Tol") the following spring.
On July 29, 1866, Sophronia B. Darby "eloped with an infamous paramour by the name of Frank Bonner" and deserted her husband "in a most cruel manner," said the divorce petition that Gus later filed.
The petition that was filed outlined the events that took place on the 29th of July, 1866.Sophronia gathered up her best clothes, obtained a draft from her husband (a considerable sum of money), mounted Darby's best horse and rode to the town of Sumpter in Trinity County "on the pretense of carrying her son, about six years of age to the home of her father, Bryant S. Mangum. After arriving at her father's home, she left her son, departed by herself under the pretext that she was returning home, and rendezvoused with Frank at some secretly planned spot. It was assumed that while in Sumpter, she cashed the draft that Gus had given her.
When Sophronia did not come home, Gus became concerned, began investigating, and was shocked to learn that Sophronia and Frank had met several times over the last several months when he was away.
The couple was next seen at the house of Jacob Sandfelder on the road from Sumpter to Clark's Ferry on the Neches River, which was about six miles from Darby's home.The last Gus had heard of them, they had crossed the ferry and were headed east.Gus would never see her again.
When the case came to trail, Jacob Sandfelder testified that the couple had arrived at his home on horseback, and were "equipped as for a journey" with stake ropes for their horses and blankets, saddle bags and a carpet sack. They had stopped at Sandfelder's house and had eaten supper and stayed the night. They had told him that they were headed back to her home. Instead, Sandfelder reported, they went eastward toward the ferry.
By the time the case came to trail, "Augustus Darby vs. Sophronia B. Darby", no one was aware of the final destination of the couple. However, Frank's wife, had recently received a letter from her husband - posted in Bastrop, La.In the text of the letter, Frank expressed the hope that they would not think less of him for what he had done.
The jury on March 4, 1867 agreed with all the allegations and found in favor of Augustus Darby. The marriage was "legally split asunder".
Let it be noted that Eliza Caroline Scurlock Bonner never divorced her husband. They were never heard from again. He never saw his son, Daniel Ruel that was born in Jan 1867, nor did he ever seen his children by Eliza again. Eliza died in 1901 in Polk County, Texas. Sophronia filed and received Frank's Confederate pension.