Dr. Penwell's Ordeal

Dr. Penwell's Ordeal. . In 1848, a young graduate of Indiana Medical College arrived in Bonham with his wife and young son, seeking new horizons and a place to practice his medical profession. Dr. Eli S. Penwell constructed a building on the south side of the Bonham square to house his medical offices and a temporary residence for his family. The young physician and his family soon became popular members of the community and Dr. Penwell's practice began to grow. An active member of the Masonic organization, Penwell soon became involved in a variety of civic endeavours., For twelve years, the family enjoyed a prominent place in Bonham society. Because of his rapidly growing medical practice, Dr. Penwell built a comfortable home two blocks west of the square. However, as rumors of war began to be a constant topic of conversation among Bonham citizens, Dr. Penwell's good fortune began to take on a darker hue. , To his friends and practice, Dr. Penwell soon began to express his opinions concerning the necessity of preserving the Union at any cost. Anti-secessitionist feelings were generally strong in Fannin County, but an equally vocal element of the population in support of the Southern Cause began to look with strong suspicion upon those with differing ideas. Despite his stand, Dr. Penwell, at the outbreak of hostilities enlisted in a local militia group, the Stanley Light Horse., Soon after, a group of men under command of Col. James Bourland began to scour the countryside looking for "Union sympathizers." Reportedly, Penwell was on the list of men who were being hunted. The physician contacted others who were in the same situation and a plan to escape to Ft. Smith was devised., Under cover of darkness, on February 3, 1864, the dozen or so men made their way into Indian Territory where they were joined by a group of deserters from the Confederate Army. Among this group was a suspected double agent, Cap Harris (see SHOWDOWN marker). The group was captured less than a day out of Ft. Smith and were being returned to Texas when they were turned over to a company of Texas troops., One night as the prisoners and their captors continued toward Texas, the Texans decided to hold a court for Penwell. A great deal of drinking ensued throughout the "trial" and Penwell was found guilty and sentenced to be hanged., A rope was placed around his neck and thrown over a convenient limb. Penwell was hoisted into the air and left dangling. In their drunkenness, the soldiers failed to notice that his toes were just barely touching the ground and the tree limb bending beneath his weight. Left there all night, the doctor was discovered still alive in the morning where he was cut down. Later, he was turned over to Gen. Samuel B. Maxey in Arkansas., General McCulloch ordered him to be returned to Bonham to be court-martialed "and hanged". Penwell was tried at Doaksville, found innocent, and set free., Fearing for his life and safety and with the help of his friends, Dr. Penwell was able to escape to Mexico. Eventually, he made his way to Shelbyville, Illinois where he maintained a medical practice. After the war, he was joined by his family and remained there for ten years. The Penwells returned to Bonham in 1875 where Dr. Penwell resumed his medical practice. He died in 1892.