Sanderson Community   Sanderson Community was located one and one-half miles southeast of Bardwell. Since most of it has been taken into the flood control area, the cemetery is the only landmark left. It is located east of Bardwell on FM 985. G. C. Sanderson, land owner, arrived here in 1869. Among the earliest settlers were the Lamberts, Jim Sheets, J. A. Greern, Thomas J. Moore, J. R. McLelland, J. W. Thomas, Johnnie Jones, J. M. Blakey, J. Whiteside, J. B. Robertson, E. P. Gerron, T. W. Holland, Harry Parks and T. M. Smith. G. C. Sanderson gave one acre of land on July 12, 1893 for "school purposes only" to J. A. Greer, J. W. Thorne and J. R. McLelland, "trustees and their successors of the County of Ellis, State of Texas." The Sanderson School, named in honor of Mr. Sanderson, was a one-room building which was the center of all activities. The first school term, 1893-94, was taught by Mr. Wells. In 1913, a modern one-room building replaced the old school house and was enlarged to two rooms in 1921. A two teacher school operated for five years. By 1930, many had moved from the community, the school was closed and the building sold. Though the deed specified for "school purposes only," apparently no objections were made when the land was also used as a burial ground. Mrs. Jewell Gerron Woodard, born and raised in the Sanderson Community, recalled that funerals were held during school hours, and often created quite a distraction. At least eight Blacks were buried in the part nearest the school campus, since they had no other place to bury their dead. Later on, some became concerned as the graves came closer to the campus. E. P. Gerron, (Mrs. Woodard's father), gave ground for a Black cemetery on his ranch in the Byrd Community. It was still available for their use in the 1950s, but it is doubtful that any of these graves have been preserved. Sanderson Cemetery was no longer used for interments after about 1924. With the construction of Bardwell Lake, the old Sanderson home was demolished and Mr. A. L. Boggus, Project engineer, announced in the Ennis Daily News in July, 1966, that "the Sanderson Cemetery is to be preserved." It was situated on the part of the Bozek farm bought by the government at the west end of the dam. The lake engineer had been informed that there were thirty-two persons buried there. A chain link fence was to enclose the cemetery and personnel of the lake operation were to be responsible for its upkeep. Fortunately, this cemetery was chronicled Oct. 11, 1956 by Mrs. A. L. Feltenberger. In March 1999, there were only eleven marked graves; however, it is fenced and well cared for by lake personnel. References: History of Ellis County, Vol. XX, by Mrs. A. L. Feltenberger. Hawkins, et al, Ellis County History Workshop, History of Ellis County, 1972 by Mrs. George C. Woodard Personal visit to the Cemetery, 1999   Copyright © 2002-2016, Ellis County TXGenWeb. All Rights Reserved. This page was last modified: Thursday, 01-Jul-2021 13:17:24 MDT