ANSWER:
The unincorporated town of Sanderson is named after John P. Sanderson. He was an executive with the Florida, Atlantic & Gulf Central Railroad (FA&GCR).

The FA&GCR was organized in 1851. They built the railroad from Jacksonville, FL to Lake City, FL (then known as Alligator Town).

Mr. Sanderson eventually became the second president of the FA&GCR. The first president was Dr. A. S. Baldwin, who the town of Baldwin is named after.

The data I obtained was from �The Story of the Florida Railroad� copyrighted 1952 and was confirmed by the State Library of Florida in Tallahassee.

Death of Col. J.P. Sanderson � The Jacksonville papers announced the death of one of her most talented lawyers, Col. J.P. Sanderson. He died in New York on last Wednesday week, the 27th of June, of heart disease. The following is from the Union of the 1st in reference to his earthly career.

Col Sanderson was a native of Vermont, where he was born in 1814, and was consequently fifty-seven years of age. He graduated at Amherst College, in the State of Massachusetts, and afterward taught school in that vincity (sic). He came to Florida in 1840 as a tutor or instructor in the family of Mr. Robert Harrison, a wealthy planter on Amelia Island near Fernandina. He studied the elementary text books of law, and was admitted to practice in Camden County, Georgia, and in the eastern circuit of Florida in 1840 or 1841, at the age of twenty-six. Soon after he married a daughter of Mr. Harrison, and after her death, he married another daughter, his present wife, by whom he had two children. Col Sanderson first practiced law in Nassau county, and then removed to Lake City. In 1849 he removed to Jacksonville, where he has since resided. In 1849 he was appointed solicitor of the eastern circuit, then presided over by Judge Thomas Douglas, which he held until 1852.

In this capacity he first achieved a legal reputation, which he abundantly sustained, especially as a criminal advocate and counsel, up to the time of his death.

Col. Sanderson was formerly a Whig and an active canvasser in its old campaigns in this State. He was a vigorous speaker, and in the palmy days of that political organization he was one of its leading spirits. He was elected to the Legislature from Nassau county over Col. Stew(??) and in 18?? Was elected ???? from Columbia county over Col. J.C. Pelot. In 1853, he was chosen a Presidential Elector on the Gen�l Scott ticket. On the breaking out of the rebellion in 1861, Col. Sanderson was elected a delegate from the XVIth District to the Convention, and there became identified with the ultra secession element. He was elected to draught the ordinance, which declared the separation of Florida from the Union, and he not only performed this service, but offered it, and gave to this incipent(sic) measure his strenuous support. In 1862 he was elected to the Provisional Congress at Richmond.

Col. Sanderson was indentified (sic) with the railroad interest of this State from their feeble beginning until the day of his death, and it was largely owing to his natural �gacity ?, and strong determination, that the success of the road from Jacksonville to Lake City was assured. He succeeded Dr. A.S. Baldwin as the second President of the F.A.&G.C.R.R. In 1857, and continued in that office until the road was completed. Last year he was again elected President of that road and Vice President of the Jacksonville, Pensacola and Mobile Railroad.

His death will leave a void in that circle of the legal profession which has known him for many years. He was regarded as one of the ablest and most unforgettable practitioner in the State.

In the circuit court on Thursday, 20th ult., Mr. E.M. L�Engle announced the death of Col. Sanderson, and in response to his motion, Judge Long ordered an adjournment for the day.

The body was forwarded from New York on the 2?th ult., and is expected to arrive on Monday evening. A committee of the bar of this city will receive it and the funeral will be announced on Tuesday morning.

A meeting was held at National Hall, last evening, by the members of the bar, in memory of Col. J.P. Sanderson. Speeches were made by E.M. L�Eagle, Gen. M.S. Littlefield, L.L. Flemming, H. Bisbee, Jr., and others.

Created 22 Jul 2010

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