Near Bardwell in Ellis County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Old Bardwell

Photographed by Jeff Leichsenring, August 31, 2026

1. Old Bardwell Marker

Inscription.
In the 1880s, Ellis County emerged as a leading cotton producing county in the area. A community known as Pleasant Valley developed here, convenient for farmers transporting cotton by wagon. Pleasant Valley School was formed in 1882 to serve the families who had settled the area. Down the road from the school, Elijah Reynolds (1840-1911) sold a 2.75-acre lot to Labon Bonapart "Bonie" Freeman in 1883 along the Ennis to Milford Road (later State Highway 34). Freeman built a steam-powered cotton gin on site. In 1884, Elijah Reynolds sold his property to Isaac Allen (1832-1911), who sold several lots to form the nucleus of the town. John Ward Bardwell (1840-1921) of Ennis bought the Freeman Gin in 1892. The same year, the post office was established, and an official name for the town was needed. According to local tradition, Postmaster John Richard Roach (1845-1900) suggested Bardwell after the cotton gin owner. Bardwell himself never lived in Bardwell and owned the cotton gin for only one year, selling in 1894 to William Whittington and William Roach.

Bardwell was on its way to becoming a thriving community with a church,

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cotton gin, general store, post office, blacksmiths and druggists. Bardwell had its own paper, the Bardwell Herald. When the railroad was built through Ellis County in 1907, it was built bypassing Bardwell by a half mile to the east. Town officials decided it was necessary to move the entire town to the railroad, beginning with the cotton gin and the Church of Christ. While the town prospered in its new location, Old Bardwell faded into history. The Bardwell Cotton Gin continued to operate in its new location for nearly 100 years before closing in 1983.

Erected 2021 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 23309.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1882.

Location. 32° 15.651′ N, 96° 42.404′ W. Marker is near Bardwell, Texas, in Ellis County. It is on State Highway 34 0.1 miles west of Roach Road, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 6102 W State Hwy 34, Bardwell TX 75101, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Prairies & Lakes Region

Photographed by Jeff Leichsenring, August 31, 2026

2. Old Bardwell Marker

and in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metropolitan Area.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the Republic of Texas,

and one of the Confederate States of America.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Elm Branch Cemetery (approx. 1½ miles away); Thomas C. Neel (approx. 4.6 miles away); Frederick Harrison Rankin (approx. 5.7 miles away); Wayman Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church (approx. 5.8 miles away); Myrtle Cemetery (approx. 5.9 miles away); Burnam Square and Cemetery (approx. 6.1 miles away); Thomas Alexander Williams (approx. 6.2 miles away); Nash Public School (approx. 6.2 miles away).

Credits. This page was last revised on September 4, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 1, 2026, by Jeff Leichsenring of Garland, Texas. This page has been viewed 9 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 1, 2026, by Jeff Leichsenring of Garland, Texas. • James Hulse was the editor who published this page.