Near Ennis in Ellis County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Sand Lake
Photographed by Jeff Leichsenring, September 4, 2026
1. Sand Lake Marker
For Daniel Buckley’s sacrifice in the 1836 Battle of Goliad, the Republic of Texas granted his heirs some 2,200 acres on the west bank of the Trinity River, in what became Ellis County. In 1871, his widow sold Alsdorf Faulkner (1838-1901) some of her land. In 1882, Faulkner deeded a 150-foot strip of land for the construction of the Texas Midland Railroad. The railroad added a stop at Sand Lake, and it soon became a popular destination for camping, fishing and hunting. Subsequent owners sold land to the U.S. Government next to the Trinity River and to the Ellis County Levee District. Landowner Homer Newton Chapman (1891-1931) installed a water system for the growing town of Sand Lake in the early twentieth century.
The town had a blacksmith’s shop, grocery store and post office, icehouse, some forty houses and a cemetery. The town’s two schools, one for white students and one for black students, also held occasional church services. The community remained rural in nature. By 1938, Miles Durham Glaspy (1871-1955) and his son J. Roy (1900-1980) had acquired Sand Lake Farm plus additional land amassing 3,300 acres. The land produced cotton, wheat and maize crops, but was home to a large cattle operation as well. By 1940, the community had over 200 residents.
The community suffered levee breaches in 1942 and 1946, the latter of which washed out the railroad tracks. The community of Sand Lake did not recover, and most of the population moved to other areas. Later uses of the land have included extensive sand and gravel mining.
Erected 2023 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 23849.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1836.
Location. 32° 24.789′ N, 96° 28.373′ W. Marker is near Ennis, Texas, in
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Regionally, this marker is in the Prairies & Lakes Region 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 9 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Rosser Depot (approx. 3.6 miles away); The Telico Church (approx. 3.8 miles away); Telico Cemetery (approx. 3.8 miles away); Cottonwood Cemetery (approx. 5.3 miles away); Cottonwood Baptist Church (approx. 5½ miles away); Bristol School (approx. 6.4 miles away); Bristol Cemetery (approx. 6½ miles away); Sokol Karel Havlíček Borovský (approx. 8½ miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Ennis.
Photographed by Jeff Leichsenring, September 4, 2026
2. Sand Lake Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on September 5, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 4, 2026, by Jeff Leichsenring of Garland, Texas. This page has been viewed 14 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 4, 2026, by Jeff Leichsenring of Garland, Texas. • James Hulse was the editor who published this page.
