More about Mr. Anderson Bonner

Anderson Bonner was an African-American landowner, farmer, entrepreneur, and early Dallas pioneer who was born into slavery in Alabama during the late 1830’s.

It is not known exactly how Anderson, his brother Louis, and sister Caroline came from Alabama to Texas. It is reported that at some point Anderson was given as a wedding gift to the daughter of his master, taking him from Alabama to Arkansas and ultimately to Texas and North Dallas.

Anderson Bonner signed his name with an “X” on deeds for hundreds of acres of land that he purchased with funds from his farm crops of cotton, corn and fruit and from houses that he leased to sharecroppers. Bonner ultimately ended up with nearly 2,000 acres of land, located mostly along White Rock Creek and surrounding areas in what is today North Dallas and Richardson.

The Bonner farm was located near what is now Forest Lane and Central Expressway. Prior to WWII many African-American groups held picnics on a section of the Bonner farm which included the property where Medical City Dallas is now located. In fact Central Expressway was cut through the Bonner farm land. The city of Dallas officially named the park west of Medical City Hospital “Anderson Bonner Park.”

Anderson Bonner passed away in 1920 and is buried in White Rock Garden of Memories which is located in Addison near CCTOF.

Travel through time as we celebrate the families who have made it possible for us to worship at our current location.

Celebrating a significant impact, in a significant location with significant people!