Sardis is in the southeast corner of the County and eighteen miles from Lexington. It received its name in 1875 from the Sardis Camp-Grounds, which was one-half mile east of the present business section and which was a favorite place for religious worship as early as 1830. It was Methodist in belief, but other denominations were made welcome. A Mr. Quinn was the first person buried there. It later became the Sardis Cemetery. A few years later a log church was erected and was also used as a schoolhouse. This building is now used as a kitchen by Al Wilhite, and is the first residence on the Lexington Street. The first settler is unknown, but among the first were the Hannas, the Hassels, the McBrides, the Bryants the McNatts, the Englands, the Smiths, the Crabbs, the Faggs, the Williams, the Presleys, the Wilburns, the Blantons, the Hamms, the Mooneys, the Johnsons, the Stanfills, the Hawkins, the Craigs, and others.

The first store was a stock store opened in 1870. In 1875 Isaac W. Hassel opened another and became the first postmaster. The first cotton gin was run by horse power and was built by George England, (some say by I. W. Hassel), in 1865. The first steam gin and mill was owned and operated by Field, Powell, and Parker in the early eighties. It was located where Arthur A. Hannas mill now stands and sawed more virgin timber than any other in that part of the County. It also ground corn and wheat. Issac W. Hassel owned the land where Sardis now stands and sold off lots to those who wished to buy them. T. M. Hanna perhaps built and owned more homes in Sardis than any other one man. He built and owned more than twenty-five homes and business houses. Mr. W. M. Holland was made the first mayor of Sardis and Mr. M. F. Pearcy the first marshall. Sardis has long been noted for its schools. During the early years of the present century or perhaps as early as 1890 it was an educational center. Prof. C. P. Patterson and J. W. Williams were outstanding teachers. By 1906 we find the Sardis Normal College, as it was then called, so outstanding that students for a radius of many miles attended it. It received students from various counties, and was of widespread renown.

Sardis has also been active in its church work. At present it has four church congregations meeting regularly for service and Sunday School. They are the M. E. Church, the M. E. Church South, the Missionary Baptist, and the Christian Church. The Civil War took its toll from this section also. Mr. W. M. Weaver was one of Andersonvilles prisoners. He was caged in that terrible place eleven months and eleven days. During this time he became so near starved that he helped eat a dog. The author has had in his possession for some time the bone off of which Mr. Weaver ate the dog flesh. During the same period guerillas ravaged this section as was seen in Chapter V. The first and only newspaper ever published in Sardis was edited by J. F. Howler, the first issue appearing January 22, 1897.

The present places of business with their managers, or owners, are as follows: a general merchandise store by J. S. Johnson, a general merchandise store by George Meddlin, a general merchandise store by Phillips Brothers, a general merchandise store by W. W. Willis, a general merchandise store by A. W. Blevins, a drug store and postoffice by J. A. Meddlin, a cotton gin by G. H. Spelling, a grist mill by A. A. Hanna, a garage by Meddlin Brothers, a blacksmith shop by Henry Bivens, a blacksmith shop by Fate Tubbs, a blacksmith shop by Jim Montgomery, a barber shop by B. V. Bivens, a barber shop by W. A. Schrivner, a telephone office (240 phones) by C. W. Rice, (owner and manager.) The Peoples Bank was organized December 13, 1920 with a capital stock of $10,000.00 and with E. A. Weaver cashier and J. G. Ricketts president. It is now under the management of W. R. Tolly as president and J. W. Newman as cashier and has resources amounting to over $80,000.00. With its thriving business, its good schools and active Churches, its good roads, its rich land surrounding it, and its some 300 contented people, Sardis is a good place in which to live. One of its leading and outstanding citizens, Mr. Charles P. Little, has this to say about his home town. "No better place on earth can be,/Than that of Sardis, Tennessee."

Sardis Items in Lexington Republican, February 23, 1906.
Reader McKenzie was seen on his way to Mr. Bakers last Sunday.
Arthur Stanfill from Sardis is visiting home folks and his best girl.
A. E. McNatt and wife of Lexington visited relatives here last Sunday.
The boys and girls of Sardis rendered a play at Saltillo last Saturday night.
Misses Beatrice and Vergie Williams of Lexington are visiting friends in our city.
Sol Lipe and J. R. Montgomery have been attending court at Lexington the past week.
Several new boarders have entered school this week and we hear of more coming.
Miss Mattie Richardson, who is teaching school at Roby, is visiting relatives and friends here.
J. P. Stewart of near Reagan and new bride visited relatives here last Saturday and Sunday.
Misses Edna and Cora Benson entertained quite a number of young people at their home last Saturday night.
M. F. Pierce has converted the old college building into a hotel and is now occupying it. If you want something good to eat, call on him.
Cage Stanfill, son of Jacob Stanfill, and Miss Mattie Bailey, daughter of T. J. Bailey, were married last Wednesday, Squire Pierce officiating.
Ed McNatt, son of M. F. McNatt, and Miss Ethyl Newman daughter of J. W. Newman, were married at the brides home on last Thursday, Squire Pierce officiating.
On the first Saturday night in March the I.O.O.F. will give a supper free to the wives and children of the members, and will be entertained by graphophone music by T. M. Hanna.

Sardis was named from Sardis Camp Grounds settled about 1865. Some of the first settlers were Bryant, England, Hanna, Hassell, McNatt, McBride, Presley, Stanfill, Johnson and others. They settled for the purpose of homesteading. The oldest house now standing was built by Dr. Mack England. Its present occupant is Mr. Earl Adams. The oldest church now in use is the Baptist. Other churches now being used are Methodist and Church of Christ. The first store was built by Esq. Little in 1875. The present stores are owned by T.H. Phillips, J.A. Medlin, J.I. Johnson, J.S. Johnson, Fred Wilhite, A.N. White and G.W. Medlin. The first postoffice was established in 1875. Mrs. I.J. Hassell was Postmistress. Denney Roy and John Hassel were first rural carriers appointed in 1903.

SARDIS
From the History of Scotts Hill by Gordon H. Turner 1977

The name Sardis was taken from the Biblically named Sardis Campground. There were camp meetings back in the 1829's across the road from where the Sardis Cemetery is today, about 1/2 mile east of the business section. As a result of these meetings, people began to establish homes in this area. James Hanna settled on a grant about 1825 in the area that became Sardis. The Story family settled on their land grants later before 1830. They settled on what is known today as the John Story farm, it is one of the few farms in the county to have remained in the possession of descendants of the original owners. After the Civil War the Tennessee governor, William Brownlow visited Sardis in 1867 and had dinner with Captain James Hanna.

As the adult population grew, so did business. A stock store was established in 1870 with a stock of goods amounting to $1,000. It was soon traded out by the stockholders. Three years later another store opened in Sardis. All the goods to supply these stores came by boat to Saltillo, Point Pleasant and Swallow Bluff and then by wagon to Sardis. The post office was started in 1875 by Isaac W. Hassell, who is considered to be the founder of Sardis. He was the first postmaster, and first to operate a hotel. The first cotton gin was built by George England and ran by horsepower. The town's first newspaper was called "the Sardis Weekly Times", its first issue was Jan. 22, 1897. The town opened a college in 1883, that building burned in the fire of 1895. The town incorporated in 1905 to pay for the new college building built in 1904. Billy Holland was the first mayor. This incorporation lasted until 1923.

SARDIS
From the History of Henerson County by G. Tillman Stewart 1979

James Hanna settled on his land grant about 1825 in the area that became Sardis. Daniel, Elijah, James and Malinda Story also settled on land grants there sometime prior to 1830. What is now known as the John Story farm is one of the few farms in the county to have remained in the possession of descendants of the original owners. Thirty years prior to the Civil War a popular campground was located south of the present Sardis business district, where the cemetery is now located. Isaac W. Hassell, who is generally considered to be the actual founder of Sardis, built a store and also became the first postmaster. Some early settlers in the area included the families of Blanton, Crabb, Craig, Dyer, England, Fagg, Hanna, Hamm, Johnson, Little, McNatt, Medlin, Phillips, Presley, Smith, Stanfill, Willburn, Wilhite and Williams. Of the early Sardis residents, William Dyer later became circuit court clerk; William McBride became Sheriff and R.A. Lewis was a circuit court clerk and later an official of the Central State Bank of Lexington.

October 12, 1906 Sardis News:
Post Office
Postmaster - W.L. Bryant
Assistant - W.R. Totty
Carrier Route 1 - Scott Little
Carrier Route 2 - Walter Hassellll