At age 26, he sailed to San Francisco around Cape Horn, arriving in March 1850, and left in August of that year for the gold mines.

He settled in Stockton, California, the gateway to the Southern Mines, establishing a general merchandise store.

The couple had three more sons, including the twins Henry Ellis ("Harry") and William Webster ("Will") Sanderson.

For two years, Sanderson served as the Chief of the Stockton Fire Department (Protection Hook and Ladder Co. #1, established November 15, 1851).

He belonged to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF) in Stockton; the charter number is unknown.