Site of the Town of Sumpter

Sumpter hoped to become a railroad center and was bypassed. The Handbook of Texas says three companies of Illinois infantry were stationed here in 1866 as Reconstruction occupation troops, in a county it describes as turbulent, and lists John Wesley Hardin as a sometime resident. After the railroad passed by, businesses left, and the Handbook adds that even houses were moved away. The post office closed in 1874, and the number of schoolchildren fell to twenty-six in 1884 and twelve in 1895. A cemetery, a few large trees and a marker in a field remain.

What the plaque says

Site of the Town of Sumpter Site of the Town of Sumpter First county seat of Trinity County ? ? ? Land granted in 1850 ? ? County seat located here, 1854 ? ? Town was laid out November 20, 1855 ? Incorperated 1862 ? ? Courthouse and records were destroyed by fire, 1872 ? ? In 1873, the county seat was removed to Trinity Erected by the State of Texas 1936

Where it stands

More markers nearby

• First Methodist Church of Groveton — 4.5 mi
• Groveton — 4.6 mi
• Trinity County Seats — 4.6 mi
• George Washington Carver School — 5.0 mi