Trinity County Seats

Trinity County's records fared better than its courthouses. Bob Bowman reports that when Sumpter's courthouse burned in the fall of 1872, most county papers went with it, but the surveyor's records survived at his home in Trinity. When Pennington's burned in 1876, the district clerk, J. T. Evans, had taken the deed records home, fearing indicted men might burn the courthouse, and kept criminal records in an iron safe. The surveys were again kept elsewhere. Both accounts come from 1909 affidavits by lawyer J. P. Stevenson and J. B. Gipson.

What the plaque says

Trinity County Seats Trinity County was formally organized by an act of the Texas legislature on February 11, 1850. Soon after, county residents chose between two sites for the establishment of a county seat, which was named Sumpter (5 miles east). Government offices were located in the residence of Solomon Adams until a courthouse was built. Now a ghost town, Sumpter served as the Trinity County seat until 1872, when the courthouse was destroyed by fire. the town of Trinity (20 miles southwest) was named the new county seat by legislative act. In 1874, however, local voters chose to relocate the seat of government at Pennington (12 miles northwest). A courthouse fire there in 1876, coupled with the theft of district court records in 1880, led county residents to consider a new site for the government offices. As the result of an election on October 7, 1882, the sawmill and railroad town of Groveton became the fourth seat of Trinity County. Official records were moved here 13 days later. The courthouse square was donated by the Trinity & Sabine Timber Co. The history of the Trinity County seats reflects a proud heritage based on early struggles and hopes of the area's pioneer heritage.

Where it stands

More markers nearby

• Groveton — steps away
• First Methodist Church of Groveton — steps away
• George Washington Carver School — 0.4 mi
• Site of the Town of Sumpter — 4.6 mi