Welcome to Texas Genealogy Trails! *Volunteers dedicated to putting free data online.* This Sabine County Website is available for adoption.  If interested in joining our group, view our Volunteer Information Page and contact Kim. [Basic webpage design knowledge and a desire to transcribe data is required] We regret that we are unable to perform personal research for anybody.
In 1796, Michael Crow established Crow’s Ferry and the ferry operated until 1812. James Gaines bought the ferry in 1812 and renamed it Gaines Ferry. With the aid of Gaines Ferry, communities began to develop in the region. Gaines’ Ferry shuttled horses, wagons and settlers across the river at Pendleton. Today, at the same site, a modern three-mile bridge stretches across Toledo Bend Reservoir. In 1828, the town of Milam was founded in the northern part of the future Sabine County area.
Shortly before Texas won its independence from Mexico, the county became a port of entry for new settlers arriving from the United States. After the victory at the battle of San Jacinto in 1836, the government of the Republic of Texas began to organize. The government formed Sabine County and defined its boundaries on December 14, 1837, Sabine County boundaries have remained unchanged since its creation; however, when the area was known as the Municipality of Sabine, it included parts of present-day San Augustine, Jasper and Newton Counties.
The county seat was named Hemphill, in honor of John Hemphill, a former Texas Supreme Court Justice, who at the time, served as a United States Senator. The old Sabine County Jail, built in 1904 was used until 1982. It is one of two jails in Texas that had a hanging rope. The old jail is now a museum and library. On the corner of the Sabine County Courthouse square domino players regularly gather beneath an ancient cedar tree.
Cities and Unincorporated Areas Geneva -- Hemphill -- Isla -- Pineland -- Bronson -- Brookeland Fairmount -- Milam (census-designated place) -- Rosevine -- Sexton -- Yellowpine
ONLINE DATA Mockingbird State Bird Coming Soon: If you have information that you'd like to share about any town, family, county or subject, please send it to us and we'll make sure it gets posted to the right county.  We are looking for Census, Births, Deaths, Marriages, Biographies, Obituaries, and Newspaper Stories
Click here to select another county Surrounding Counties Shelby County (north) Sabine Parish, Louisiana (east) Newton County (south) Jasper County (southwest) San Augustine (west) Back to the TEXAS GENEALOGY TRAILS Main site Visit the national site of GENEALOGY TRAILS All data on this website is © Copyright 2012 by Genealogy Trails