Welcome to the official webpage for the City of Gilmer, TX.

Upshur County was organized by an act of the Texas Legislature on July 13, 1846 , the legislature deemed that the county should be named Upshur and requested that the county seat be named Gilmer. 

Abel Parker Upshur was born in Virginia in 1791.  President John Tyler appointed him Secretary of the Navy in 1841 and in 1843 he succeeded Daniel Webster as Secretary of State.

Thomas W.Gilmer was born in Virginia in 1802.  In 1844 President John Tyler appointed him Secretary of the Navy.

Both Abel Parker Upshur and Thomas W. Gilmer were killed on the Navy war cruiser “Princeton” on February 28, 1844.

Resource:  A History of Upshur County, Texas

Author:      Doyal T. Loyd