Henry Sampson (1823-1885) moved to Houston in 1842 from South Carolina and affiliated with the Holland Masonic Lodge in Houston. Along with other leadership roles, Sampson served both as the Worshipful Master of the Holland Lodge and Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Texas. On March 24, 1858, Grand Master Sampson granted dispensation to form a Masonic Lodge in Lynchburg, Texas. When the Lodge Charter was granted on June 16, 1859, the Lodge was named after Brother Sampson, and Sampson Masonic Lodge No. 231 was born. Sampson Lodge brethren built a log cabin Lodge building at Oak Island near present day David G. Burnet State Park in Lynchburg, Texas. 

Sampson Lodge changed meeting locations several times during the first 50 years of service. The original log cabin Lodge was destroyed by fire. On December 27, 1863, Sampson Lodge meetings were relocated to the San Jacinto Battleground. In 1875, the Lodge was demolished again by severe weather, but the brethren continued to meet in the Lynchburg area until the Galveston Hurricane of 1900. The Lodge building was devastated by the hurricane, so the brethren continued their meetings in Brother W.G. Betts’ barn just north of Highlands, Texas near present day Sterling White Cemetery. The meetings were held in a barn until a new Lodge was built in Crosby, Texas.

On June 8, 1901, Sampson Lodge held their first stated meeting at the newly constructed two-story Lodge building in Crosby, Texas…and the Masonic tradition continued for another 50 years. The top floor of the Lodge was used for Masonic meetings and the bottom floor of the Lodge was used for education, leased out for funds, or used as a cannery for home grown goods. The Lodge and brethren survived two World Wars, the Great Depression, and two major hurricanes while located in Crosby. During moments of despair, the Sampson Masonic fraternity always volunteered their time and labor to support the Lodge and community.

In 1951, the brethren voted to move Sampson Lodge to 114 Avenue D, Highlands, Texas, where the Masonry has continued since. Within one year of construction, Sampson Lodge was debt free because the construction labor force were Lodge members and friends, working on volunteered time, working with donated materials, and covering costs as needed. Sampson Lodge has been at labor supporting the lodge and helping the community. 

The first 100 years of Sampson Lodge's History is written in the following document.