Established by John Durst in 1837, Mount Sterling stood near the ruins of the Mission La Purisima Concepcion de Maria, where he built a saw and grist mill and, in the town, a large warehouse. From his house he could see the boats moored to the wharves on the Angelina. The Cordova Rebellion in 1838 sealed the doom of the town, and Durst moved to Leon County.