Files Valley, Files Valley Cemetery, Files Cemetery, Hill County, Texas. (original) (raw)
Files Valley Cemetery
Photo courtesy Jen Basham, June 2020
History in a Pecan Shell
Also known as Files, Texas, the name honored David Files who built the first house in what had been known as Eureka Valley. The renaming occurred in 1879 and with abundant natural springs (albeit somewhat Sulphur-tainted) the budding community seemed to be guaranteed quick growth and lasting prosperity.
A post office was granted in 1880 under the name Files. The post office was closed in the massive closures of 1907. But in the first ten years, Files could boast of several blacksmiths and doctors as well as a school, store, church and cotton gin. The 1890 census counted 50 Filians. Files missed out during the railroad expansion of the 1880s, and then in 1905, residents thought they would finally get their wish. But the town was bypassed.
In 1906 the Southwestern Home and School for Orphans was founded and the facility remained open. In the 1980s it underwent a change of name to the Presbyterian Children's Home.
Files still retained 100 residents through the 1930s and three businesses to sustain them. The population remained at 100 (more or less) when, in the 1970s, it dropped to half that number.
With the decline, people started referring to the town as Files Valley and the population continued to be given as 50 for the 2000 census.
FILES VALLEY CEMETERY
32°13'13.2"N 97°04'32.2"W (32.220328, -97.075614)
Files Valley Cemetery
Est. 1876
Photo courtesy Jen Basham, June 2020
Files Valley Cemetery
Photo courtesy Jen Basham, June 2020
Files Valley Cemetery
Photo courtesy Jen Basham, June 2020
Files Valley Cemetery graves
Photo courtesy Jen Basham, June 2020
Files Valley Cemetery tombsone
Photo courtesy Jen Basham, June 2020
Files Valley Cemetery
Photo courtesy Jen Basham, June 2020
FILES CEMETERY
Files Cemetery sign
Photo courtesy Jen Basham, November 2017
Files Cemetery in Files Valley
Photo courtesy Jen Basham, November 2017
Sarah Files Tombstone
Photo courtesy Jen Basham, November 2017
Ambroas Files Tombstone
Photo courtesy Jen Basham, November 2017
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