The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1920-12-02
Death of Postmaster at Trio
written for The County RecorU

Trio, Nov. 29.-On Tuesday after
noon, November 9th, when the train
from Georgetown arrived at 5:44
o'clock it was noticed th2t our faith
full Post Master was not at the station
as usual with his mail; the tain was
held while someone went to see why
he was not at his post. He was found
down behind his desk in a helpless
condition, having been stricken in his
left side with paralysis. Friends
hastened to him accompanied by DR..
D. w. Register, and removed him to
his home, doing all for him that
loving hands Could. He WIS able to
say that his head ached severely and
asked that it be rubbed, and ssked
"where is DR.. Dave?"
Efforts were made to relieve him,
but he sank into 4 sleep from which
he was never aroused.
Mr.. Files had been suffering from
high blood pressure for number Of
years and had been warned rep ated-
ly against becoming angry OF excited.
lit is believed that he must have failed
to heed the warnings and suffered the
consequences.
/ Friends watched by his bedside
along with loved ones continuously
until the end came Friday morning,
| November IL, at 7:27 o'clock when he
breathed his last.
Thomas Bryan Files was born in
North Carolina September IA, 1868
where his boyhood days were spent.
He received his common school ed
ucation in the schools of his native
state.
Coming Ito South Carolina more
than thirty-five years ago, re met
Miss Emma L. Horton, who he mar
ried about thirty-five years ago.
Never being blessed with any children
of their own they adopted and reared
son and daughter, Thomas H. and
Annie Eliza Files, who With their
! mother survive him and reside at
Trio. Mr.. Files was well known in
Williamsburg County, having resided
at Trio for about thirty-one years,
during which time he served Gs Just
ice of peace or MaggistrIte = number
of years. He was noted fo- his fair
and impartial decisions and efforts to
maintain the peace Of his district.
From this office he derived the title
of Judge" and was ever afterwards
spoken of Us Judge Files" He serv-
ed the citizens of our town as depot
agent for a while, giving satisfactory
service; for the past fourteen years
he has served as postmaster, render
ing faithful service as result of care
full, painstaking efforts.
He was a K. of P, with his men,
bership at Georgetown; also a W. o.
w., with membership in Cedar Wood
Camp, No. 3S6, at Trio.
He was a faithful member of the
Baptist Church and broad enough in
views to see in the world CROUCH to
do for the salvation of mankind by
other churches than the one of which
he was a member. He was regular
attendant upon the preaching services
conducted in the Methodist Congre-
CATION of his town. He was an an
active Christian gentleman, having
shortly before his death spoken to his
daughter advising her to give her
heart to God and unite with the
church, which he had the joyous
privilege of witnessing only a short
time before his death.
Judge Files was active In Il e politi-
cal life of his County and State and
as far as was consistent with with the
position he held. He ran small farm
and was considered one OF the best
farmers in the section.
With his death the family comes to
an end, SO to speak, as he was the last
member, only half-first-cousin, Rev.
Olin Henderson of the Bethlehem
Charge, Methodist Episcopal Church
South, remaining.
He was laid to rest in a casket
made of heart cypress lumber, which
he had been saving for the purpose
for more than twenty years, he was
placed beside his mother in the bury
ing ground of the Methodist Church
at Trio, the services being conducted
by his pastor, Rev. Mr.. Busy OF
Andrews.
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