West Mountain Cemetery occupies part of a Republic of Texas land grant formerly occupied by Caddo and Cherokee Indians. It was established in the mid-1850s by plantation owner Alpha Phillips, and the first grave, that of his father William, is marked with a stone cairn. The family cemetery later came to be used by neighbors, residents of the West Mountain community, and transients. A volunteer association begun in the 1920s maintained the grounds and added acreage to the graveyard over the years. Originally known as Old Phillips Cemetery, it has been called West Mountain Cemetery since 1933.