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HENRY PHILLIPS. Perhaps no resident of Quarryville, Lancaster county, has more personal, attached friends than has Henry Phillips. The elements of character which win confidence and high regard, are possessed by him, in the highest degree. Mr. Phillips is a man of moral worth, of integrity of character, a friend to be depended upon, and one whose exemplary life is an example to others, although quiet and entirely unobtrusive.
The birth of Henry Phillips was in the township of East Drumore, July 29, 1842, and he was a son of Michael and Hannah (Harmon) Phillips, both of whom were born in Lancaster county, the former being the son of Henry and Margaret Phillips, who, although born in this county, came of German ancestry.
Henry Phillips, the grandfather, first settled at Conewingo Furnace, in this county, managing here for a number of years for James Hopkins, and both he and wife died at this place. Their children were: Michael, father of Henry; Katie, who died unmarried; Henry deceased, who settled in East Drumore township and was a carpenter by trade; Miss Nancy, a resident of East Drumore township; Jacob, deceased, who settled in Philadelphia, where he was a moulder by trade, and reared a family; Mrs. James McMichael, deceased; Betsey, deceased, was the wife of George Shaub, of Quarryville; Polly, deceased, the wife of Jacob Shaub, a farmer of East Drumore township; Lydia, deceased, wife of Jacob Brown, of Lancaster city; and Susan, wife of Jacob Barr, of East Drumore township.
Michael Phillips, son of Henry, and father of Henry, of this sketch, was given the best possible schooling in his locality, and started out in life as a tailor, learning the trade while still a young man. His marriage was to Miss Hannah Harmon, who was a daughter of Henry Harmon, one of the wealthy and prominent farmer citizens of East Drumore township. After marriage Mr. Phillips and wife settled in East Drumore township where, in connection with work at his trade, he carried on farming, purchasing an estate in this township. In later years he removed to Quarryville, where he engaged in work at his trade until within a few years of his death, his wife had passed away prior to the Civil war. Both parents were worthy members of the Old Mennonite Church, consistent Christian people. The family of children born to Michael Phillips numbered ten: Mary, the eldest, suffered death in childhood from burns; James died in childhood; Jacob, born in East Drumore township, grew to manhood, served faithfully in a Pennsylvania reginient through the Civil war, and after its close came home and was married to Margaret Redman, of Lancaster county, and they settled on a farm in East Drumore township, where he died, leaving a wife and family who now reside in Colerain township; John learned the tailor trade and worked at it until twenty-six years of age, when he died in Quarryville; Anna, who is the widow of Joseph Shaub, resides with her family in East Drumore township; Henry is the sixth in the order of birth; Benjamin, born on the old homestead, enlisted for service in the Civil war, was wounded in one of the early battles, was later transferred to one of the gunboats, veteranized in Co. D, 195th P. V. I., and served until the close of the war, when he moved to Carroll county, Va., where he married a Miss Graham, and where he is now engaged in contracting and building, having become one of the substantial men of that county; Susan, born in this county, is the wife of James Fry, and resides in East Drumore township; Elizabeth, born in East Drumore, is the wife of John Lundy, of Reading, Pa., and Michael, the youngest, is a cigar-maker of Lancaster City, married Miss Mary Killion, of Lancaster, and has no family.
Henry Phillips received but limited education, leaving school to enter upon his apprenticeship under his father in the tailoring business. In 1859 he was united in marriage to Miss Catherine Groff, the estimable daughter of Joseph and Catherine (Myers) Groff, both of these families being prominently identified with the agricultural interests of Lancaster county. The birth of Mrs. Phillips was in East Drumore township in 1842, and here she grew to womanhood, obtaining her education in the common schools of Lancaster county. The children born to this union were: Fannie and Susan, both of whom died in childhood; Joseph, who married Miss Ida Sutter, a daughter of Lorin Sutter of this village, follows the trade of shoemaker in Quarryville, and has one daughter, Anna, who is a student; and Charles G., the youngest of the family, is now a printer in the office of the Quarryville Sun, unmarried.
After marriage, our subject and wife settled in Quarryville, where he engaged in his tailoring business. At the outbreak of the Civil war, Mr. Phillips was one of the first loyal citizens to offer his services to his country, enlisting in Co. D, 195th P. V. I., serving faithfully until the close of the war, in the Army of the Potomac, and was honorably discharged. Returning to his home, Mr. Phillips resumed his merchant tailoring and has continued to prosper ever since.
Politically, Mr. Phillips has always supported the Republican party, and has efficiently performed the duties of tax-collector for his borough. Socially, he is a member of Post No. 511, G. A. R., of Quarryville, in which he holds official position. Both Mr. Phillips and family are active members of the M. E. Church of Quarryville, in which he has long been a trustee, for many years the efficient superintendent of the Sabbath school and for the last eighteen years has been the leader of the church chior.
Henry Phillips is one of Quarryville's most respected and influential citizens, in business as well as church work. His charities have been large, his interest in public affairs constant, and his neighborly kindness has won him the affection and esteem of all with whom he has come in contact.