1882 History of Linn County, Missouri

 

BIOGRAPHIES

 

PHILIPS/PHILLIPS

 

JOHN C. PHILIPS                                                                      Linneus and Lotus Creek Twp., page 464

 

     This sketch outlines the life of a gentleman who has been in the county for nearly half a century, and who has had official connection with the county, as did also his father.  Mr. Phillips is a native Missourian, and was born in Howard county, on the thirty-first day of May, 1835.  He is the son of Jeremiah Philips, who formerly served the county in an official capacity of sheriff, representative, treasurer, and circuit clerk.  His public service in Linn county extended over a period of twenty years.

                    

 

 

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JOHN P. PHILIPS                                                                       Linneus and Lotus Creek Twp., page 465

 

     This gentleman is a native of the Old Dominion, as was born in Bedford county, Virginia, on the fourth of October, 1823.  His parents Zachariah and Pamela (Murphy) Philips, the latter a daughter of John Murphy, of Virginia.

     On the paternal side of the family is English, and on the maternal side, of Irish origin.  When john was but a child, his parents removed to Campbell county, Virginia, and there he was reared and educated, and resided till 1849.  In that year he made an overland trip to California, joining a train that was sent out from Lexington, Missouri.  Mr. Philips spent eighteen months in the mines of that State and returned to Illinois in 1851, where he remain till 1852.  He then went back to Bedford county, Virginia, and was there married on the twenty-sixth day of October, 1852, to Marry F. Ownsby, daughter of Powell Ownsby, Esq., of that county.  They have no children.  The next year, he came to Missouri and settled in Yellow Creek township, Linn county, and has been a citizen here ever since.

     He quit farming in 1864, and soon afterwards became station, express, and land agent for the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad at Bucklin.  This position occupied him till he was elected sheriff.  He received the nomination in the summer of 1876, and beat his Republican opponent by a close race in the fall election, and assumed the duties of the office in January following.  Mr. Philips was nominated and elected as his own successor, making him two terms in the sheriff’s office.  He and his lady both belong to the Baptist Church, and he also belongs to the Masonic fraternity.

     Politically, he was formerly an old line whig, but at the dissolution of that party, went to the Democracy, and has been allied with them ever since.  Though other sheriffs since the war had been Democrats, Mr. Philips was the first nominee of the party on that ticket that was elected since the war.

 

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GEORGE D. PHILLIPS                                                        Lotus Creek Township, page 880

 

     Was born in Lotus Creek Township, Linn count, Missouri, July 29, 1838, where he was reared and educated.  September 11, 1861, he enlisted in Company H, Second Regiment Missouri State Guards, where eh remained until February, 1862, when he reenlisted in the Confederate service under Captain Flournoy, and served with him until the close of the war.  He then returned to Linn county, and has followed farming principally ever since.  March 1, 1881, he was appointed superintendent of the poor-farm, and still hold said office at this writing.  He was married in this county January 29, 1857, to Miss Elvira Harvey.  they have had seven children, four of whom are living, John P., Edward H., Robert W., and James H.

 

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GEORGE W. PHILLIPS                                                       Clay Township, page 794

 

     This gentleman, one of the old settlers of Linn county, was born in Mercer county, Kentucky, December 20, 1813.  His parents were George M. and Margaret Phillips, the latter a daughter of Stephen Johnson, of Virginia.  Mr. Phillips grew up in his native county, and received a common school education.  His father was a farmer, and he himself was reared to that calling, and has been engaged in it all his life.  In 1841 he came to Missouri, and first settled in Howard county, where he farmed for seven years.  In 1848 he moved to this county and bought a place three and one-half miles southeast of Linneus, on which he resided for five years.  He made several removals subsequent to this, and lived ten years of the time in Jackson township.  Finally, in 1863, he made a permanent location on the place where he now resides in Clay township.  It contains one hundred acres, and is situated in the north part of the township, five and one-half miles northwest of Linneus.  At the time of his first co ing to Linn, settlements were so sparse that Mr. Phillips could have named nearly every man in the county, at least those who were permanently located.  He was married in October, 1837, to Miss Lucy Connelly, daughter of Rice Connelly, of Kentucky, deceased.  His wife died in 1864, after leaving twelve children, ten of whom lived to be grown, and eight of whom still survive.  In politics, Mr. Phillips was formerly a Whig, but became a Democrat on the death of Whiggery, and has continued to act with them ever since.  He was defeated in 1854, for assessor, he running on the Whig ticket, and his successful opponent, J. E. Quick, on the Democratic ticket, but was prevented from filling the office by the adoption of the township organization.  He has served two terms as township assessor.  Though he enjoyed but limited school privileges in youth, Mr. Phillips have ever been a man of close observation, and a great reader.  His contact with men has developed his analytic powers, and given a maturity of judgment that better educated men might well envy.

 

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LEE B. PHILLIPS                                                                         Jackson Township, page 842

 

was born in Kentucky, June 22, 1840.  When but four years of age, he came with his father to Howard county, Missouri.  They remained there only one year, and then came to Linn county, locating in this township.  Here he was reared and educated, and has always followed the occupation of a farmer.  He now owns a well cultivated farm of four hundred and ten acres.

     Soon after the breaking out of the Rebellion, Mr. Phillips, in September, 1861, enlisted in the Confederate service, Missouri State Guards, and in March, 1862, he reenlisted in Company K., Second Missouri Infantry, and participated in the following battles:  Lexington, Missouri, Pea Ridge, Arkansas, Corinth, Mississippi, surrendered at Vicksburg, July 4, 1863, and was exchanged in February, 1864.  He then went to Dalton, and was in Shermans’ raid through Georgia, December 20. 1877.

     He was married to Miss Elizabeth J. Calhoun, a native of Linn county.  By this union, they have seven children: William, Walter, Charley, Peter, Ed, Floy, and Robert L.

 

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Transcribed, in total, by kkfitch © 2008.  All Rights Reserved.