My Genealogy Hound

Rufus Phillips, one of the leading citizens of Union Township, Laclede Co., Mo., was born in Cheshire County, N. H., March 7, 1822, and is a son of Reuben and Rebecca (Foster) Phillips. The ancestors of our subject were among the first families who came from England to this country, in 1620 or 1622, and it was a member of this family who was the first mayor of Boston. Reuben Phillips was born in Worcester County, Mass., March 24, 1788, and was the son of Gideon Phillips, who was born in Phillipston, Worcester Co., Mass., November 7, 1763. The latter served five years in the American army; was commissioned lieutenant; participated in the battles of Brandywine, Bunker Hill, Monmouth and others, surrendering at Yorktown, having been slightly wounded several times. Joshua Phillips, father of Gideon, was also a native of Phillipston, Mass., which place took its name from this family. Rufus Phillips, a son of Gideon Phillips, was killed on Lake Champlain during the War of 1812. Richard Phillips, brother of Gideon, was in the American navy during the Revolution, and was taken prisoner and carried to Dover, England, where he was kept for about three years. Pain Phillips, Gideon’s twin brother, was also a Revolutionary soldier for five years. Reuben Phillips, father of our subject, was a member of the Legislature several sessions, and died in Keene, Cheshire Co., N. H., in September, 1861. Rebecca (Foster) Phillips was born in Massachusetts May 16, 1798, and died in New Hampshire June 18, 1842. She was a daughter of Enoch and Rebecca Foster, the former of whom served as lieutenant in the United States army during the Revolution, participating in many battles. Reuben and Rebecca Phillips were members of the Congregational Church. To their union were born six sons and four daughters, all of whom grew to maturity: Joseph S. enlisted in the Federal army in the late Civil War, and received a wound at Helena which caused his death; Washington is now living at Nelson, N. H., engaged in farming; he was also in the Federal army; Simeon W. (deceased) served in the Confederate army during the late war; Reuben M. was a resident of New Hampshire, but was lost in the wreck of Burnsides during the war; A. J. was a resident of Laclede County, Mo., and lost his life while in the Confederate service, at Linn Creek; Rufus. subject of this sketch; Eliza A. Pond (deceased); Lestina A. Beal (deceased); Mary S., widow of William Towns, resides in New Hampshire, and Caroline E. Wilbur died in Michigan. In 1843, at the age of twenty-one years, Rufus Phillips graduated at the Hancock Academy, Hillsborough County, N. H., and the following three years he engaged in school teaching. He then went to Philadelphia, where he enlisted in the First United States Dragoons, Company H, Taylor’s division, and served eighteen months, when he was mustered out at Fort Gibson, and subsequently went to Laclede County, Mo., where he again turned his attention to teaching school for several years. He afterward embarked in farming and stock-raising, and was appointed commissioner to locate swamp lands in Laclede, Wright, Barton, Webster and other counties, and assisted in laying out the town of Lamar, Barton County. He built the first steam mill in Laclede County, at Phillipsburgh, served as the first surveyor of Laclede County, and was its second representative. In 1861 he organized Company F of the Missouri State Guard, of which he was made captain; he was wounded and taken prisoner at Springfield, held fourteen months in Illinois and exchanged at Vicksburg, after which he remained in the Confederate service until the close of the war. March 4, 1851, Rufus Phillips married Rebecca J. Anderson, who was born in Laclede County, Mo., March 20, 1828, and was a daughter of Jacob Anderson, who was born in North Carolina, and was one of the earliest settlers of Laclede County. Mrs. Phillips died September 8, 1877, the mother of six sons and three daughters, five of whom are living, viz.: Heseltine A., wife of William C. Howell, of Miller County, Mo.; Reuben T., a minister of Tyler City, Smith Co., Tex.; Andrew D., a farmer of Laclede County, Mo.; Rufus S., a school-teacher of Laclede County; Maggie E., at home. Those deceased were Isaac N., Parker Duff, and Celestine, a twin of Heseltine. July 3, 1878, Mr. Phillips married Phoebe Harris, a native of Webster County, Mo., born November 27, 1846, and a daughter of John D. Harris. Of the five children born to this union four are living, viz.: John G., Lucy Arminta, William E. and Charles J. The parents are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Phillips is a Royal Arch Mason, and a Democrat.