My Genealogy Hound

William Phillips was born in McMinn County, Tenn., in 1836, and is a son of Robert and Nancy Phillips, who were born in Tennessee, and were of Dutch and Irish descent. They moved to Laclede County, Mo., in 1849, and entered 160 acres of land on Brush Creek, afterward purchasing 100 acres of land on Osage Fork of the Gasconade River. Here they were engaged in farming until 1857, when they went to Jefferson County, Ill., and after farming for some time the father engaged in the mercantile business, and died in 1873. Eleven children were born to their union, William Phillips being their eighth child. He was reared and educated in Tennessee and Missouri, and in January, 1861, was married to Nancy J. Hemphill, of North Carolina, a daughter of Alfred and Maria Hemphill, who were natives of North Carolina, where the father died. The mother is now residing in Missouri. To Mr. and Mrs. Phillips six children have been born, only two of whom are living: Nancy, wife of Philip Owens, and James Monroe, who resides with his parents. The family attend the Baptist Church, and Mr. Phillips is a member of the Agricultural Wheel, and in his political views is a Democrat. His first purchase of land was eighty acres where he now lives.