My Genealogy Hound

FRANK D. PHILLIPS, the original of this notice, is a descendant of old Revolutionary stock, his great-grandfather having served over six years in the struggle for independence. The latter was a native of the Empire State, where he married, and where he reared three of the four children born to this union, viz.: Peter, our subject’s grandfather; Eva, wife of Jonathan Pulver; and Catherine, wife of Fullerton Carr. His son Peter first saw the light of day in Herkimer County, N. Y., in 1791, and his early life was passed in assisting on the farm and in learning the shoemaker’s trade, at which he served an apprenticeship of six years. This trade he followed at different times throughout his entire life.

After serving his apprenticeship, young Peter went on the Hudson River as a sailor, and after following this for several years, was married to Miss Kate Muckey. Shortly after this he left the river and bought farms in different counties of New York, but was never contented to follow agricultural pursuits as a livelihood, much preferring to follow his trade. He was also quite fond of travel. His death occurred in Livingston County, N. Y., in 1854. The eight children born to his marriage are in the order of their births as follows: John; Abraham, a soldier in the Mexican War; Richard, our subject’s father; Jacob; Caroline, wife of Jonathan Britten; Mary, wife of Michael Clapper; Catherine, wife of Ephraim Kidder; and Jane, wife of David Lowe. The father of these children was reared in the Old-School Presbyterian Church.

Richard Phillips, the father of our subject, was born in New York State January 6, 1822, and when sixteen years of age began the struggle of life for himself. For two years he worked on the farm, after which he began learning the blacksmith trade, but after following this for two or three years, dropped it, losing most of the wages thus earned. He then returned to the farm and shortly afterward married Miss Sarah McGivney, daughter of Melvina McGivney. For four or five years after this he was in the village of Mt. Morris, and in connection with teaming was engaged in farming on rented land. In 1854, after the death of his father, he moved to Michigan, and for a short time was a resident of Lenawee County. From there he moved to Allen County, Ind., and was engaged in carrying on a rented farm for about four years. Cass County was his next objective point, but after renting land there for one year, he moved to Van Buren County, Mich., where he resided until the spring of 1866. He then returned to Cass County, and bought two hundred and forty acres of partly improved land where our subject now resides, and turned his attention to farming and improving his land.

The six children born to his marriage were in the order of their births, as follows: Mary, who is the wife of John, McAlpine; Eugene, William Millard, Frank and Charles. Mr. Phillips united with the Methodist Episcopal Church. In politics, he was formerly a Whig and Republican until the assassination of President Lincoln, after which he became a strong Democrat. He was accidentally drowned, falling through a bridge near his home March 25, 1893. In his death the county lost a worthy and honored citizen, and his children a kind and loving father.

Frank D. Phillips, the original of this notice, was born in Cass County, Mich., in 1859, and secured a good practical education in the district school. His youthful days were spent in assisting his father on the farm, and in 1882 he was married to Miss Mary E. Jessup, a native of Ohio, as were also her parents, Enoch and Isabel (Godfrey) Jessup. Mr. and Mrs. Jessup came to Cass County, Mich., in 1859, and became prominent citizens of this county. After his marriage Mr. Phillips was on his father’s farm for a short time and then went to La Grange Township, this county, where he remained for one year. After that he bought a farm near his father’s, eighty acres, and two years later returned to the home place, which he has carried on since. He and his three brothers own three hundred and twenty acres besides the interest in the home place, and he is a wide-awake, enterprising young farmer. He is engaged in general farming, and is thorough and practical in all his operations. To his marriage has been born one child, a son, Waldo E. Socially, Mr. Phillips takes an active part in the Patrons of Industry and the Alliance, and was the first county President of the latter. Since then he has been an active worker in the order. In politics, he is independent and a Prohibitionist.