Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 776 - 777 

C.A. PHILLIP, the agent for the Merchants' Despatch Transportation Company, has a pleasant office at No. 321 West Douglas avenue, Wichita. He is a native of Columbia County, N. Y., born in 1840. His earlier life was spent in acquiring an education that should in after life fit him for any responsible position that he might be called upon to occupy. After leaving the district schools he pursued a thorough course of study at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, of Rensselaer County, N. Y. Soon after this intelligent young man secured a position in a hollowware manufactory as bookkeeper for the company, holding that position two years.

            Wishing for higher pecuniary profits our subject next went to Catskill, in the same State, where he remained the succeeding two years, engaged in buying and shipping flagging stone to New York City. That business, though remunerative, did not quite satisfy him. Mr. Phillip then resolved to see more of the country, hoping to find a place and a position that would meet his requirements. Accordingly he left New York, and traveling westward, crossed the Mississippi River, and made his way to Chillicothe, Mo., where he entered into a mercantile engagement. Two years later we hear of him in St. Catharine, in the same State, buying, selling and shipping tobacco leaf, and there he remained until 1870. At that time our subject determined to establish himself in some place where he might make a home. Going to Carthage, a town in Missouri, he bought land and on it built a house, but having heard of the Wichita boom, which was then exciting interest, he at once rented his house and started with a team for this city, arriving here in October of that year. Two months afterward he went to Sumner County and assisted in its organization, being soon appointed County Clerk by Gov. Harvey. In 1871 he returned to Wichita, and became one of the firm of Martin, Phillip & Co., real-estate agents, continuing in that business little more than a year.

            In 1872 Mr. Phillip was elected City Treasurer, and for two years filled that office satisfactorily; the following year he occupied a similar position among the officers of the County Board. In the meantime he had bought city property, and from 1876 to 1878 he lived on a tract of land north of Wichita, which he had previously purchased, but in 1879, having taken charge of the elevator of N. A. English, he returned to the city. The next year our subject engaged in the forwarding and commission business, relinquishing it in 1881 to accept a position with the Wells Fargo Express Company, opening their present office. He was also agent for the Adams Express from Nov. 1, 1882, until July 1, 1887, acting jointly for the two companies. He faithfully and ably discharged the arduous duties of his responsible position to the entire satisfaction of his employers, who placed the fullest confidence in his unswerving integrity, and by his genial and courteous manners he became quite popular with the public. Dec. 1, 1887, he engaged with the Merchants' Despatch Transportation Company.

            The father of our subject was Peter G. Phillip, a native of New York. He was a carpet manufacturer, and with his father, James Phillip, also native of New York, owned three factories. He continued in that business until his death in 1847. The maiden name of his wife was Eleanor Abeel, a native of New York, and a daughter of Davis G. and Nella (Goetchivs) Abeel, both natives of New York State. Her father was a Colonel in the army during the War of 1812. She is now living in Wichita with the subject of this notice, who is the only child that was born to her and her husband.

            Mr. Philip, of this sketch, was married, in 1879, to Miss Rebecca Duff, of Illinois. She is a well educated and most estimable lady, who, after teaching a short time in her native State, came to Wichita, and pursued the same occupation until 1878, when she accepted a position as teacher in an Indian school in Darlington, Indian Territory, having been employed by the Government. In 1879 she resigned, in order to accept her present honored position as the presiding genius of our subject's hospitable home at No. 1905 North Market street. Their union has been blessed by the birth of two children -- George D. and Frank B. Politically, Mr. Philip is a strong Democrat, and socially, he is a member of the Masonic fraternity.

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