Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 572 - 573 

EDWARD PHILLIPS, an enterprising merchant of Greenwich Village, carries on business in lumber, stoves and general hardware. He is also the owner of a quarter-section of land on section 15, in close proximity to the village site. He was born in Jefferson County, N. Y., Jan. 3, 1831.

            John Phillips, the father of our subject, was a native of New Haven, Conn., born in 1806, and while yet a boy removed with his parents to Jefferson County, N. Y. There he was reared to manhood a farmer, which business he followed all his life. Early in life he married Miss Sarah McCombs, and settled down to agricultural life in the Empire State. In 1865 he removed to Illinois, and locating in Livingston County, purchased a farm and resided there for ten years. At the expiration of that time he returned to New York State and lived with a son until 1883, when he came to Kansas and took up his residence with the subject of our sketch. He has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and of the Republican party for many years. His wife was born in Herkimer County, N. Y., Feb. 29, 1808. She was the mother of twelve children, ten boys and two girls. One daughter, Cordelia, has passed to her rest. The others were as follows: George W., John C., Edward and Egbert (twins), Gustavus C., William D., Lewis F., Tyler D., Phineas F., Jasper W. and Sarah.

            The subject of this sketch was reared upon his father's farm in the State of New York, and received his education in the district schools of that locality. He remained at home assisting in the labors attendant upon agricultural life until Sept. 25, 1853, when he was united in marriage with Miss Maria L. Skinner, when he started out to battle with the world for himself. They remained in his native State until June, 1855, and then moved to Port Huron, Mich., where he was engaged at shingle-making until September, 1860. From that place they moved to Chilton, Calumet Co., Wis., where Mr. Phillips purchased a tract of 160 acres of land, which was all covered with heavy timber, paying for it some $6 an acre. Being a man of indomitable energy and sturdy frame, he began at once the work of clearing it off, and without any help whatsoever chopped the timber off over seventy-five acres of it, clearing it entirely up. After making a farm out of this which he found a wilderness, he settled down for a few years to farm life. In 1875 it entered into his mind that Kansas was a better country for him than Wisconsin, and accordingly, taking Wichita as a guiding star, started for this State. He arrived in Sedgwick County and located on forty acres of land near the above city, where he resided some years, but selling that place he purchased the one which he now owns, and to which he moved in 1884. Having completed a dwelling in the town in 1887, he came to the village of Greenwich, where he is now a resident.

            During the great Rebellion, the subject of this sketch with patriotic ardor enlisted in Company E, 21st Wisconsin Infantry, and participated with that regiment in most of the marches, campaigns and battles of the Southwest. He was in the engagements at Perryville, Stone River, the sanguinary contest at Chickamauga, where "all the air seemed conflicting fire," at Resaca, and at Dallas, and received a severe wound while on the skirmish line in the latter contest. He served well and valiantly, and was mustered out and honorably discharged on the 9th of June, 1865. His brother Tyler was a member of the 36th Wisconsin Infantry, and William having enlisted in the 10th New York Heavy Artillery, lost a leg at the charge into the crater at Petersburg, Va.

            Mr. Phillips is a stanch Republican in political faith, and adheres closely to the doctrines of that organization. He has filled the offices of Justice of the Peace and School Director for many years, although he has few aspirations for political office. He is a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and takes great interest in the religious life of the community. His estimable wife is a native of Woodstock, Vt., born Aug. 16, 1833, and is the daughter of Amasa and Hannah (Piper) Skinner, the latter of whom were also natives of the Green Mountain State. She is the mother of one son, Edward A., who was born in Jefferson County, N. Y., Dec. 2, 1854, and who is a partner in business with his father. He married Anna Thomas, in August, 1885, and is a resident of the village. Mrs. Phillips, the wife of our subject, draws her religious consolation from the same noble fount as her husband, and enters hearily into all his plans for religious advancement.

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