Lewis F. Phillips

Regions: Chenango Co., NY; Walworth Co., WI

From History of Walworth County Wisconsin by Albert Clayton Beckwith, Vol. II, Publ. 1912 - Page 1024-1025 LEWIS F. PHILLIPS. Individual enterprise which is so justly the boast of the American people is strongly exhibited in the career of Lewis F. PHILLIPS, of Walworth. While transmitting to posterity the record of such a life, it is with the hope of instilling into the minds of those who come after the important lesson that honor and station are such rewards of individual exertion. Mr. PHILLIPS was born at Hebron, Illinois, June 23, 1862. He is a son of Volney B. and Melissa (GATES) PHILLIPS. The father was the son of Otis and Olive PHILLIPS and was born in Plymouth, Chenango county, New York, January 25, 1825. In 1836 he moved to Thorn Grove, south of Chicago, with his parents and in 1845 the family moved to Bloomfield, this county, where the father of the subject lived until 1875, when he located in Walworth. He and Melissa GATES were married in 1852 at Bristol, Illinois. He was active in church work, contributing liberally to the support of the church, and he was a man of fine character, highly respected by all. Lewis F. PHILLIPS, of this sketch, lived near Hebron, Illinois, until he was about twelve years old, when he moved to the farm with the family, which place the father purchased at these south edge of the village of Walworth, and which contained about one hundred and fifth-five acres. Here the father spent the rest of his life and here the family became well established, this still being the home of the subject. Five children were born to Volney B. PHILLIPS and wife, named as follows: The first, a son, died in infancy; DeEtta died when nine years old; Lewis F., of this review; Nellie D. married Willis W. BROWNE and lives at Lagrange, Illinois; Arbin V. died when about fourteen month sold. The father of these children continued farming all his active life. When incapacitated by old age, his son Lewis F. did the work. The father lived to be over eighty years old, his death occurring on January 29, 1905. He was very successful as a general farmer and he was also engaged in cheese making, at one time owning five factories, one at Walworth; Hebron, Illinois; another south of that place, and at Milton and Johnstown, Wisconsin. He and his wife belonged to the Methodist Episcopal church, to which he was a liberal donator. His widow is now living with her daughter, Mrs. BROWNE, at Lagrange, Illinois. Lewis F. PHILLIPS grew up on the farm at Walworth and there attended the academy. He began life in a business way by engaging in cheese making in his father's factories and followed that for four or five years, then turned his attention to farming, and he has been very successful as a general farmer and stock raiser and has kept the old farm well improved and under a fine state of cultivation. The wife of Mr. PHILLIPS was known in her maidenhood as Ida Adella SPRINGER. Lewis F. PHILLIPS has an adopted daughter, Daisy Josephine PHILLIPS, who lives at home. One son, Roy Byron PHILLIPS, is farming with his father and living on the homestead. He is making a specialty of raising fine poultry, very pure bred White Rocks and Buff Wyandottes, which have been frequent prize winners at exhibitions in Wisconsin and Illinois. He sells his eggs for fancy prices in various sections of the United States. Roy Byron PHILLIPS married Grace WRIGHT, daughter of Heman G. and Alice (HORNBECK) WRIGHT, and they have three children, Russell L., Ruth A. and Ralph B. Mr. PHILLIPS is a member of the Congregational church, and fraternally he belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Modern Woodmen and the Equitable Fraternal Union. Submitted by Carol