Biography of J. D. Phillips - Craighead Co, AR

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Submitted by: Unknown < >
        Date: 26 Sep 1998
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SOURCE: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northeast Arkansas.
Goodspeed Publishers, 1889.

page 352

J. D. Phillips was born in Pike County, Ga., December 1, 1828,
and is a son of Thomas G. and Mary L. (Sessions) Phillips, both natives
of South Carolina. They made their residence in Georgia, where the father
died in 1867. The mother's death occurred in 1868, while on her way to
this State. They had twelve children, six of whom are living, but only
one, the subject of this sketch, in this State. James D. was reared on a
farm until fifteen years of age, when he learned the machinist's trade at
Savannah, Ga., and after nine or ten months engaged in the saw and
gristmill business in Georgia, Tennessee and Kentucky. He came to
Craighead County, Ark., in March of 1861, and followed blacksmithing
until 1871. He went to Phillips County, where he remained but two years,
and then returned to Craighead, and has since then been engaged in
farming, at which he has been very successful. He has been an extensive
land holder in both this and Poinsett Counties, and at present owns a
farm of 320 acres, forty of which are under cultivation. He operated the
first saw-mill in Craighead County, thus introducing one of the leading
industries, and is one of the oldest and most experienced mill men in the
county. He was married, September 9, 1852, at Chattanooga, Tenn., to
Sarah A. McLemore, a [p.352] native of East Tennessee. Their union has
been blessed with nine children: Josephine, Thomas, James A. (was married
to Melinda McCarty), Henry C., Mary and Alonzo, all deceased, and Eliza
Virginia, Vestie A. and William R. Mrs. Phillips and two daughters are
members of the Christian Valley Church. Mr. Phillips is a member of the
Masonic fraternity, and is greatly interested in religions and
educational matters. He belongs to the Agricultural Wheel, and was among
the first and is one of the most prominent Wheelers in the county.