Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Phillips, Reuben W. 1885
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Ionia Sentinel, 25 Mar 1885

The subject of the following biographical sketch, the late Reuben W. Phillips, who
departed this life the 20th of March, 1895, was born the 15th of December, 1808 in
Plymouth, Grafton county, New Hampshire.  At the early and tender age of four years
he was thrown on the cold charities of the world and was cared for by an uncle, with
whom he removed to western New York, and lived in Perry, Wyoming county, until he
arrived at manhood’s estate.  At the age of 23 he was united in marriage to Huldah
Tripp, of the same place.  Ten children have been born to them; six of whom four
sons and two daughters and his wife survive him.  The names of the children living
are Walter S., of Ronald, Ionia county; Hiram W., of Brown county, Dakota; Curtis
H., of Saranac, Ionia county; George W., of Detroit, Mich., Mrs. J.M. Hathaway, of
Ionia city, and Mrs. Wm Forbes of Easton, Ionia County.

He remained in New York until the fall of 1839 when, with his wife and one son a
babe of eight months, he emigrated to what was then considered the far west,
arriving in Lyons, Ionia county, Mich., in September of 1839 and settled on a farm
two miles north and a half mile east of Muir.  He has been always earnestly and
actively identified with any enterprise that had for its object the material
development of this county.  Though often tendered positions of trust and
responsibility by his fellow townsmen he invariably declined, yet ever retained a
warm interest in whatever pertained to the religious, moral and political welfare of
the places where he lived.  In politics he was always a whig until that party
disbanded and then joined the republican party, casting his first republican vote
for Jno C. Fremont and his last for that incomparable leader, James G. Blaine.  He
united in his character indomitable perseverance, unquailing courage, active
industry and an exalted sense of honor in his dealings with all in business
relations.  He was a God fearing and zealous worker in the cause of the Master and
many could testify that their earliest religious impressions were due to his
faithful instructions in the Sabbath school.  In brief, the history of the moral and
religious development and progress in Lyons and North Plains and other places would
be his history.  Where are now the fertile farms and beautiful homes in North Plains
and Lyons townships he has often hunted the wild bear and deer.  Among the early
friends of his pioneer history mention might be made of Jay Olmsted sen., Silas
Crippen, Geo. W. Germain, Judge Hiram Brown, Hector Hayes, Geo. Case, Nehemiah
Charles, Major Mills, Gardner Chidester and others.  He lived honored and respected
among the friends – the tried and true friends – of a long and useful life and
passed to his reward at an advanced age.


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