Saint Joseph County MI Archives Biographies.....Phillips, Rev. Stephen November 7, 1821 - 
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Jan Cortez http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00020.html#0004939 March 18, 2007, 9:15 pm

Author: Chapman Brothers 

REV. STEPHEN PHILLIPS, a minister of the Methodist Protestant Church, is a 
gentleman fond also of agricultural pursuits and the quietness of country 
life, and has chosen for his home, a pleasant farm which is located on section 
32, Nottawa Township.  A native of Lycoming County, Pa., he was born Nov. 7, 
1821, and is the son of David Phillips, a native of Danville, that State.  The 
mother, Mrs. Nancy (Shaner) Phillips, is supposed also to have been a native 
of Pennsylvania, and was of German ancestry.  This branch of the Phillips 
family traces its descent to Wales.

The parents of our subject after their marriage lived in Lycoming County until 
after the death of the mother, which occurred about 1860.  The father finally 
came to this county and made his home with his son, our subject, until his 
death, which occurred in 1873.  The parental household included twelve 
children, of whom our subject was the eldest son, and the fourth in order of 
birth.  His boyhood and youth were spent at the farm in the Keystone State, 
and when eighteen years old he purchased land in the northwestern part of 
Lycoming County, where he cleared a farm and lived until 1864.

In the fall of the year above mentioned Mr. Phillips came to this county with 
his wife and eleven children, settling at once in Nottawa Township, of which 
he has since been a resident.  He had always been observant and thoughful from 
his youth up, with always a leaning toward the ministry, and while living on 
his farm in Lycoming County, having developed more than ordinary capabilities 
as a speaker and worker in the Master's Vineyard, he was licensed to preach, 
and was ordained a Deacon in the Methodist Episcopal Church by the late 
lamented Bishop Ames.

Upon coming to this county Mr. Phillips changed his church relationship and 
identified himself with the Methodist Protestants.  For seventeen years 
thereafter he was connected with the LaGrange circuit of Indiana.  For a 
period of six years he belonged to the Newburg circuit in Cass County, and one 
year was in the Poster circuit in Van Buren County.  Thence he went to 
Charlotte, Mich., where he was stationed two years, and thereafter belonged to 
the circuits of Union, Hillsdale, North Jackson, Dimondale and Eaton.  He then 
took up the work of an evangelist, laboring in this field for one year.

In the fall of 188 Mr. Phillips was appointed a home missonary in the Northern 
Indiana and West Michigan Conference.  He had been married in Lycoming County, 
Pa., April 2, 1842, to Miss Sarah Callahan, who was born there in August, 
1823.  Mrs. Phillips is the daughter of Dennis and Jane Callahan, who were 
natives of Pennsylvania, and are now deceased.  The parental family included 
twelve children.

To our subject and his estimable wife there have been born seventeen children, 
twelve of whom lived to mature years, the others dying in infancy.  The 
survivors were named respectively:  Martha J., Ellen M., Henry B., Daniel M., 
Stephen D., David M., Mary A., Dennis L., John S., Elmer E., Hillindia M. and 
Will T.  Ellen M. and David are since deceased.

Mr. Phillips owns eighty-two acres of good land, most of which is in a 
productive condition and has convenient and tasteful farm buildings.  His 
record has been distinguished by a large-hearted benevolence which has 
inspired him in his church labors to work long and late, sometimes without 
other compensation than the conscientiousness of having done his duty.  He is 
a clear and forcible speaker, convincing in argument, and his earnest manner 
seldom fails to impress his hearers with the truth of his utterances.  He and 
his estimable wife count their friends by the score in this county, and their 
home is the frequent resort of its best people.  He has reared his children in 
that manner which will make of them good and useful citizens, and his record 
altogether is one of which his children wil never be ashamed.

Additional Comments:
Transcribed from the Portrait & Biographical Album of St. Joseph Co. Chapman 
Brothers 1889

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