Biographical Sketch of William Henry PHILLIPS (1904); Chester County, PA Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by John Morris . *********************************************************************** USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: Printing this file within by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites requires permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. We encourage links to the state and county table of contents. http://www.usgwarchives.net/ *********************************************************************** "Historical Homes and Institutions and Genealogical and Personal Memoirs of Chester and Delaware Counties, Pennsylvania", Vol. 2, edited by Gil- bert Cope and Henry Graham Ashmead, Lewis Publishing Company, New York, 1904, pp. 562-3. "WILLIAM H. PHILLIPS, of Kennett township, Chester county, Pennsylvania, who has been actively associated with various enterprises in that section of the state, was born in New Castle county, Delaware, March 21, 1842, the son of Harvey and Hannah (Taylor) Phillips. "Harvey Phillips, father of William H., was born in New Castle county, Delaware, in 1808, and acquired a common school education in his native Hundred and at Westtown Boarding School. Upon leaving school he turned his attention to farming, and after a few years engaged in the saw mill business in connection with his farming interests. During the later years of his active career he was also engaged in the milling business in Kennett township. He was cautious in business affairs, and possessed that untiring energy which is always associated with success. In politics he was for- merly a Whig, but later a Republican, and filled various offices in the county in which he lived. Mr. Phillips was twice married. The first wife was Hannah S., daughter of Anthony and Edith Taylor, born in Goshen town- ship, Chester county, Pennsylvania, 11 mo., 4, 1809. Her father was a farmer living near West Chester. The children born to Harvey Phillips by his first marriage were as follows: 1. Edith, who married Lewis Pusey and became the mother of six children; 2. Anthony, deceased; 3. Edwin, who died in childhood; 4. William H., already mentioned at the beginning of this sketch; 5. James, who died in early life. The mother of this family, Hannah (Taylor) Phillips, died 2 mo., 25, 1847, aged thirty-seven years, three months, and twenty-one days. The second wife of Harvey Phillips was Annie, daughter of Richard Bailey, a prosperous agriculturist of West Marlborough township. Their children are: 1. Mary, who married Joel Sharpless, and became the mother of five children; 2. Phoebe, who married Frederick Phillips and has three children; 3. Evan, unmarried; 4. Nellie, who is the wife of Charles Pennock, and the mother of three children; 5. Dr. Richard, who married Lydia Meredith and had one child, deceased; 6. Annie, twin sister of Carrie, wife of George Martin, and the mother of four children; 7. Caroline, twin sister of Annie, wife of George Bowman and mother of three children. Harvey Phillips died in February, 1876, in Kennett township. "William H., next to the youngest child of Harvey and Hannah (Taylor) Phillips, obtained his early education in the public schools of his neigh- borhood, and at the age of fourteen attended the Friends' School at West Chester. Afterward he was a student for two years at the Friends' School at Westtown and later he attended Wier's old West Chester Academy. Out- side of school he worked at home on the farm until he enlisted, at about the age of twenty-one, in the Forty-third Regiment, Pennsylvania State Militia, and for three months was in active service, under command of Colonel Stott. When he was discharged he returned home and engaged in the milling business with his brother-in-law, Lewis Pusey. He left the mill to take a position in the store of Robert L. Pyle at London Grove, and afterward entered into partnership with E. P. Green in the management of a mercantile business at Kennett Square. Later on he was for several years in the milling business. He then located in West Chester, and in association with Marshall S. Way & Brother conducted a coal and lumber trade. This partnership was continued a little over one year, when Mr. Phillips returned to Kennett. A few years after he leased Clifton Mills, in Kennett township, which he operated successfully up to 1887. In that year he purchased the old paper mill property near Kennett Square, in Kennett township, where, in connection with the mill, he has erected on this property modern and extensive greenhouses, raising carnations, mush- rooms and tomatoes, for which there is a constant and large demand in the nearby markets. He realizes a goodly income from this line of in- dustry. He is favorably known in business circles as a man of strict integrity, whose word is as good as his bond. Since attaining his major- ity he has been a supporter of the principles of the Republican party, and has filled with credit various offices in town and township. He is a member of the Masonic order and belongs to Kennett Lodge, No. 475. "William H. Phillips and Sarah J. Hicks were married February 11, 1869. Mrs. Phillips was a daughter of Elias and Annie (Scarlett) Hicks, the father being a farmer of London Grove township. Mr. and Mrs. Phillips are the parents of three children, namely: Harry, born August 2, 1873, who died August 26, 1874; Annie H., born August 29, 1875, who is the wife of Edward Ladley and the mother of one child, Helen Leone; Helen J., born December 31, 1883. The family are consistent members of the Society of Friends."