Sullivan County PA Archives Biographies.....PHILLIPS, Maynard J. 1854 - living in 1899 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com June 29, 2005, 8:04 pm Author: Biographical Publishing Co. HON. MAYNARD J. PHILLIPS, ex-associate judge of Sullivan County, is a prominent and influential citizen of Davidson township, where he is engaged in agricultural pursuits on the old family estate. He was born July 14, 1854, and is a son of Griffith and Mary A. (Rogers) Phillips. Our subject's grandfather, Griffith Phillips, was born in the city of Philadelphia, Pa., in 1778, and was a son of David Phillips. He had three brothers, Daniel, John, and William, all of whom moved to Madison township, Columbia County, Pa. Griffith Phillips lived in Jerseytown, Columbia County, until twenty-one 3rears of age and then moved to Chester County, where he learned the trade of a blacksmith. Subsequently he moved to Danville and there followed his trade until 1809, when he went to Davidson township, Sullivan County, where he cleared a farm near Hemlock School and followed agricultural pursuits and his trade until his death. He married Mary Hughes, who was born near Danville, Pa., and they became the parents of eight children: John, born August 10, 1812, who lived on a farm near Sonestown at his death in October, 1893, and who married Susan Sones, who survives him; Rachael, deceased, born April 3, 1811, married Samuel Livergood, who operated a saw-mill in Hughesville and who served for three years in the Union Army under Maj. Bryan, dying in 1895; Hannah, born December 12, 1814, was the wife of John Robbins, deceased, who went west in 1860, locating in Iowa,—she too is now deceased and is survived by a large family of children; Evan H., born February 14, 1816, who lived on the old Spearman farm in Davidson township until he sold out to the Lancaster Lumber Company, when he moved to Franklin township, Lycoming County, and lived upon a farm until his death,—he was the first sheriff of Sullivan County, his wife was Mary Jane Laird; Thomas, who resides on a part of the old Phillips homestead, was born November 30, 1817, and married Hannah Low, who died in 1889; Mary, deceased, born May 15, 1819, was the wife of Alexander Colley, a farmer of Columbia County; Griffith, the father of our subject; and David, deceased, born May 19, 1822, married Elizabeth Taylor, who lives on the old Phillips homestead in Davidson township. Griffith Phillips, the father of the gentleman whose name heads this sketch, was born in Davidson township, December 6, 1820, and was reared to agricultural pursuits. He located upon the farm which our subject now possesses in 1863, but prior to that was engaged in the lumbering business. While living upon that farm he became convinced that there must be copper ore in the land and throughout his life-time searched in vain for it. As a farmer he was very successful. Politically he was a Democrat and served as a commissioner of Sullivan County and also as deputy sheriff under Evan H. Phillips, Esq., the first sheriff of the county. He was serving as commissioner when the first court-house of Sullivan County was under construction at Laporte. He was united in marriage with Mary A. Rogers, a native of Kingston township, Luzerne County, and they were the parents of seven children: David Wheeler, born April 13, 1853, died in infancy; Maynard Josiah; Hugh G., a farmer of Wolf township, Lycoming County, born October 1, 1856, who married Sarah Kahler; Willard I., born May 30, 1859, died September 13, 1863; Florence H., born April 11, 1861, is the wife of William J. Yocum of Benton township, Columbia County; McClellan A., born February 27, 1864, married Mattie L. Taylor, May 13, 1886, and she died December 1, 1886,—he now resides with our subject; and Hester A., born September 3, 1866, died November 4, 1886. Mrs. Phillips was sickly for many years and died of consumption, March 3, 1885. For several years prior to his death, November 4, 1886, Griffith Phillips was an invalid and resided with his son Maynard, where he received such treatment as only a loving son can bestow upon a worthy father. Maynard J. Phillips, being the eldest son, was at the age of twelve years obliged to leave school and assist his father upon the farm. When the father was stricken with palsy the great responsibility of looking after the family affairs was shifted to Maynard's young shoulders, but he did not falter under the weight. He set about his work with a grim determination that he would succeed and be a comfort to his parents in their declining years. His life was one of continuous labor on the farm and in the woods, but better times were in store for him. Although deprived of the privilege of attending the schools, he obtained an excellent practical education by private study and by contact with men of educational attainment whom he met in the business world. When quite young he sold school books and school supplies, which vocation he made a success that he has every reason to feel proud of, and at the present time, he is the representative of the American School Book Company of New York City. He now owns 123 acres of the old homestead, all well-improved land, and carries on general farming. On December 20, 1887, Mr. Phillips married Mary C. Pennington, who was born at Fairmont Springs, Luzerne County, Pa., March 7, 1862, and is a daughter of James N. and Elizabeth (Laubach) Pennington. Mr. Pennington is a farmer of Fairmont. Springs; his wife is now deceased. Our subject and his wife have three children: Murl G., born July 23, 1889; Mary V., born February 11, 1892; and Helen B., born July 23, 1895. Mr. Phillips always has been a firm supporter of the Democratic party, and in December, 1891, he was elected associate judge of Sullivan County, serving faithfully in that capacity until the expiration of his term; he has several times been chosen congressional and senatorial conferee from Sullivan County; he was elected school director in Davidson township for three consecutive terms, also has been elected delegate by the school directors of Sullivan County to the state convention of school directors, held at Harrisburg, Pa., and is at the present time secretary of the school board. Our subject is a gentleman of rare mental power, pleasant and honorable in his dealings, and is deservedly popular with all. During his eventful public career he has shown a spirit of enterprise and determination which is worthy of emulation, while his success is a credit and honor to both himself and his legion of friends. Socially, Mr. Phillips is a member of Sonestown Lodge, No. 221, I. O. O. F.; the Grand Lodge, I. O. O. F.; Washington Lodge, No. 265, F. & A. M. of Bloomsburg; and a member of the Farmer's Alliance. Religiously he and his worthy wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Muncy Valley and he has been superintendent of the Sunday School near his home for several years. A few years ago Mr. Phillips presented a lot to the congregation on which to erect a church and contributed liberally to the building fund and toward furnishing the church. Additional Comments: Extracted from: Book of Biographies of the Seventeenth Congressional District Published by Biographical Publishing Company of Chicago, Ill. and Buffalo, NY (1899) This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/pafiles/ File size: 7.6 Kb