Thomas E. Phillips Biogrpahy


	This biography appears on pages 1828-1830 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. II (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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	THOMAS E. PHILLIPS was born in Millersburg, Holmes county, Ohio, 
on the 3d of June, 1840, being a son of John D. and Hester (Crane) 
Phillips, both of whom were born and reared in Pennsylvania. The former 
was born in Washington county, as was also his father, John Phillips, 
who there devoted his life to farming, the family having been 
established in the Keystone state in the early pioneer era. The parents 
of the subject were married in Pennsylvania, whence they later removed 
to Holmes county, Ohio, where the father became a prominent and 
successful farmer and a man of influence in the community, having held 
various county offices and having been known as a public-spirited and 
upright citizen. In his family were eight children, of whom four are 
living at the present time.

	Thomas E. Phillips passed his boyhood days on the homestead farm 
and after completing the curriculum of the common schools continued his 
studies in Hayesville College, at Hayesville, Ohio, until the outbreak 
of the war of the Rebellion, when he subordinated personal interests to 
respond to his country's call. In September, 1861, Mr. Phillips 
enlisted as a private in Company B, Sixteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. 
He was mustered in at Wooster and thence proceeded with his command to 
Camp Dennison, and thence to Lexington, Kentucky, where the regiment 
was encamped for some time. The command had an engagement at Mill 
Springs and then proceeded onward by way of Crab Orchard to Cumberland 
Gap, where they remained until September, 1862, when they were 
compelled to evacuate, owing to shortage of provisions. They retreated 
to Gallipolis, on the Ohio river, and thence went to Portsmouth, where 
they outfitted and then took the transport boat down the river to 
Memphis, under command of General Sherman. From Memphis they went to 
Haines Bluff, where they had a heavy engagement and were repulsed, 
after which they proceeded up the Mississippi and Red rivers to 
Arkansas Post, which they attacked and reduced. In the engagement at 
Haines Bluff Mr. Phillips received a severe wound in the right shoulder 
and was sent back to Ohio, where, after his convalescence, he received 
his honorable discharge, at Columbus, in September, 1863. Shortly 
afterward he went to Grand Haven, Michigan, and thence crossed Lake 
Michigan to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, from which point he went to LaCrosse 
and thence up the Mississippi river to St. Paul, Minnesota, where he 
tarried a few months. He then proceeded by stage to Fort Dodge, Iowa, 
and thence westward to Sioux City, that state, where he arrived in 
October, 1864. From that place, then a mere village, he came with a 
freighting outfit, owned by Charles Bogue, to the confluence of Crow 
and Choteau creeks, in what is now Bon Homme county, South Dakota. At 
that time a small military garrison was established at what is now 
known as Tacket's Station, and when our subject's party had approached 
within half a mile of the west branch of Choteau creek a man came 
running bareheaded, from the direction in which they were going, and 
shouted the word Indians as he approached. Upon reaching the outfit he 
stated that the savages had attacked the stage coach of which he was 
driver, among the passengers being Sergeant Trass and Eugene Brewer, a 
half-breed Indian. The coach was attacked by four Sioux Indians, who 
fired into the vehicle and killed Sergeant Trass, after which they 
"held up" the others and robbed the coach, after which they cut the 
horses loose and made good their escape. Word was sent to the soldiers, 
but owing to the condition of their horses they were unable to go in 
pursuit of the marauders. The driver, whose name was Stephen Coleman, 
was residing in Sioux city, Iowa, as late as 1902, and is probably 
there at the present time. After learning of this experience Mr. 
Phillips' party returned to Fort Randall and thence back to Crow creek, 
arriving late at night. From that point they continued the journey back 
to Sioux City, and a few days later Mr. Phillips went to Calliope, now 
Hawarden, on the Sioux river in Iowa, where he passed the winter, while 
in the spring he went out on a trapping expedition with George 
Christie, on the Rock river, remaining a few months and meeting with 
success. In the meanwhile Christie returned to Calliope for provisions 
and found the place deserted, and it transpired that two of the party 
who had been there had been killed by Indians, after which the other 
departed. Mr. Phillips finally returned by way of Calliope to Sioux 
City, and during the trip he and his companions several times narrowly 
escaped attack by the Indians. In October, 1865, in company with four 
others, he made another trapping expedition, being out about a month 
and returning to what was known as the Twelve-mile house at the time of 
Burleigh's election to congress. Later the same party went up the Big 
Sioux river to Dell Rapids, where were found evidence of recent 
visitations by the Indians, and accordingly the sturdy little band of 
trappers, believing discretion the better part of valor, returned to 
Sioux City, and there our subject was engaged in various lines of 
business until 1875, when he started for the Black Hills, being a 
member of a party of forty men. They crossed over to the government 
trail, proceeding from Fort Randail to the Red Crow Indian agency, but 
upon crossing the White river for the second time they encountered a 
company of soldiers under command of Major Walker, who compelled them 
to turn back, as the government had issued strict orders that no one 
should enter the Black Hills district for settlement or prospecting. In 
the spring of 1876, having received permission from Major Walker, Mr. 
Phillips organized another party, the outfit consisting of one hundred 
and sixty men and forty-one wagons. they started for the Black Hills, 
crossing the Missouri at Ponca agency, and thence proceeding by way of 
Turtle Butte to Porcupine Butte, from which point they made ready to 
cross the dreary waste known as the Bad Lands. As a preliminary 
precaution they sent forth scouts, who finally returned and reported 
that Indians were in evidence all along the route. The company decided 
to take the risk, however, but spared no pains to protect themselves 
from attack, twenty men being sent out as flankers. They were not 
molested the first day and upon camping for the night established heavy 
guards. In the morning they found two Indian blankets, which had been 
left by savages who had evidently attempted to slip in and stampede the 
horses during the night. It was evident from that time forward that the 
Indians followed closely upon their trail, but the numerical strength 
of the party was such that they were not attacked, arriving safely in 
Custer on the 10th of April of the centennial year. There Mr. Phillips 
remained until July, engaged in placer mining, and then returned to 
Sioux City by way of Fort Pierre, making the trip on a flatboat. Near 
the mouth of the White river the Indians fired at the party but no 
damage was done. Mr. Phillips continued his residence in Sioux City 
until 1879, and then passed a few months in Colorado. In 1880 he 
removed with his family to Deadwood, South Dakota, where he remained 
about six months, at the expiration of which he came to Fort Pierre, 
where he has ever since maintained his home. Here he engaged in the 
furniture business and later became prominently identified with the 
raising of sheep, his ranch being located near the White Clay buttes, 
and with this great industry he has ever since been prominently 
concerned, running a large band of sheep and having been prospered in 
his efforts. He is honored for his sterling integrity of character, and 
is a fine type of the sturdy frontiersman, while it could be wished 
that the limits of this work were not so circumscribed by the 
necessities of the case that it is impossible to enter details 
concerning his many interesting experiences in the early days. In 
politics Mr. Phillips is a stalwart Republican, but has never been an 
aspirant for public office.

	On the 27th of December, 1865, Mr. Phillips was united in 
marriage to Miss Rachel DuFran, of Sioux City, Iowa, and they have six 
children, John, Annie, Thomas, Lulu, Minnie and Maud.