Kirk Gunby Phillips Biography


	This biography appears on pages 665-666 in "History of Dakota Territory" 
	by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. IV (1915) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				HON. KIRK GUNBY PHILLIPS.

	Hon. Kirk Gunby Phillips, deceased, was one of the pioneer 
settlers of the Black Hills and took an active and helpful part in 
promoting its substantial development and improve meet, so that his 
history has become an integral chapter in the record of that section of 
the state. A native of Maryland, he was born in Wicomico county, 
November 25, 1851, a son of Levin and Mary (Gunby) Phillips, who were 
also natives of Maryland. The mother died in the year 1857 and the 
father survived until 1863. He was an extensive landowner and farmer 
and to his business interests devoted his entire attention, never 
caring for public office. He was twice married and by the first union 
had one child, while five were born of the second marriage. 

	Kirk G. Phillips was the third child and at the place of his 
nativity in Maryland he attended the public schools. He went alone to 
Montana in 1867, when a youth of but sixteen years, traveling overland 
from Omaha and settling near Helena, where he engaged in mining on his 
own account and in the employ of others. In 1876 he removed to 
Deadwood, journeying by stage to Ogden, thence by rail to Sidney and on 
by stage to the Black Hills, where he arrived in 1876. Establishing his 
home in Deadwood, he engaged in the drug business for a short time, 
after which he obtained a contract for building the Boulder ditch. When 
he had completed the contract he again engaged in the drug business, in 
which he continued throughout the remainder of his life, being one of 
the well known, enterprising and representative merchants of his city. 
About 1900 he extended the scope of his activities to include the sale 
of mining and milling supplies. His business was conducted along both 
retail and wholesale lines and a liberal patronage was accorded him. He 
was also a large stockholder and director of the mine known as Wasp No. 
2 and was connected with various other mining projects and enterprises. 
He was also a landowner and had considerable city realty. His 
investments were judiciously made and success attended his 
intelligently directed efforts and crowned his industry and 
determination with prosperity. 

	On the 30th of June, 1887, Mr. Phillips was united in marriage to 
Miss Annie I. Cooper, who was born near Morristown, New Jersey. In 1913 
she was called upon to mourn the loss of her husband, who passed away 
on the 7th of August of that year. Since his death she has continued 
the drug business as before and also managed the other interests and 
investments left her. 

	Mr. Phillips was well known in Masonic circles, holding 
membership in Deadwood Lodge, No. 7, F. & A. M.; Royal Arch Chapter; 
Dakota Commandery, No 1, K. T.; Deadwood Consistory, S. P. R. S.; and 
Naja Temple of the Mystic Shrine. He was also connected with the 
Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and the Ancient Order of United 
Workmen and in religious faith was an Episcopalian. Mr. Phillips gave 
his political allegiance to the republican party, being one of its most 
stalwart supporters, and on several occasions he was called to public 
office. He was the first mayor of Deadwood after the granting of the 
city charter and filled that position for two years. He was also county 
treasurer for six years and then higher honors were conferred upon him 
in his election to the office of state treasurer, in which he served 
for four years. Mr. Phillips entered upon the duties of this office 
under the most trying circumstances. The treasury had been swept clean 
by his predecessor and warrants were selling at ninety cents on the 
dollar. Within thirty days, so strong was his personal credit and the 
faith the moneyed men had in him, he raised three hundred and twenty-
five thousand dollars and sent the money changers and usurers flying to 
their holes His subsequent administration of the financial affairs of 
the state was a source of pride to every citizen. He immediately made 
good a loss of twenty-five thousand, five hundred and forty-five 
dollars of the state funds sustained by the failure of the Dakota 
National Bank of Sioux Falls, borrowing the money at a high rate of 
interest on his own personal security. And two months later, when 
Governor Lee demanded that the state's money be brought to Pierre in 
actual cash for the legislature to count, Mr. Phillips complied and at 
a heavy personal expense expressed to Pierre every dollar of the 
state's cash. In 1898 he was his party's candidate for governor but the 
fever heat of populism was yet too hot in the land and he was defeated 
by the small majority of three hundred and eighty-five votes. Probably 
no state ever elected a governor by so small a majority. Realizing his 
strength, the whole force of the campaign by the opposition had been 
waged against him. His opinions long carried weight in the councils of 
his party and none questioned his devotion to the best interests of the 
state. Nature qualified him for leadership. He never regarded lightly 
the duties and obligations which devolved upon him but on the contrary 
did full justice to every task of a public or private nature and was 
ever working to\\ard higher ideals in manhood and in citizenship.