George Philip Biography


	This biography appears on pages 189-190 in "History of Dakota 
	Territory" by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. V (1915) and was 
	scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				GEORGE PHILIP. 

	George Philip, member of the South Dakota bar, practicing at Fort 
Pierre since June, 1906, is one of the younger representatives of the 
profession, yet his comparatively young manhood seems no bar to his 
progress, which is based upon comprehensive knowledge of the law, the 
result of close and discriminating study. He was born at Fort Augustus, 
Scotland, July 16, 1880, and is a son of Robert and Catherine Philip. 
Both parents passed away in his early years, the father dying in April, 
1884, and the mother in October, 1887. The usual public school 
advantages were enjoyed by the son, and then, ambitious to enter upon a 
professional career, he afterward took up the study of law in the 
University of Michigan, from which he was graduated in June, 1906. 
Before beginning practice he had business experience along several 
lines. He was at different times a lumberjack, cowboy and farmer, and 
manifested industry and diligence along all those lines just as he has 
since entering upon the practice of law. He prepares his cases with 
thoroughness, presents his cause skillfully and logically, and the 
successes which he has already won are bringing to him an ever 
increasing clientage. He was formerly one of the directors of the Fort 
Pierre National Bank. On the 1st of January, 1908, the law firm of 
Philip & Waggoner was formed and has a large clientele in the general 
practice of law. 

	On the 30th of May, 1911, at Fort Pierre, Mr. Philip was united 
in marriage to Miss Isle Waldron, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C. W. 
Waldron. The father came to the territory of Dakota with his family in 
the early '60s, settling at Yankton. Her mother, who bore the maiden 
name of Jane E. Van Metre, was born near Vermillion, South Dakota, and 
was one of the first pupils in the "Old Log Schoolhouse" in that 
locality. Mr. and Mrs. Philip have two children, a son and a daughter: 
George, Jr., born April 14, 1912; and Jean, born January 14, 1914. 

	Mr. Philip gives stalwart support to the democratic party and was 
a delegate to the democratic national convention in Baltimore, 
Maryland, in 1912, when Woodrow Wilson was nominated. From the United 
States attorney general he received the appointment of assistant United 
States district attorney for the district of South Dakota, taking 
office January 1, 1914. He is one of the best known representatives of 
Masonry in the state and has been honored with various offices in the 
fraternity. He belongs to Hiram Lodge, No. 123, A. F. & A. M., of Fort 
Pierre, of which he is past master. He also belongs to Pierre Chapter, 
No. 22, R. A. M., of which he was high priest for one year. He became a 
Knight Templar in Brule Commandery, No. 19, of Chamberlain, South 
Dakota, but afterward demitted to Capital City Commandery, No. 21, at 
Pierre, of which he was the first eminent commander. He likewise 
belongs to Oriental Consistory, No. 1, S. P. R. S., of Yankton, which 
he joined in March, 1903, and since 1910 he has been wise master of 
Mackey Chapter, No. 1, Rose Croix. In 1911 he was made knight commander 
of the Court of Honor, and he has been junior grand warden of the Grand 
Lodge, to which office he was elected in June, 1911, while in June, 
1912, he became senior grand warden. In June. 1913, he was made deputy 
grand master, and in June, 1914, was elected grand master, retiring in 
June, 1915. His administration is regarded as a most important and 
progressive era in the history of Masonry in South Dakota. He is a 
Mystic Shriner, belonging to Naja Temple at Deadwood, South Dakota. He 
also belongs to Huron Lodge, No. 444, B. P. O. E., while in the strict 
path of his profession his membership connections are with the South 
Dakota State Bar Association and the American Bar Association. His 
life, well spent, has gained him high regard and has brought him to a 
prominent position in social and professional circles.