Fayette County Texas - Bios: Benjamin Phillips ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. Submitted by Wanda Stanton Pitt of Cedar Hill, Texas 8 Aug 2001 ************************************************************************ BIOGRAPHY OF BENJAMIN PHILLIPS & FAMILY Benjamin Phillips was one of the sons born to Permelia Stallings and John P. Philips who settled Posey Co, Indiana 1811. On March 6, 1836 at the age of 19, Benjamin left home and headed for Texas. Ben met and married Melissa Crownover, the sister of Rev. Arter Crownover. Melissa and Arter were children of Elizabeth Chesney and John Crawford Crownover. The Crownovers were members of Austin's Original 300. Benjamin first settled in Fayette County and later in the Blanco/Llano County area near Horseshoe Bay south of Marble Falls. Benjamin and Melissa Phillips are buried at the Sandy Mt. Cemetery in Marble Falls, TX. Ben's brother, Henry Philips died 1853 and wife Feby died 1857. Their son, John Henry Philips was raised in Clay Co, IL. by Feby's parents, Catherine Stansbury and Henry Franklin. When John Henry Philips reached legal age he left Illinois. He visited his Uncle Ben in Llano Co, TX where he met and married my great grandmother, Mary Iberia (Haynes) Walker, daughter of Rebecca Duncan and Charles Haynes, a Buckeye Ranger. When I was a child, we traveled to Marble Falls, TX every summer for a big reunion with our Haynes and Phillips families. The reunions began in the late 1800's and are still an annual event in 2001. DESCENDANTS OF MELISSA CROWNOVER AND BENJAMIN PHILLIPS 1   Benjamin Phillips b: February 19, 1817 in Posey County, IN  d: November 15, 1887 in Llano County, Texas    +Melissa Crownover b: May 29, 1819 in Little Rock, Arkansas m: June 28, 1838 at Washington on the Brazos d: January 03, 1894 in Llano County, Texas     2   William Jasper Phillips b: April 03, 1839  d: March 30, 1863          +Nancy Deborah Gibson b: 1843  d: 1887     2   Lurene Phillips b: 1840  d: 1867          +Amos "Aim" Callaway Hardin b: 1829  d: 1892     2   John Rufus "Code" Phillips b: 1843  d: 1890          +Susan Alice Tate     2   Sarah Ann Phillips b: 1846  d: 1884          +John Will Pope     2   Montgomery "Gum" Right Phillips b: 1849  d: 1875          +Zillah Wimberley     2   Mary Malissa Phillips b: 1852  d: 1933          +John James Haynes b: 1843  d: 1924     2   Emily Permelia "Emma" Phillips b: August 27, 1855  d: January 20, 1911          +John Clements Tate   b: 1850  d: 1932     2   Benjamin Martin Phillips b: December 18, 1859 in Llano Co, TX  d: April 07, 1917 in San Antonio, TX          +Eliza M. Backues      *2nd Wife of Benjamin Martin Phillips:          +Juliana Duncan Backues b: April 09, 1867 in Llano Co, TX m: January 12, 1887 in Llano Co, TX d: June 10, 1899 in Llano Co, TX 1850 census, Fayette Co, TX Page # 204A Family # 218 Dwelling # 218 Benjamin Phillips  33 yr.old Male  Occupation-Farmer  Value of Real Estate Owned $1500.00  Born-Indiana Malissa Phillips 32yr. old Female Born-? William Phillips 12 yr. old Male  Born-Texas Luneamy? 19 yr. old Female Born-Texas John 8 yr. old Male   Born-Texas John  7 yr. old Male  Born-Texas Sarah 4 yr. old Female  Born-Texas Montgomery  2 yr. old Male   Born-Texas There is no census in Texas prior to 1850, just tax records. Benjamin "Phelps" in Fayette Co, Tx near Austin in 1840 along with Astus, John and John C. Crownover. Benjamin Phillips in Fayette Co 1846 along with Arthrer and John Crownover Jr. Charles Haynes in Gonzales Co, Tx 1840 and 1846. Ben's father, John P. Philips had two children when he married Permelia Stallings in Logan County, Kentucky January 20, 1810, Nancy Philips who married James Alexander and James Philips who married Nancy Alexander, nee Thomas. Permelia Stallings Philips gave birth to the following children. Mary Philips was born 1811 and married Noah Levitt. Jemima Philips was born 1814 and married her cousin Lockhart Stallings. Benjamin Philips was born 1817 and married Melissa Crownover. John Wesley Philips was born about 1818 and married Sophia Masquelette. Wright R. Philips was born 1819 and married Rosey Jane Toliver. Henry Philips was born 1826 and married Feby Franklin. It is thought that John P. Philips came from Chatham Co, NC with Permelia's father, Wright Stallings who also settled in Posey Co, IN 1812. Permelia left Posey County and went to Clay County, IL 1830. It is thought that John P. Philips died 1833-1835 since Permelia married Thomas Levitt 1833, and John's son, James sold John's land in Posey County 1835.