J. H. PHILLIPS

PHILLIPS, ROBERTSON

Posted By: Mona Sarratt Knight (email)
Date: 7/15/2009 at 06:06:31

Source: The History of Appanoose County, Iowa, Containing A History of the County, its Cities, Towns, etc., A Biographical Directory of Citizens, War Records of its Volunteers in the late Rebellion, General and Local Statistics, Portraits of Early Settlers and Prominent Men, History of the Northwest, History of Iowa, Map of Appanoose County, Constitution of the United States, Miscellaneous Matters, etc.; illustrated; Chicago: Western Historical Company, 1878.

J. H. PHILLIPS, of Phillips & Sons, dealers in dry goods and general merchandise, Union St., Unionville; residence same; born in Montgomery Co., Ky., Aug. 19, 1820; when 1 year of age, his father removed to Jefferson Co., Ind., engaged in farming until 1831, when he removed to Jennings Co., Ind., where he engaged in merchandising; in 1854, he came to this county and again entered into business in this village, until his death, which occurred in 1875; at the age of 21, Mr. Phillips, with his next younger brother, went into business at Lexington, Scott Co.; during the year 1854, his brother died; he then wound up his business there, and taking his next younger brother, in 1856, they went to Hardin Co., Ky., where they built four miles of the L.&N.R.R., at the same time they established a business, merchandising at what is now known as Molintha; their business having been the first established there, but has since made a good-sized place; in 1860, they came to Eddyville, Iowa, and established themselves in business, in 1862, Mr. Phillips purchased his brother's interest in the business, and came to Unionville, where he and his son has since been in business. He owns his business building, a heavy line of goods, and his residence. He married Miss Elizabeth Robertson in 1843; she was born in 1823 in Jefferson Co., Ind.; was the youngest daughter of one of the oldest pioneers of Indiana, they having often to resort to the block house to protect themselves from the Indians; he raised a large family there; they have four children - Henry T., born in 1844; Mary E., born in 1847; Emma J., born in 1850, Eddy M., born in 1866. Mr. and Mrs. P. are members of the M.E. church. Has had the post office since first coming to Unionville, with the exception of two years removed to Mr. Riggs' store. His father was a member of the Legislature, both in Indiana and Iowa; his mother died in 1876, having made her home with him.