James Philp

PHILP, HAMBLY, ALLMAN, HARPER

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 11/16/2011 at 19:06:23

JAMES PHILP. The life of this gentleman may well be taken as an example by the youth of our county who are aspiring to positions of honor in life and careers that will benefit both themselves and the human race in general. Formerly one of the prominent farmers of Tama County, he has by justice and strict integrity of purpose won for himself a high place in the esteem of all who know him, and he is now spending the declining years of his life in Reinbeck, whither he removed in the spring of 1891.

Like many of the best residents of this state, our subject is a native of England, his birth occurring in the county of Cornwall, December 20, 1827. His grandfather, Samuel Philp, was also a native of that place, where he was a well-to-do farmer, owning a large tract of land. He was a member of the Church of England, and reared a family of six sons: James, a wealthy land-owner in England; Thomas, Internal Revenue Inspector in that country; Samuel, the father of our subject; Francis, William and Joseph. They all make their homes in England, with the exception of William, who emigrated to Canada and is now deceased, and the father of our subject.

The parents of our subject bore the names of Samuel, Jr., and Grace (Hambly) Philp. The former was reared on his father’s farm, and after receiving a good education followed the mercantile business for a few years, but later returned to farm life and ever after gave his attention to cultivating the soil. At the time of emigration to America, which was in 1847, he was accompanied by his wife and eight children, namely: Samuel, Mary, our subject, William, Joseph, Francis, Jane and John R. He located in Canada, and died while residing on a farm there in August, 1862, when eighty-four years of age. His wife, who survived him many years, came to Iowa in company with our subject, and departed this life in Tama County in 1874. With her husband she was a member of the Church of England.

James Philp received a fair education and remained at home until reaching his twentieth year, when he came to the States and entered the lead mines at Hazel Green, Wis., where he worked for a twelvemonth. Later he went to Illinois, working in the coal mines of St. Clair County for two years, and at the end of that time he returned to Canada and engaged in farming. In 1857 he was married to Miss Anna, daughter of Walter and Elizabeth (Allman) Harper. She was born in Canada, while her parents were natives respectively of Cornwall and Yorkshire, England. The nine children that were born to Mr. and Mrs. Philp are: Walter E., Elizabeth A., Margaret J., James, Louisa, Effie, George, Joseph and Bessie. Margaret and Joseph are deceased; Elizabeth is the wife of H. W. Wilson; Louisa married Eli Axon, in Wright County, this state; Effie became the wife of Scott Miller, and makes her home in Hamilton County, this state.

In 1865 Mr. Philp returned to the United States with his family and located on unbroken prairie land in Tama County, Iowa, when the country was sparsely settled. Here he purchased eighty acres of land, to which he has added until it now embraces two hundred and forty acres, which he still owns and rents. Besides this estate he owns property in Reinbeck, whither he removed in the spring of 1891. In politics he is a Democrat, and he has been the incumbent of the offices of Township Trustee, School Director and Road Commissioner.

Source:
Portrait and Biographical Record
of Jasper, Marshall and Grundy Counties, Iowa
1894