In
every community there are men whose strong personality and forcefulness
make them leaders. Such a one was the subject of this sketch. Tall in
stature but well proportioned, he was a commanding figure in any
assembly; his symmetrical head and high forehead betokened intelligence
of a high order. He was one of the original Milford Colony, of which
this history has had much to relate. Of this colony of rugged New
England pioneers not one remains; all have been called from earthly
activities and are sleeping the long, deep sleep called death. They
have left a rich heritage to their descendants. Their story is one of
activity, replete with selfsacrifice, of hardships endured; of
thrilling adventure; of the overcoming of the wildness of nature and of
still wilder men—the Indians. When one reviews the history of this
little band of libertyloving, home-longing people who left comfortable
and, with a majority of them, cultured homes nearly three score years
ago to secure the homes and independence for which they longed in the
wilds of northwestern Iowa, who has followed them step by step as the
writer of these pages has done in relating the story of this "Winning
of the West" from the planting of the foundation stone by these hardy
pioneers to this era of well cultivated farms, populous and prosperous
towns and cities which forms the fairest rose in the garland of ninety
and nine counties which constitute the state, "The Beautiful Land," and
realizes the great benefits these conferred upon those who came after
them and to extend forward as a benison to those yet unborn, the pen
hesitates when the attempt is made to sketch the achievements of
individuals of the heroic band.
The story of Albert Phipps is
that of a leader and his name has been frequently mentioned in the
pages of this history. A history of this county without the name of
Albert Phipps would be like writing the play of Hamlet with Hamlet left
out. Something of the great heartedness, the hospitality and public
spirited- ness of the subject of this sketch is gleaned from the
reminiscences of his oldest son, Luther, which appears in these
volumes. Much more is revealed in. the narrative of the "First Events"
and the "Organization of the County" and "County Government." It
remains only to briefly outline here his family connections and events
not enumerated in the preceding pages.
Albert Phipps was born in
the town of Milford, Worcester county, Massachusetts, October 7, 1820,
two hundred years after the landing of the Pilgrim Fathers on the wild
New England shores. Aaron Phipps, father of Albert, was also a native
of Massachusetts and a descendant of English ancestors. Aarons father
was Samuel Phipps. The Phipps family was noted for the great number of
blacksmiths it contained, the trade having been handed down from father
to son for generations. Albert Phipps mother was Polly H. Phipps,
daughter of Jason Phipps of Revolutionary fame. She was born in
Connecticut, and after her marriage to Aaron Phipps settled in
Massachusetts, where she resided until her death, which occurred in
October, 1826. Aaron Phipps was a stone worker and cutter by trade. He
and his wife were the parents of eight children, six sons and two
daughters, six of whom are living. He died in June, 1839.
Albert
was the fifth child of the family and his mother died when he was six
years of age. Thus left an orphan at so tender an age, he early began
lifes conflict for himself. His opportunities for gaining an education
were very limited. He learned the shoemakers trade, serving an
apprenticeship of three years. After mastering this industry he engaged
in the manufacture of goods which are now rapidly turned out by
machinery. He followed this occupation at intervals for twenty years
and in the spring of 1856 came to Iowa, with the Milford Emigration
society when not a wheel track had flattened the native prairie grass.
He preempted a quarter section of land, upon which he began making a
home. He erected a small log cabin just north of the present town and
afterward purchased other lands and improved them. All that was
produced for market had to be hauled by ox teams a great distance and
sold very low. The hardships endured were enough to have disheartened
any man, but Mr. Phipps courage never faltered, and he remained with
his undertaking. Soon there were evidences of better days; emigration
commenced to flow westward and the country began to develop. He was a
careful farmer and with the help of his sterling sons placed his large
farm under a high state of cultivation and soon was numbered among the
wealthy farmers of the county.
In 1844 he was married to Miss
Martha Littlefield, a most estimable young lady, a daughter of David
Littlefield, Esq. She was born in Middlesex county, Massachusetts, in
the same neighborhood in which Mr. Phipps was brought up. After coming
to Iowa, during those long, dark pioneer days she not unfrequently
longed for the once happy home in old New England, but sighs and
heartaches would not take her back to her childhood home in the old Bay
state. With the passing years, the coming of children and the forming
of new friendships, this feeling was assuaged and in time she learned
to love the prairie home, in the vol. n—12 establishment of which she
was no small factor, even more than the New England home for which she
pined during the first years.
To Mr. and Mrs. Phipps were born
the following children: Anna B. Wake field ; John A., deceased; Adaline
H. Burroughs; Henry L.; Frank F.; Arthur I., deceased; Nathan A.; and
Mattie Prescott. All still reside in Cherokee county except Mrs.
Burroughs and Nathan who live in Chicago, but yet call Cherokee their
home.
Mr. Phipps was a veteran of the Civil war, being a member
of Company i, Fifteenth Iowa Infantry, which was assigned to the Army
of the Tennessee, General McPherson commanding. He took part in the
siege of Savannah and the battle of Bentonville, and was with General
Sherman on his famous march to the sea, and back through the Carolinas
to Goldsboro, to the final surrender of the Confederate General Jo.
Johnston. On account of exposure Mr. Phipps contracted rheumatism and
was sent north to Philadelphia, where he was honorably discharged. He
at once returned to his home in Cherokee county.
Politically he
adhered to the republican party, and held various county and township
offices. He served the county ten years as supervisor, holding that
office when the supervisor system first became law in 1861, and at a
time when the whole county was in one great civil township. He himself
composed the board of supervisors—was a sort of king. But he was
elected to such position on account of his good sound judgment and his
strict integrity of character, which he ever maintained. Had it not
been for his sterling qualities at an early day the land sharks and
contract swindlers would doubtless have ruined the finances of this
county, as they did in adjoining counties. Many an overture was made to
him to put up jobs to swindle Cherokee county taxpayers, all of which
were rejected with disdain. Mr. Phipps was an active member of Custer
Post, No. 25, G. A. R. Mr. Phipps retired from farming in 1890, he with
the aid of his stalwart sons having amassed a comfortable fortune, and
removed to the city of Cherokee, where he resided until his death,
which occurred April 11, 1901. One week later he was followed to "that
bourn whence no traveler returns" by his life companion of fiftyseven
years. Thus short was the earthly separation of this worthy couple
before being reunited in the home eternal. They were loved and honored
in life and in death their memories are enshrined in the hearts of many
who received kindnesses from this wholesouled couple during the
formative period of the county.
HISTORY OF Cherokee County IOWA, VOLUME II, ILLUSTRATED CHICAGO, THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY, 1914, by Thomas McCulla |
