Biographical and genealogical history of Appanoose and Monroe counties, Iowa
New York, Chicago: Lewis publishing Co., S. Thompson Lewis, editor. 1903
Transcribed by Renee Rimmert. A complete copy of this book is available on-line at archive.org.
Pa - Ph
 Livingston G. Parker |
LIVINGSTON G. PARKER - This gentleman, who is at present living a retired life at Livingston, is one of those interesting characters whom every one likes to meet and talk to. He appeals to us an honored veteran of the Civil war, in which he rose to the rank of captain, as a minister of the gospel, as one of the early pioneers and a man of many varied occupations at different periods of life. Having lived long and always been a close observer, Mr. Parker can talk entertainingly on a large variety of subjects, and it well repays an effort to "draw him out" concerning events he has witnessed or been a part of. When it is mentioned that Mr. Parker was born in the year of the battle of Waterloo, it will be readily apprehended how large a scope of the world's greatest history is embraced within the limits of his career. |
When he was a baby James Madison was President of the United States, Victoria had not begun to rule England, Napoleon was emperor of France, the state where he now lives had not even been organized into a territory, but was still a wilderness filled with Indians and wolves, which made night hideous with their hungry howlings. It was his fortune to take an active part as a pioneer in one of the American states and to be in touch, as a soldier or civilian, with the mighty events which led up to the Civil war or occurred during the four years of its continuance. He is a grandson of Joseph W. and Abigail Parker, the former of Massachusetts and the latter of Vermont, who settled in New York after their marriage. The grandfather fought in the Revolutionary war, and after the conclusion of peace engaged, in farming, which was his principal occupation throughout his life. The father of our subject, Jeremiah Parker, died in his seventy-seventh year, while his wife Abigail, whose death occurred but a few years ago, had attained the age of ninety.
Livingston G. Parker, a son of the above mentioned couple, was born in Watertown, New York, February 7, 1815, and as he grew up secured an unusually good education for those days. Besides going through the common schools, he was graduated from the Belleville Academy and took a course in civil engineering. He next entered Union College, now Union University, at Schenectady, New York, in which he was graduated in 1835. After teaching school for a number of years in northern New York, he commenced the reading of law with his uncle, Orson Parker, who afterward became noted as a revivalist, but our subject was never admitted to the bar. In 1838 he removed to Ohio, where he was employed as an engineer in constructing the Miami canal, and in that state, on the 2nd of June, 1841, he was united in marriage to Miss Nancy J. Barney, a sister of a college-mate, with whom he had been associated in the building of the canal. Their wedding tour consisted of a trip to northeastern Indiana, where Mr. Parker secured employment in constructing dams and water power for a milling company. He afterward conducted a book store at Urbana, Ohio, for a time, and both he and his wife taught in the public schools of that city for several years. They came to Appanoose county, Iowa, in 1854, settling at Livingston, where he has ever since resided. After improving his farm to some extent he engaged with J. T. Place in editing the Appanoose Chieftain, but publishing a paper in Centerville at that time was an uphill vocation, and he soon abandoned the business, although to him is accorded the honor of being the first Republican editor of the county. He taught school one winter in Pleasant township, and among his pupils was C. A. Stanton, with whom he has kept up a lifelong friendship. During the years of 1859- 60 Mr. Parker was engaged in surveying a route for the proposed State Line Railroad, which was afterward built and known as the Missouri, Iowa & Nebraska, now a part of the Burlington system.
When the Civil war was inaugurated, though past the age of military duty, in company with his eldest son, Mr. Parker enlisted in Company B, Sixth Kansas Cavalry, and shared its fortunes until in May, 1863. He had previously been made quartermaster sergeant and was then given a recruiting commission for Company M, Sixth Kansas Cavalry, but was almost immediately given command of Company B of that regiment and stationed at Westport, Missouri, Captain Harvey and the lieutenants being on detached service, while later he became first lieutenant of Company M, Fifth Kansas Cavalry, and afterward captain of the company. The company was a typical frontier crowd, composed of Mexicans, Indians, soldiers from the regular army and men from almost every state in the Union and of almost every nationality and occupation, but this company has a record not excelled by any that served in the Civil war. They engaged in the pursuit of Quantrell after the burning of Lawrence, Kansas, and on that occasion were in the saddle for thirty-six hours continuously. When the regiment was mustered out, after three years of service, Companies L and M, which were recruited later, were consolidated under Captain Parker, attached to the Fifteenth Kansas and marched across the plains to Fort Larned, Kansas. They afterward made the return march to Fort Leavenworth and were mustered out in October, 1865.
During the seven years Mr. Parker had resided in Appanoose county prior to the war he had engaged in farming, school teaching, surveying, editing a newspaper, and in addition had been licensed to preach by the Baptist denomination, of which church he had been a member for years. In the summer of 1866 he was regularly ordained and called to the pastorate of the Baptist church at St. John, Missouri, at which place, together with Exline and Livingston, in this county, he preached for a number of years. In 1871 he was a candidate on the Republican ticket for the position of state senator, but was defeated by Senator E. J. Gault. The six children resulting from his marriage were: Edward L.; John, deceased; Benjamin; Charles; Will, deceased; and Albert L. After a happy married life of over fifty-three years the wife died in 1894, and since that time Captain Parker has made his home with his sons, Benjamin and Charles, where he has enjoyed the love and respect of a much larger circle of friends than usually falls to the lot of man. He became a resident of this commonwealth soon after its admission into the Union, availing himself of an opportunity to join one of those wagon trains quite common in those days, made up of lumbering vehicles called "prairie schooners," and often containing parties of several scores of people. In this slow-moving outfit he journeyed west, and was on the road many days before reaching his destination in Appanoose county, Iowa. He became the founder of the town of Livingston, which bears his name, and for years was the postmaster of that hamlet. In 1892, feeling that he had performed his full share, he retired from active business, and the evening of his life is passing serenely, amid friends of long standing and grateful relatives, but best of all in the consciousness of past time well spent and duty well performed.
JAMES FRANKLIN PARKS - The story of the life of the subject of this sketch is like that of many other progressive Iowa citizens, filled with years of boyish enjoyment and work on the old farm, advancing by steady degrees along the way of life, and by his conscientious work and determination pushing forward until he now occupies an honored place among the citizens of Appanoose county and is serving the people in one of the important offices of the county.
Robert and Sarah (Lowe) Parks are the parents of the subject of this biography; the father was born in Tennessee, but when a mere infant was taken by his parents to Indiana, where they lived and died. Robert grew to manhood in this state and when nineteen years old went to Illinois; he was there married, Sarah Lowe being a native of Kentucky, but being taken by her parents to Sangamon county, Illinois, when a young girl. Soon after his marriage he went to Iowa and finally decided to locate in Davis county, but in 1865 moved to a farm in Appanoose county. He has been a successful farmer all his life. He has always cast his vote for the men of the Republican party, and religiously he and his wife are members of the Christian church. There have been born to them five daughters and two sons.
James Franklin, one of the above children, was born while his parents resided in Davis county, Iowa, on Christmas day of 1859. Reared on the farm, his labor was diversified by attendance in the district schools and by evenings spent in reading and self-education at home. He remained on his parents' farm in Appanoose county until 1884 and in that year was married to Miss Cora F. Kewley, the daughter of Thomas P. Kewley, deceased, and a native of Illinois. After his marriage Mr. Parks settled on a farm and has farmed and resided in this county ever since with the exception of two years spent in Nebraska.
He has taken an active interest in local politics, being a member of the Republican party, in the fall of 1900 he was chosen by his fellow- citizens to the office of county auditor; the confidence the people showed in him in electing him to this office has been amply endorsed by the capable handling of the position bestowed upon him. He is progressive and ready to assist in any enterprise for the city's advancement, and he has a genius for hard work that will effect many improvements in the details of his office. Mr. Parks holds membership in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and belongs to the Christian church. His marriage has been blessed with two sons, Thomas R. and Seth Lyle.
HON. FRANK S. PAYNE - Grandfather Henry Payne was a native of the great state of Virginia and was one of the early settlers of Iowa, settling in Henry county of that state in 1835, before the territory had been made into a state. The father of the immediate subject of this sketch, Charles W. Payne, was born in Henry county, Iowa; his wife was Margaret Patton, who was born near Wheeling, West Virginia: her father, Matthew Patton, was also a pioneer of Iowa, and after returning to Virginia for a time, he took up his permanent residence in Henry county. Charles W. Payne has spent most of his life in the pursuit of agriculture and now owns and conducts a fine farm in Henry county, raising a great number of stock and making extensive deals in buying and shipping the same. He has been a stanch and loyal Republican and has served two terms in the lower branch of the Iowa legislature. There are four children in the family, two sons and two daughters.
Frank S. Payne, the oldest son of this family, first saw the light on a farm near Mount Pleasant, Henry county, Iowa, August 16, 1869. He passed his boyhood days on the farm and attended the country schools. He then was sent to his uncle, a lawyer in Bushnell, Illinois, and there graduated from the high school at the age of fifteen years. From there he entered Iowa Wesleyan University at Mount Pleasant, and was graduated in 1892. Having decided upon the profession of law, he entered the Northwestern University Law School at Chicago and completed his course in 1894. In the same year he was admitted to the bar in both Iowa and Illinois, and in the fall of that year located at Centerville, where he began the practice which he has since carried on so successfully.
Besides attending to his large clientage, Mr. Payne has taken an active interest in political affairs. In the fall of 1899 he was elected on the Republican ticket as representative in the lower house of the state legislature and was re-elected in 1901. By a curious coincidence he served his first term in the house just twenty years after his father had held the same place. The part that he took in the affairs of legislation was very creditable to him. In 1896 Mr. Payne was married to Miss Grace Dickison, of Mount Pleasant, Iowa. He and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church and are valued and respected members of society, always ready to do their share toward advancing any good cause.
WILLIAM M. PEATMAN - Starting in life without capital and working his way to the top, having engaged successfully in many enterprises, a public-spirited citizen and the holder of offices of trust - such is the epitome of the career of William M. Peatman, and such a man deserves a place in a volume containing the lives of Appanoose county's prominent citizens. His father, John J. Peatman, was born in England, in Lincolnshire, and came to America when a young man of eighteen years. He was married in Ohio to Mary Peach, a native of Muskingum county, and soon after he moved to Peoria, Illinois, but four or five years later went to Iowa and settled in the lower edge of Monroe county in 1854; he remained there and engaged in farming until 1890, when he took up his residence in Centerville.
William M. Peatman claims Illinois as his native state, where he was born May 8, 1853, in Peoria; his boyhood was passed in the invigorating life of the farm, and his education was received in the country schools. He was a good student and at the age of sixteen years began teaching, which he continued for seven years. He learned the trade of blacksmithing and wagon and carriage-making, which he followed for about three years. Having taken up his residence in Moravia, Iowa, he turned his attention to the lumber and grain business for two years. At that time he was elected county recorder and in 1883 moved to Centerville to carry on the duties of that position for one term. When his official services were ended Mr. Peatman opened up a real estate and abstract office and two years later formed a partnership with W. G. Clark, the firm being since known as Clark & Peatman, real estate, abstracts, insurance and loans. With Mr. Clark he started the Centerville Brick and Tile Company, which has grown to be one of the leading industries of the city. Besides real estate he does quite an extensive contracting business, and is now erecting the new Appanoose county court house. He is a careful, energetic and capable business man, and his success has been well deserved because of these qualities. The Republican party expresses his political convictions, and as its candidate he was elected to the office of recorder; he also served for four years as mayor of Moravia during his residence there. He is a Knight Templar Mason and a Mystic Shriner. In 1879 he became the husband of Miss Ellen Knox, and two children have blessed the union, a son and a daughter. Besides being successful in his own affairs Mr. Peatman has been very zealous toward advancing the interests of his city. Among other things he was a promoter of the city electric light plant, the street railroad and the water works.
FRANCIS SEIGLE PENCE - The mere reading of the above name would suggest that the bearer was born during the Civil war and that his father was a patriotic upholder of the Union cause. Both these guesses will be found verified by this biography as its details are unfolded in the regular order of narration. At present the namesake of the famous German soldier who cast his lot with his adopted country in her hour of great trial is a prosperous Iowa farmer residing near the little village of Moravia, but, as is the case with most of the inhabitants of the state, his parents were of eastern origin. How and when they came, what they did after coming and the subsequent status of their descendants are the main points which make up the particulars of this biographical sketch. The name of Pence was formerly a familiar one in Maryland, and to a family of this designation was born, on the 17th of February, 1818, a son named Daniel. His people being in somewhat narrow circumstances the boy was compelled at an early age to work for a living, and when a young man decided to abandon the state of his nativity and embrace the better prospects offered by the rising young commonwealth of the west. Daniel first made his way to Ohio, then a kind of Mecca for all ambitious emigrants, and after reaching his destination found employment with one George Adams, who was running a gristmill in Muskingum county. About the time, or shortly after, that he arrived Absalom and Harriet (Johnson) Foster, another Maryland family, had taken up their abode in the same section of the Buckeye state. Naturally they got acquainted and eventually became intimate, with the result that Daniel "fell in love" with Jane Fisher, the attractive daughter of the couple above mentioned. The young couple were united in marriage, June 4, 1843, and for several years thereafter retained their residence in the county of Muskingum.
But Daniel had for some time been looking longingly toward the fine new state just coming into prominence along the banks of the upper Mississippi and finally resolved to join the secondary tide of emigration then setting in strongly for Iowa. So one bright morning in 1855 a team of horses was hitched up, the family's household goods were packed in the wagon and with the usual camping outfit the little party was soon on its way to the land of promise. It took fully four weeks to make the trip, but at length the weary and travel-stained wanderers reached their destination in Appanoose county. As Iowa was yet only nine years old as a state, the Pences came at a sufficiently early period to be ranked as first settlers or early pioneers, and as such they were known to the succeeding generation. Daniel signalized his advent by purchasing a claim for one hundred and sixty acres of land in Taylor township, at a price which seemed to him dear enough, but which to one familiar with present prices of land in Iowa appears absurdly low. The purchaser found a rude log cabin on his place and also about twenty-five acres that had been broken for cultivation, and with this condition of things confronting them he and his good wife settled down to business. They realized that there was much hard work before them and the road to wealth and ease a long and arduous one, but they set themselves resolutely to the task of facing every obstacle and overcoming every difficulty. Under the good management of Daniel Pence on the outside and of his sensible wife in her own sphere magical changes were soon wrought on this raw Iowa farm. The log cabin in time gave way to a commodious residence, fencing and outbuildings ornamented the landscape and the once wild prairie was brought into a high state of cultivation. As prosperity smiled upon him the proprietor added tract after tract to his possessions until eventually his original investment of one hundred and sixty had grown to something like thirteen hundred acres of fertile land. The price, too, improved with the acreage, and when Daniel Pence was called to render his last account he was in that comfortable condition known among farmers as "well off." As the extent of the farm and its operations increased so did the occupants of the household, and in course of years the fond parents saw a fine lot of boys and girls growing up around them. They lost three by death, Absalom and Josephine passing away in childhood, and Harriet in infancy but all the others grew to maturity and are doing well in the world. Charles Daniel, the eldest son, served as a Union soldier in the Thirty-sixth Regiment, Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and is at present living in Salt Lake City, Utah. Peter David and William Henry, second and third of the surviving children, are residents of Taylor township, near the old family homestead. George Marion is living at Gordon Grove, Iowa: and Sarah Jane, the only daughter, is the wife of William Duvall and resides in Monroe county.
Francis Seigle Pence, youngest of the children above mentioned was born May 26, 1862, on the old homestead in Appanoose county, Iowa, and owes his first name to the fact that he appeared on the scene at the height of the Civil war. His father was an admirer of General Francis or Franz Sigel, one of the famous corps commanders of the army of the Potomac, and gave his name to the boy born when the German patriot was much in the public eye. Though Francis was not able to say, in the language of the old soldiers' song, that "he fit mit Sigel," he grew up to be the kind of a boy and man that the veteran general would be proud to acknowledge as a namesake. At the time of his birth his parents were still living in the old log cabin which sheltered them for many years after their arrival in Iowa. His father had branched out extensively in stock-raising by the time he reached robust boyhood, and turning his attention to the dairying department of the farm he learned all about cheese-making. This furnished him employment for twelve years after he acquired the details of the business, and when he himself became a land-owner the knowledge acquired in youth proved quite useful to him in many ways. He has prospered since going into business for himself, as any one may see who now visits his place about a mile from the village of Moravia. At present Mr. Pence owns the old homestead farm of three hundred and twenty acres, which he has occupied as sole proprietor since his father's death May 23. 1897, and lives in a brick house which cost two thousand dollars and stands very near the site of the old log cabin where he was born. There is also a good barn on the place, thirty-six by fifty feet in dimensions, besides a granary, buggy sheds, feed lots and all the other accessories of an up-to-date Iowa farm. Mr. Pence has a telephone in his house, and also enjoys the rural delivery of mail, these services furnishing him quick communication with all surrounding points of importance and enabling him to transact his business in twentieth century style. Any one who calls to see him will find out without being told that the proprietor is hospitable and genial in disposition and treats all visitors with the royal and hearty welcome customary in farm households of the first class. Mr. Pence's long residence and extensive dealings have made him well known throughout Appanoose and adjoining counties, among whose people he numbers his friends by the hundreds.
February 19, 1893, Mr. Pence was married to Eleanor, daughter of Robert and Mary Jane (Nichol) Bell, of Monroe county, to which part of Iowa her parents came in 1852. Mr. and Mrs. Pence have a bright little family growing up, consisting of two boys and two girls. Robert Daniel, the eldest, has about completed his eighth year, while his eldest sister, Hazel, is a year his junior. Ina is six years old, and little Garrett, the baby of the family, has hardly finished the second year of his age. In politics Mr. Pence has always affiliated with the Democratic party and confines his fraternal connections to membership in the order of Modern Woodmen of America. He and the other children have always looked carefully after the comfort of their mother, Mrs. Jane Pence, to whom they owed so much during the times of toil and struggle in the formative periods of their lives. This venerable lady, now in the seventy-eighth year of her age, is pleasantly located in a good home at Moravia, where the evening of her days is made enjoyable by the kindly attentions of friends and relatives.
LEMONT A. PEPPERS - This gentleman, who is the proprietor of a popular livery barn that goes by his name, though one of the youngest business men of the city, is already ranked among the most progressive. He displays rare tact an acumen in business affairs, is resourceful and enterprising as to methods and improvements, and gives promise of becoming one of the solid citizens from a capitalistic standpoint. His stable is especially popular with the young people of the city, who are attracted by the courtesies and obliging spirit of the proprietor as well as by his well groomed stock and neat outfits.
Mr. Peppers' grandparents were Reuben and Catherine (Blevins) Peppers, the former a Kentuckian, who left his native state in boyhood and died in Kansas at the age of sixty-five years. His wife died in Milledgeville, Appanoose county, Iowa, at the age of sixty-three years, after becoming the mother of nine children. Of these five are still living, and among the number is William Peppers of Albia. He was born in Ashe county, North Carolina, and was reared on a farm, trained to the different kinds of agricultural work, and as he grew up obtained his education in the district schools. He remained at home until eighteen years of age, and then went to Jackson county, Missouri, but six months later went to Van Buren county, Iowa, where he spent eight months, going thence to Ottumwa. Subsequently settling in the northwest part of Appanoose county, he built one of the first sawmills ever seen in that section, which he operated for some years with moderate success. Later he located on a farm in the same township, which he cultivated many years, but finally rented his property and came to Albia. He invested in the implement, hardware, harness and vehicle business, and has since given all of his attention to this line of trade.
In Ottumwa, in 1853, Mr. Peppers was united in marriage to Martha Jane Houck, who became the mother of seven children: William H., Francis M., Alary Alice, deceased; Drusilla, Sherman, Florence and Fred. Mrs. Peppers died in 1874, and in 1875 Mr. Peppers married Martina Hiserman. They have become the parents of three children: Roy C, Austin W. and Lemont A.
HOWARD H. PHILLIPS , is the proprietor of the Sunny Slope stock farm, situated on section 4, Douglass township, Appanoose county. He has spent his entire life in this locality and represents one of the pioneer families that was founded at a primitive period in the history of the state. His birth occurred in Walnut township, Appanoose county, August 16, 1862, his parents being Jacob and Sarah (Frisby) Phillips. The father was born in Clayton county, Ohio, in 1829, and his ancestors were people of genuine worth, active in business and honorable in all transactions. He was reared in the state of his nativity and continued his education there until the removal of the family to McLean county, Illinois, the home being established near Bloomington. In that locality Mr. Phillips was married to Sarah Frisby, who was born in Ohio and spent her girlhood days in that state and Illinois, largely pursuing her education in the latter state. Attracted by the opportunities offered by Iowa, they loaded some of their household goods into a wagon which was drawn by a team of horses, and thus about 1850 they made their advent into Appanoosc county. Mr. Phillips had but small means, but was industrious and possessed excellent business qualifications, and through his unremitting diligence and perseverance he became one of the wealthy men of his locality. He had firm faith in the future of Iowa, made investments in land and also became the owner of large numbers of cattle and horses. As the years passed he prospered in his undertakings and at his death left an estate valued at forty thousand dollars. In the family were nine children, five sons and four daughters, and those who are still living are Clara, on the old homestead; Lewis F., a prominent cattleman of White Lake, South Dakota; Howard H.; Charles C, of Walnut township, Appanoose county; and Perry M., who lives upon the home farm with his mother and sister and operates the fields. The children of the family who have passed away are James W., Emma, Mary and Ellen, all of whom died in early life. The father departed this life in February, 1900, at the age of seventy-one years. He voted with the Republican party, but was never an aspirant for office, giving his aid however, to all measures which he believed would prove of public good, and his integrity stood as an unquestioned fact in his career. In religious faith he and all of his family were Methodists.
Howard H. Phillips was reared upon the old homestead farm and early in life was trained to the work incident to the cultivation of the fields and the care of stock. His early educational privileges were supplemented by study in the college at Quincy, Illinois, and when eighteen years of age he began teaching, which profession he followed for some time in Appanoose county. His services were always in demand because he was an excellent disciplinarian and also had the ability to impart readily and clearly to others the knowledge that he had acquired. He lived upon the home farm until his marriage, which occurred when he was twenty-four years of age, the lady of his choice being Marinda Whistler, who had also successfully taught school prior to her marriage. Her father, Samuel Whistler, now deceased, was born in Virginia and his father was born near Hayestown, Virginia. Samuel Whistler was a loyal member of the German Baptist church and died at the age of forty-seven years. To him and his wife were born eleven children: William H., Martha E., John H., Mary J., Columbus E., Amanda A., Lewis C., Anna C., Sarah A., Mrs. Phillips and S. Walter.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Phillips has been blessed with seven children: Carl E., Anna May, Luella, Walter H., Edith Esther, Wendell D. and Martha Etta. The parents are well known people of this locality and have a large circle of warm friends. Their home is pleasantly located on section 4, Douglass township, and is appropriately named the Sunny Slope farm. It comprises three hundred acres of rich land and in addition to this Mr. Phillips also owns another tract of two hundred and sixty-five acres in this county and six hundred and forty acres in Aurora county, South Dakota, near White Lake, it being well stocked with cattle and horses.
The Sunny Slope farm is one of the best in Appanoose county, supplied with all modern equipments and all of the accessories of a model farm, on which he is engaged in the raising of high-grade horses and cattle. An earnest Republican in politics, he is unfaltering in his advocacy of the right principles and has held a number of township offices. In 1895 he was also elected a member of the board of county commissioners and served three years, making a creditable record by his faithful service and his practical aid given to measures for the upbuilding of the locality. In manner he is genial and courteous, and his kindly disposition and many excellent traits of character have made him a popular citizen of Appanoose county.
JOHN C. PHILLIPS , One of the largest land owners and most extensive agriculturists in Appanoose county is John C. Phillips. His father was Theophilus Phillips, whose wife was Mahalia Ann Moore; they were both natives of Adams county, Ohio, and were married in that county. Mr. Phillips was throughout his life a tiller of the soil, and his life labors were ended in death in 1879, when at the age of sixty-four years. Mrs. Phillips died in 1853, aged thirty-nine years. Mr. Phillips came west in 1863 and after residing in Appanoose county for two years returned to Ohio; in 1871 he spent one year in Missouri and later removed to Appanoose county, where he passed the remaining days of his useful life. This worthy couple were the parents of ten children, of whom six are now living.
One of these children was John C., who was born in Adams county, Ohio, January 5, 1841, and was reared to a farmer's life, spending his youth in work on the farm and in attendance at the country schools. He had arrived at manhood when the Civil war spread its blight over the land and in 1862 he enlisted in Company F, Ninety-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and gave three years of faithful service to his country. At the battle at Buffalo Gap he received a wound which compelled him to spend some time in the army hospital. Shortly after his return from the army, in 1868, Mr. Phillips followed the example of his father and came to Cooper county, Missouri, where he engaged in farming for a few years. In the spring of 1872 he moved to Wayne county, Iowa, and continued farming for twelve years. His residence in Appanoose county dates from 1884, and here he has met with most gratifying success in farming and stock-raising. For ten years his stock operations were conducted on a large scale in partnership with Mr. B. Bowen, of Centerville. That he possessed much business ability was shown in his being chosen to act as cashier of the Farmers' and Drovers' Bank of Seymour, but after a year he resigned, preferring the free and interesting life of the farm. At the present time Mr. Phillips owns on his home place fourteen hundred and eighty acres of fine land, which is one of the most extensive farms in the state.
In 1862 Mr. Phillips was married to Miss Clementine Drake. Her parents were James H. and Caroline (Marshal) Drake, who were residents of Licking county, Ohio, coming to Iowa in 1878, where the father died in 1900 in his ninetieth year, and the mother passed away in 1893, aged seventy-seven; the wife of Mr. Phillips was born in Licking county, Ohio, November 27, 1843. Thirteen children were born and all but one are now living: Charles E., Emma A., Stewart, James P., Hosea M., Joseph Walter, Carrie A. Richardson, B. Bowen, Kennedy Kendall, Herbert H., John J., Oscar Orville, and Roscoe C.: the last three live at home with their parents. Mr. Phillips retains his connection with his old army comrades in the Grand Army of the Republic at Seymour, and he has membership in the Methodist church at Genoa. It is through such men as Mr. Phillips that the solid and noble calling of agriculture has been brought to its high state of perfection, which in no other country of the world has been so highly developed and attracts such a high class of men.