Phillips, A. J.

PHILLIPS

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 3/17/2008 at 22:51:49

Jackson Sentinel
Centennial Edition, 1938

A. J. Phillips

With my parents I came from Laporte, Ind., arriving here May 27, 1837. Two other families, John Clark and Isaac Mitchell, also came with us, as it was customary in moving west to make up what was called all immigrant or a moving train in order to help each other over difficult places. My father, Wm. Philips, settled and improved a farm north of what is now the city of Maquoketa, part of that farm now being in the city corporation. After my father had commenced improvements, that notorious Absalom Montgomery came to our tent one day (as it was practiced by several other characters like himself), and told my father that was his claim, and that it must be vacated at once or pay him fifty dollars. My father said there was no mark of any improvements when he came there and as the land had not been surveyed by the government, therefore it could not be described, and he was going to stay there and the best thing he (Montgomery) could do was to keep away from his place. Mr. Montgomery never troubled him after that.

There were only two small log houses in this part of the county at that time, one where Montgomery lived, which was a home for horse thieves when passing this way. Montgomery was noted for drinking whiskey, gambling, fighting, etc., until cutting some drift wood on his claim.

My father entered the first land in this township, which was Nov. 1, 1838. That year it was surveyed by the government. He sold his farm to David Sears in 1846.

We moved onto a farm west of Maquoketa, but in 1854 father sold out and went to Des Moines where he died in 1857.

Have lived here most of the time since I came. Have seen the country grown up from a barren wilderness to rich, unsurpassed farms, beautiful homes and cities.

I am now 72 years old, general health very good. There are but few of the pioneers now living. While the past has gone from us, we have a rich reward in view.

A. J. Phillips.