Phillips, William

PHILLIPS

Posted By: Joyce Hickman (email)
Date: 10/10/2008 at 14:55:38

William Phillips

(From the 1883 History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, by J. H. Keatley, p.204, Norwalk Twp.)
William Phillips, farmer, P. O. Neola, was born in Carmarthenshire, Wales, October 27, 1836. His father, William Phillips, was a farmer, and was born in Glanmorganshire, South Wales. he came to the United States in 1854, and located in the northern part of Utah, where he died about 1862. Our subject's mother, Gwenfred Thomas, was born in Glanmorganshire, South Wales. She died in Idaho, in November, 1873. Our subject was educated in select schools in Wales, which he attended until he was twelve years of age. He was then apprenticed to a cabinet-maker for four years, during which time he attended evening schools. After he had learned the trade, he worked at the same till he came to America with his father. He followed his trade for about two years in Utah, after which he was engaged in freighting, farming and stock-raising until 1865. Mr. Phillips raised all kinds of grain, but mostly wheat, oats and barley. A half of an cre sowed in corn was considered a good acreage. The land was fertilized by irrigation. He bought and sold freight from Utah to Montana, and in 1863 started for the Yellowstine mines, taking his freight train and cattle with him. He learned from the prospectors that the mines were not a success, and he was obliged to take a large portion of his freight to Virginia City to get rid of it. He also sold his cattle on the Gallatin River. After giving up the idea of mining, he turned his attention to gardening and dairying, about eighty miles northeast of Virginia City, in which latter place he paid $75 for the last pound of onion seed in the market. In the summer, he sold his claim and garden. That summer the Crow Indians made a raid through the country, but did not disturb him. Mrs. Phillips was with her husband during these times, and was one of five women who constituted the feminine population of Gallatin Valley. After selling out, our subject went to Virginia City. He returned to Utah and engaged in freighting and dealing in stock until he left that State. He was married, in Utah, in March, 1859, to Amelia Morgan, who was born in Glamorganshire, South Wales, March 22, 1843. She is the daughter of John and Mary (Meredith) Morgan, both of whom were natives of Wales. Her mother died in her native land when Mrs. Phillips was an infant. Her father came to Conesville, Muscatine Co., Iowa, in 1850. He farmed two years on Little Mosquito Creek, when he went to Northern Utah, where he farmed and raised stock for a good many years. In 1865, he went to Idaho; where he died in 1869. Our subject left Utah and came to this county in September, 1865. He spent the summer in traveling through several States, looking for a location. He returned to this county, and in the fall of 1866, he bought and settled upon his present farm, in Norwalk Township, which consists of 400 acres. Her our subject has lived and farmed ever since he first purchased it. His specialty is raising corn, of which he has about 370 acres. Mr. Phillips has been Township Clerk, School Director Trustee and Road Supervisor. He has seven children - Thomas William, born December 12, 1860; John M., born February 11, 1862; Mary A., born January 12, 1864; Evan, born March 6, 1867; Celia, born February 7, 1869; Morgan, born April 23, 1871 and Howell, born October 13, 1872. Mr. Phillpis belongs to the Masonic order and also to the I. O. O. F.