Phillips, D.C. 1875-1929

PHILLIPS, SIBSON, BARTON, SPAR, GRIFFITH

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes
Date: 2/27/2014 at 12:31:34

D.C. PHILLIPS
BURIED TODAY

D.C. Phillips, one of Iowa's pioneer independent telephone men, died in his sleep at the Burlington hotel at Burlington sometime Tuesday night. Mr. Phillips, a few weeks more than 54 years of age, had been afflicted with heart trouble for several years, and doctors said his death was due to heart failure. The funeral was held at the Methodist church this afternoon at 2:30 with Rev. W.J. Todd of Mt. Pleasant conducting the services, and Rev. George Blagg assisting. Mr. Todd was a very dear friend of Mr. Phillips. The pall bearers were all business associates of Mr. Phillips.

Mr. Phillips was feeling fine Monday and Tuesday, and Tuesday evening before retiring he joked and talked with hotel employees, seeming to be in the best of spirits. When he failed to show up at his office by 10 o'clock Wednesday morning, his secretary started an investigation, and with the doctor found him in his bed at the hotel.

David Phillips was born in Braidwood, Ill., June 26, 1875, the son of Richard Phillips and Ann Lewis. The family moved to Kirksville, Iowa, when Mr. Phillips was young, and he attended school there until he was about twelve. At that age he went with his family to Hiteman, where he was employed in the coal mines for several years. He started at the bottom of the ladder as "breaker boy," and when he left Hitemen in 1904 he was head mining engineer. While living at Hiteman he met Isabel Sibson, of Dedham at an oratorical contest, and they were married in 1898.

Mr. and Mrs. Phillips lived at Hiteman for a few years, and then went to Monroe, where Mr. Philips took up his life's work, the independent telephone business. He was there until 1914, when he moved to Indianola where he ran a bookstore for a few years. "D.C.'s" bookstore was headquarters for Simpson college students, and the years spent there were mighty happy ones for him.

In 1918 the family moved to Marengo, where Mr. Phillips re-entered the telephone game as owner and manager of the Marengo plant. He was in active control of the Marengo system until 1921, when he moved his family to Grinnell. Since coming to Grinnell, Mr. Phillips has spent most of his time traveling in the interests of independent telephony. For some years he managed his own system of plants, later being in charge of the Central-Iowa Telephone Company, and then accepting the position of president of the Iowa-Illinois Company, which he was with for a year and a half. This telephone system maintains exchanges in twenty-three cities in the two states. Iowa stations are at Eldon, Hedrick, Ainsworth, Argyle, Columbus Junction, Conesville, Donaldson, Hillsboro, Houghton, Letts, Montrose, Oakville, Primrose, Richland, Riverside, Wayland, West Point and Winfield.

Three weeks ago today Mr. Phillips came home ill, and was recuperating until Monday of this week, About a week ago he tendered his resignation as president and general manager of the Iowa-Illinois Company, but it was not accepted.

Mr. Phillips was an active member of the Methodist church and Sunday school all his life. He was formerly superintendent of the Sunday school here, and was chorister for several years. He was a pleasing vocal soloist and broadcast several times from Iowa City, singing the old hymns that he loved so well. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge, of the Iowa Pioneer Telephone Association, and of the Lions Club at Burlington.

A lover of his home and family, Mr. Phillips placed them above everything. Surviving him are : his wife, Mrs. D.C. Phillips; three sons, Rev. Russell Phillips of Gilman, David, a Grinnell high school junior, and Richard, a senior in Grinnell college; and a daughter, Clara Barton, music supervisor in the Spencer schools. Three brothers, T.J. Phillips, of Deep River, John A. Phillips of Des Moines, W.L. Phillips of Des Moines, and two sisters, Mrs. John Spar of Albert City, and Mrs. T.H. Griffith of Richland, also survive.