For
Muscatine County Iowa
1911
| Biographies For Muscatine County Iowa 1911 | |
Source: History of Muscatine County Iowa, Volume II, Biographical, 1911, page 298
N. M. PHILLIPS....In the list of old soldiers of Muscatine county, the name of N. M. Phillips occupies an honored place, he having served with great credit in the thickest of the fray. He is also numbered among the prosperous farmers now living retired, and today on account of a well spent life no citizen of the county stands higher in the estimation of the community. Born in this county, March 22, 1840, he is a son of A. B. and Eliza J., ( Meek ) Phillips, both of whom were natives of Virginia. They were married in their native state and came to Muscatine county in 1839. The father leased a tract of land and moved with his family into a log cabin which was covered with clapboards, had a dirt floor and chimney made of sticks held together with clay. In this primitive home the parents lived until 1858, when he purchased a farm of one hundred acres two miles south of West Liberty, to which he removed. After cultivating this place for five years he sold it and purchased another fine farm two miles southward, where he continued until his death, which occurred March 9, 1884. His wife departed this life nineteen years later, on May 30, 1903, at the age of ninety-five years. Ten children were born to them, one of whom died in infancy, and John, George, Julia, Eliza and Mary passed away after arriving at maturity. Those still living are: William, of West Liberty; Solomon, of Muscatine county; N. M., of this review; and Preston, of Scott county, Iowa.N. M. Phillips received his early education in the district schools and assisted his father upon the home farm until August, 1862, when he rsponded to the call of his country and enlisted in Company D, Thirty-fifth Iowa Infantry, for three years. The regiment was engaged in many of the great battles, among which were those of Nashville, Tennessee; Jackson, Mississippi; Pleasant Hill, and many minor engagements. Mr. Phillips was also present at the siege of Vicksburg, and although he was many times exposed at close range to the fire of the enemy he was never wounded. At Davenport, Iowa, in 1865, he received his honorable discharge, and, returning to Muscatine county, he rented the old home farm, of which he later came into possession. There he lived until 1906, when he removed to West LIberty. He now owns the homestead of two hundred and five acres on sections 23 and 34, and also one hundred and thirty-seven acres on section 25, Wapsinonoc townshiip. He made a specialty of raising and feeding hogs and cattle and also raising Percheron horses, gaining quite a reputation as a breeder of horses which compared favorably with the same stock produced elsewhere in the country.
On the 13th of January, 1867, Mr. Phillips was united in marriage to Miss Marie O'Hearn, who was born in Knox county, Ohio. Her parents, James and Mary ( Hammond ) O'Hearn, were natives of Ohio and Maryland respectively. Mr O'Hearn died in Ohio, and, subsequently his widow moved with her children to Muscatine county, where she located on a farm. She passed away in 1857. There were five children in the family, three of whom are now living: Mary F., the wife of Frank Hopkins, of Chicago; Anna, now Mrs. W. S. Hunter, of Newell, Iowa; and Marie, now Mrs. Phillips. Two children have come to bless the union of Mr. and Mrs. Phillips: Chester A., who is engaged in farming in Madison county, Iowa; and Bertha F., wife of Dr. H. E. Martin, of Clinton, Iowa. There are also ten promising grandchildren, seven boys and three girls.
Mr. Phillips gives his support to the democratic party, and, although he has never sought public office, he has served to the general satisfaction of the people as a member of the school board. He is identified with Lodge No. 95, A. F. & A. M., at West Liberty, and Mrs. Phillips is a member of the Order of the Eastern Star., being an active worker in that organization. They are both believers in the authority and inspiration of the Bible and are connected with the Christian church. He is a man of wide experience, a good conversationalist and a pleasing companion. He has shown himself to be an able business manager and also to be a possessor of those characteristics, without which success in life is hardly attainable. He has always been loyal and faithful to every trust and is justly entitled to a place in a work of permanent interest to people of Muscatine county.
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