Phillips, Bessie 1897 - 1922

PHILLIPS, SMITH, BROWN, MCMENEMY, ANTINRUTH

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 8/20/2023 at 15:24:50

OBITUARIES OF FIRE VICTIMS.
Brief Sketch of Lives of J. E. Phillips, Wife and Daughter Who Perished in Fire Last Week.
Jacob Edward Phillips was born in Grant county, Wisconsin, Dec. 21, 1867, and when three years of age he went with his parents, Jacob and Myra Phillips, to Clay county, Iowa. When but a small boy his mother passed away, and this broke u the home, leaving him and his three sisters who found homes with relatives until they were married and made homes of their own. Mr. Phillips was married Oct. 23, 1892, to Miss Georgia Smith of Horton, Iowa, and they have made their home in Bremer county ever since, and most of that time was spent on a farm near Plainfield and Horton. To this union were born three daughters, the second daughter, Grace, passing away several years ago at about five years of age, and Miss Bessie M. Phillips, who was staying at home helping care for her parents, perished in the flames with them Jan 25, 1922, leaving only the eldest daughter, Mrs. Nina Brown of Waverly, and two grand children, two sisters, Mrs. Tillie McMenemy, St. Paul, Minn., and Zilda Antinruth of Spokane, Wash., a niece at Long Beach, Cal. And four nephews at St. Paul, Minn., who will mourn the kind and loving father, brother and uncle.
Mr. Phillips was a member of the Modern Woodmen, a good neighbor and a kind friend. For several years he has been very deaf and almost blind, so his wife and daughter Bessie were his constant companions.
Georgia E. Smith was born in Bremer county, Iowa, Dec. 30, 1863, and lived in this community until death called her on Jan. 25, 1922. She was married to J. E. Phillips Oct. 23, 1892, and was the mother of three children, all having passed to the Great Beyond except one, Mrs. Nina Brown of Waverly, Iowa. Mrs. Phillips’ parents were Mr. and Mrs. Levi Smith, pioneers of this place, who passed away several years ago. Mrs. Phillips was the only daughter and she had an only brother, Oscar Smith, who survives. Mrs. Phillips had been in very poor health for years, but was able to be about most of the time. She was a member of the Royal Neighbors Camp at Plainfield and was faithful as far as she was able to attend or help the camp in any way, and she will be greatly missed by a large circle of friends and relatives.

Miss Bessie M. Phillips was born in Bremer county, Iowa, near Plainfield, Oct. 5, 1897, and grew to womanhood here, having graduated with honor from the Plainfield high school when 15 years of age, and for two years she was a successful teacher in Bremer county but owing to her parents’ ill health she was forced to lay aside her own ambitions and stay with them at home, which was a great sacrifice for any ambitious young person to make. She had been faithful in her trust for the past four years, and would have been willing to serve in that capacity for several more years if the death angel had not called her on Jan. 25, 1922, to answer the final summons.
Miss Phillips was a member of the Royal Neighbors Camp at Plainfield, and will be greatly missed in the camp room. Although of a modest and retiring disposition she made friends wherever she went. She leaves a sister, Mrs. Nina Brown of Waverly, Iowa, and many other relatives and friends who will mourn her departure and the terrible way to which this kind, loving and neighborly family met their death.
Funeral services were held at the Horton church Saturday afternoon, Jan. 28, the Royal Neighbors and Woodmen taking charge of the funeral. Rev. Benscheten of Horton preached the funeral services.

Source Unknown – probably local newspaper

Transcriber’s Note: Find a Grave shows they are all buried in the Horton Cemetery in Horton, IA.