Charles Phillips is a good representative of the old pioneer families — sturdy, honest, thrifty, making the best of the hard conditions coincident with the early settlement of a new country. The family originally came from England settling in Massachusetts. The grandfather of our subject, Norman Phillips, was born in 1803, and died in 1885. He came from New York, where he had engaged in merchandizing and also in teaching school, to Illinois in 1837, and settled in Waddams township securing five hundred acres of land. He married Phoebe Martin, daughter of Agrippa Martin The father of our subject, James Martin Phillips, was born at Green Bay, Wisconsin, whilst the family was on its way to Illinois. Upon attaining the age of manhood, he occupied a portion of his father’s old farm, also purchasing other land in Harlem township. He served his country during three years of the war of the Rebellion, in company G, 92d regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry, under General Smith D. Atkins, remaining up to the Atlanta campaign, but his time expired and he came home before the march to the sea. He is a democrat in politics, and has served his township as assessor and collector, justice of the peace, and other minor offices. He married Mary R. Stout, a native of Maryland, who was born in 1838 and is now living in a reasonably good state of health. She is the daughter of John and Catherine (Wolf) Stout, the former still living in the west at the advanced age of eighty years. His father, John Stout lived to be a very old man.
Our subject is the oldest of the family of eleven children, named as follows: Charles N., Clara E., George W., Albert, William J., Arthur F., deceased at the age of six years; Eugene M., Henry M., Nelson C., Frank L. and Mabel E., who died at the age of ten years.
Charles N. Phillips was born in Harlem township, May 21st, 1863. He attended the district schools and also spent two winters at the college in Dakota. In 1884 he rented the home farm and cultivated this until the spring of 1897, and during this time, taught school seven winters. He then purchased nearly two hundred twenty-five acres in section ~‘, Lancaster township, of which he has since sold seventy-two acres. Here he is at present engaged in mixed farming, the raising of grain, cattle, sheep and hogs. Very little of his grain, however, is placed upon the market, most of it being used on the farm for feeding stock.
October 1st, 1890, Mr. Phillips was married in Lena to Miss Florence A. Masters, a native of Washington county, Maryland. She is a daugnter of William and Anna (Hoffman) Masters. William Masters is the son of Conrad Masters. The family is of German descent, the original name being Meister. Mrs. Phillips father died at Pleasant Valley, Jo Daviess county. By this union Mrs. Phillips is the mother of six children: Chester A., Edith Belle, Alice Mabel, Ralph and Rose (twins,) and Ermina Adelaide.
Mr. and Mrs. Phillips are members of the Baptist church. Mr. Phillips is socially connected with Damascus garrison of the Knights of the Globe, and the Modern Woodmen of America of Cedarville, in both of which he has filled all the official chairs. He is now serving as school trustee. In his political views he is an independent democrat.
Footsteps of the Pioneers
