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Below is a family biography included in the History of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania published in 1889 by A. Warner & Co. These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary. Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more. There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.
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WILLIAM JAMES PHILLIPS, gardener, Glenfield, was born in Mt. Oliver, Pa., Dec. 29, 1850, son of Robert and Eliza (Mackey) Phillips, natives of County Antrim, Ireland (a brother of John Phillips). Robert came to America about 1840, and settled at Manchester, now a part of the city of Allegheny, and shortly afterward moved to the old Claney farm at Mt. Oliver, then to his present farm on Neville island. Here he started, with almost nothing, to follow the avocation of a gardener, and before his death he had accumulated a fortune, owning a great deal of land. On one of his farms he built a brick residence overlooking the Ohio river, which is indeed a beautiful home, costing $16,000. He left four sons and one daughter: John M., W. J., Charles J., R. A. and AnnaJ. (Mrs. Charles Purcell). He was a prominent democrat, and a member of the Episcopal Church; his wife was a Presbyterian. Mr. Phillips made a specialty of raising asparagus, and his place was fully equipped with all the latest improvements, having barges, pumps, etc. He died in 1884, his wife in 1879. William was married in 1874 to Clara C. Krugh, a native of South Side, Pittsburgh. Her parents, John A. and Albertinia (Forrester) Krugh, were natives of Germany. Three sons have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Phillips: Ferdinand, Walter and Harry. Mr. Phillips is a democrat, and is one of the school directors.
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This family biography is one of 2,156 biographies included in the History of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania published in 1889 by A. Warner & Co.
View additional Allegheny County, Pennsylvania family biographies here: Allegheny County, Pennsylvania Biographies
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