My Genealogy Hound

WILLIAM T. PHILIPS, M. D., post office Library, was born on the old Philips homestead, near Library, July 16, 1842, a son of Nelson Philips, born in Bethel township, this county, April 7, 1814, and Elizabeth (Dixon) Philips, born in Washington county, in October, 1824. Nelson Philips was a son of David and Nancy (Richardson) Philips, and was a carpenter by trade, but followed farming. David was a farmer, and came to this place with his father, Rev. David Philips, in 1780, settling in what is now Bethel township. Rev. David Philips was born March 26, 1742; was a captain in the Revolution, a son of Joseph Philips, who was born in Wales, in 1716, and married to a Welsh lady who was born in 1710. Joseph came to America in 1755 with his three sons, David, John and Josiah. Rev. David Philips had a great gift of pulpit and pastoral work. He was called to Peter’s Creek Baptist Church, at Library, April 7, 1781, ordained May 1st of the same year, and there labored forty years. Rev. David Philips was a true patriot as well as a Christian. When the whisky rebellion was at its height, he mounted a stump, amid cries of ‘‘Shoot him,” and urged the payment of the excise, while his friends expected every moment to see him fall. He died March 5, 1829, and his widow, Mary Thomas, Oct. 31, 1840. Our subject received his schooling at Bethel Academy and Curry Institute, from which he graduated in 1877. He afterward spent three years at Michigan University, at Ann Arbor, graduating from the medical department in 1884. He enlisted Oct. 17, 1861, in Co. G, 101st P. V. I., and was discharged in March, 1863; re-enlisted in August, 1863, in Co. G, 2d N. J. C.; was promoted to second lieutenant, and at a battle south of Nashville, in December, 1864, was wounded and taken prisoner. The commanding officer in his report made honorable mention of Mr. Philips and his company for gallantry in action. He was mustered out May 15, 1865. He then taught school near home until 1880. Since returning from the medical college he has practiced medicine at Library. The doctor married, Nov. 4, 1869, Olivia M. Boyer, born Feb. 24, 1849, a daughter of James and Emily (Ivans) Boyer, and four children have blessed this union: Lucy E., Harry B., James H. and Rosette. Mr. and Mrs. Philips are members of the Baptist Church, of which he is a deacon, and was for seven years superintendent of the Sunday-school.