"Portrait & Biographical Record of the Willamette Valley Oregon." Chapman Publishing Company, 1903. p. 596. RICHARD W. PHILLIPS Among the pioneer settlers of Yamhill county Richard W. Phillips occupies an altogether unique place, his character, his farm and his career being as familiar to the old-time residents as are his genial face and kindly manner. Mr. Phillips was born in Limestone county, Ala., January 1, 1832, and as far back as is know his forefathers were farmers and large land owners in the south. His paternal grandfather, William E. Phillips, followed the martial forces of Washington during the Revolutionary war, gaining distinction because of his courageous and meritorious services. The parental family comprised thirteen children, who were given a fair education in the district schools. When their son, Richard W., was seven years old the family removed to Louisiana, and from that age until he was twenty he remained at home with his parents. At the latter age, however, he started out on his own responsibility, and in 1853 crossed the plains with ox teams. He was accompanied on the journey by his brother, George W., and they both sustained some loss, owing to the depredations of the Indians, thereby losing some of their horses. After a wearisome journey of over seven months they finally reached Amity, Yamhill county, where they remained for some time. At the end of the journey Richard W. was possessed of just $5 in currency, with which to begin life in the west, and, as may well be imagined, it did not carry him very far. Soon after his arrival, however, he was fortunate enough to secure employment at farm work, and in 1855 went to The Dalles, where for nine months he was employed by a pack train, und the supervision of the government. In the meantime his brother had enlisted in the Indian war of 1855-56, being under the command of Captain Emery, and acquitting himself creditably as a preserver of the peace in the west. From The Dalles Mr. Phillips removed to Yamhill county in 1857, and the same year started for California with a bunch of cattle. As this proved a paying venture he made similar expeditions for several years thereafter. For a time in 1859 he was employed at farm work, but the same year returned to Wasco county, Ore., where he dealt quite extensively in cattle, and remained there until 1873. While a resident of the latter county, in January, 1862, he married Mary Hawley, who was born on the Boise river, Idaho, in 1844. After his marriage he removed to the farm, which has since been his home, and which he had purchased in 1861, it being located one-half mile south of Whiteson. That Mr. Phillips has utilized the chances by which he has been surrounded in the northwest is proved by the fact that he now owns eleven hundred and eighteen acres of land, a truly wonderful increase over his original $5. About five hundred acres are under cultivation, and no farm in this county is better equipped or more extensive in its various avenues of activity. The past season witnessed the gathering of sixteen thousand pounds of hops, an item of commerce which is accounted one of the specialties of the Phillips farm, which is known as Peach Hill Farm. The five hundred head of stock include Shorthorn cattle, Cotswold sheep, Berkshire and Poland-China hogs, and Angora goats. An air of substantiality and thoroughness, also of extreme neatness and thrift, pervades this splendid old farm, as reliable and substantial as is the honored owner, everywhere known as Uncle Dick. The first wife of Mr. Phillips died in 1875, leaving three children: Richard W. Jr., of Coulee City, Wash.; Anna E., the wife of F. Ferguson, of Amity; and Carrie C., wife of George Hancock, of Cornelius. Some time after the death of his wife Mr. Phillips married Elizabeth Frazer, who was born in Woodford county, Ky., and this union resulted in the birth of four children: George E., at home; Homer C., a resident of eastern Oregon; one child, who died in infancy, and Curry S., who died at the age of six years. Ever since his voting days Mr. Phillips has taken a keen interest in politics, and has always espoused the cause of the Democratic party. He is a welcome member and visitor at various fraternal lodges in the county, notably the Masonic, of which he has been a member for over forty years; the Eastern Star, and the Ancient Order of United Workmen, of which he is a charter member of twenty-six years standing. Mr. Phillips has been to the fore in all movements of a social or public nature in his neighborhood, and though extremely careful and conservative, has wielded a great influence in all matters of importance. His farm is the headquarters for several large industries, and friends come from far and near to partake of his hospitality. He is not only one of the largest hope and stock raisers, but is known as by far the most extensive mule raiser in Yamhill county. Transcriber's additional notes: Census 1870, August 20; Yamhill Co, OR; Amity Pct, p 557, family #631 Richard Phillips, 36, AL, farmer, $13,000 / $5,190 Mary, 26, ID Ann, 7, OR Mary, 5, OR Richard, 3, OR Frederick, 1, OR 1870, August 20; Yamhill Co, OR; Amity Pct, p 557, family #627 George Phillips, 40, AL, farmer Mary, 29, IL Oscar, 13, OR, att. school Elizabeth, 11, OR, att. school Richard, 8, OR, att. school William, 6, OR, att. school Charles, 4, OR Martha, 6/12, OR William Queener, 19, MS, farm laborer 1880, June 4; Yamhill Co, OR; Amity, p 460 Richard Philipp, 47, AL, AL, AL, farmer Mary E, wife, 28, KY, KY, KY Anna, dau, 16, OR, AL, KY, att. school Carrie,dau, 15, OR, AL, KY, att. school Richard W, son, 13, OR, AL, KY, att. school Fred C, son, 11, OR, AL, KY, att. school George A, son, 1, OR, AL, KY Pauline Mattox, boarder, 22, MO, IN, VA, single, music teacher Delila Goucher, boarder, 10, OR, VA, IN, att. school Leander Cline, laborer, 27, PA, PA, PA, single, farm laborer 1880, June 7; Yamhill Co, OR; Amity, p 462 George Phillps, 50, AL, SC, SC, farmer Mary J, wife, 37, IL, KY, KY Oscar, son, 23, OR, AL, IL, laborer Richard, son, 17, OR, AL, IL, laborer William, son, 16, OR, AL, IL, att. school Charles, son, 12, OR, AL, IL, att. school Marthy A, dau, 10, OR, AL, IL, att. school Mary A, dau, 3, Or, AL, IL Lilly E. Watts, dau, 21, OR, AL, IL, at home James Watts, son in law, 36, OH, PA, PA, harness maker 1900, June 2; Yamhill Co, OR; Whiteson Pct, p 31 Richard Phillips, 68, Jan. 1832, AL, NC, NC, mar 23 yrs, farmer Lizzie, wife, 48, Jan 1852, KY, KY, KY, mar 23 yrs, 4 children-2 living George A., son, 21, March 1879, OR, AL, KY, single, farm laborer Homer, son, 18, June 1882, OR, AL, KY, single, farm laborer Maud Perkins, boarder, 21, April 1879, OR, MO, OR, single, servant David Bradford, boarder, 32, Jan 1868, NY, NY, NY, single, farm laborer Frank Converse, boarder, 17, May 1883, IA, MN, PA, single, farm laborer ******************* Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in September 2006 by Diana Smith. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.