Prosser, Col. William Farrand. "A History of the Puget Sound Country, Its Resources, Its Commerce and its People." Vol. 2. New York and Chicago: Lewis Publishing Co., 1903. pp. 37-38. S. A. PHILLIPS. The old pioneers, even of the newest countries, are fast passing away, and soon only their names and the memory of their brave deeds will be left as a blessed heritage to the less hardy descendants, who reap the golden results but not the hardships and toil of those who went before them. A half century is not a long period in the general history of the world, but fifty years ago the present state of Washington existed only as the great oak lives in the little acorn; and of the men who were there to bring about this wonderful growth only a few survive and witness the fruit of their early toils. In this small number of sturdy pioneers may well be counted Mr. S. A. Phillips, who still retains the old donation claim which he took from the government fifty years ago, located three miles south of the city of Chehalis, Lewis county. On both sides of the house the grandfathers of Mr. Phillips were participants in the struggles of the Revolutionary war. Edward Phillips, his father, came to Monroe county, Michigan, in 1835, and was one of the pioneer settlers of Oakland county of that state. He died in Macomb county, Michigan, in 1849, aged seventy-seven years. Mr. S. A. Phillips and his brother James T. are the only survivors of the family, and both reside in Lewis county. S. A. Phillips was born in Cayuga county, New York, November 1, 1830, came with his father to Michigan, and when twenty-one years of age left his home in that state, took passage in a steamer and by way of the Isthmus arrived in San Francisco in 1852. From there he came to Olympia, near which place he took a donation claim and built a little home. During the Indian war of 1855-56 this house and all his moveable property and crops were destroyed by the Indians. He enlisted and did active service in the campaign against the redskins until the close, furnishing his own horse and equipment; he was never reimbursed for his losses or his services until by a recent act of Congress he was allowed a pension of eight dollars a month, which he will soon begin to receive. He settled on his present ranch in Lewis county in 1858. During the first years of his residence here he was compelled to go to Portland and Olympia for his supplies, fording all the rivers and undergoing all the hardships incident to pioneer life, paying a dear price for his simple frontier home. He was industrious, and by his diligence has made a fine farm and on it has erected a nice residence. As time passed and he was prospered he added to his land one hundred and sixty acres, so that he owned four hundred and eighty acres. In the same year that he took up his residence in Lewis county he was united in marriage to Miss Jane Moore, who died in 1868. leaving two children. The daughter is now Mrs. Adela Cregg and lives in Lewiston, Idaho; Edward Phillips, the son. was born in 1859, married Margaret Johnson, a native of Scotland, and had two children, Elva and Norval. Mr. Phillips has given his son one hundred and thirty acres of his estate. In 1870 he took for his second wife Miss May Jackson, whose father was one of the oldest pioneers of this county, and it will be of interest to briefly sketch his life. John R. Jackson was a native of England; he came to this country and emigrated to the state of Washington in 1844. He located in Lewis county, and the prairie on which he settled took his name and has ever since been known as Jackson's Prairie. In the primitive log house which he budt on his claim was held the first court of justice in the county; he served as probate judge of the county for many years, and was a successful farmer and respected citizen. He died May 24, 1873, when seventy-three years of age. His religious views were those of the Episcopalian church. His wife crossed the plains in 1847 and was one of the brave pioneer women of the country. She was a widow, Mrs. Koontz, and she married Mr. Jackson in May, 1848, and her son, Barton Koontz, now lives on the old home. This estimable lady passed away February 14, 1901, when ninety years old, and she was the oldest woman pioneer of Lewis county at the time of her death. There were six children born to Mr. and Mrs. Jackson, and the two daughters are still living: Louisa is now the wife of Joseph Weir, and May is Mrs. Phillips. Mr. S. A. Phillips is an honest, self-reliant man, has preferred to paddle his own canoe throughout his life, has never joined any society or taken a pledge; thinks liquor is a good thing in its proper place, has not hesitated to drink when he wished, but has always known when was the right time to stop; he has always based his moral conduct on the Golden Rule, although he does not profess to have never fallen short in its practical application; always punctual in the payment of his debts, he has gained a most enviable reputation in the business world, and now in the seventieth year of his life his past is one in which he may feel a justifiable pride, and his future is not an object of fear. ******************* Submitted to the Washington Biographies Project in June 2009 by Jenny Tenlen. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.