THOMAS H. PHILLIPS, attorney at law, Anna, was born in Belleville, St. Clair Co., Ill., November 23, 1827, to John and Laura Tippy) Phillips. His father was a native of Virginia, born in 1789. During his life, he engaged in agricultural pursuits. He was a Lieutenant in the war of 1812, and after its close removed from Virginia to Kentucky. In 1816, he came to Illinois and settled in Williamson County, and after a few years removed to St. Clair County, where he died in 1847. His father, (subject's grandfather) was one of three brothers who came to America and settled in Virginia, previous to the Revolutionary war; they were natives of Wales. The mother of our subject was born in Tennessee, in 1797, and was married, in 1818. She died at Anna, Ill., October 11, 1875. Her father was a native of Germany, who emigrated to America, and settled in New York State. He was a soldier in the war of the Revolution, and after its close he wandered away from his home and has not been heard from since. Thomas H. Phillips was of a family of thirteen children, of whom the following are now living; William, a carpenter of Springfield, Ill.; Mary, wife of Isaac Whiteside, a farmer of Madison County, Ill.; Elizabeth, widow of William M. Howell, formally Marion County, Ill.; Capt. Isaac N., a farmer of Union County, who was Provost Marshal of this district during the war; Nancy, widow of John W. Bundy, of Cobden; Sarah, wife of E. H. Finch, of Anna; Thomas H., our subject; and Margaret, wife of Capt. I. M. Spery, a farmer of Cobden. Thomas H. spent his early life at home on the farm, and there received the benefit of the subscription and common schools. When he was twenty-eight years of age, he entered the Shurtleff College of Illinois, and there remained two years. In 1867, he began reading law with Hon. William H. Underwood, of Belleville, Ill., and was admitted to the bar in the fall of the same year. In 1868, he began the practice of law at Pana, Ill., where he remained two years. In 1870, he came to Anna, Ill., where he has since remained. In September, 1882, he went to Washington, D. C, and acted as Clerk in the Department of the Interior; he resigned however on account of a disability in his right arm, and returned to his home at Anna in January, 1883. In 1867, he married, at Belleville, Ill., Miss Ellen A. Hughes, a native of the same place, and a daughter of Judge John D. Hughes and Rebecca W. (Shannon) Hughes. He was a native of Virginia, who emigrated to Illinois, in 1820, and died in 1869. Mr. and Mrs. Phillips have two children — Maurice H., born May 29, 1873, and Florence L., born October 19, 1877. He is a member of the Baptist Church, and she of the Presbyterian Church. He is a member of the A., F. & A. M., Blue Lodge and Chapter; also of the K. of H. Politically, he is a Republican, and cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln. He was twice nominated for the Legislature, and once for County Judge, but owing to the power of the Democratic party he was defeated. He is now City Attorney of Anna. During the war, he was Deputy Provost Marshal of this district, which included fifteen counties. He was Postmaster in 1872, and resigned after holding the office one year.
Extracted 02 Apr 2017 by Norma Hass from 1883 History of Alexander, Union, and Pulaski Counties, Illinois, Part V, pages 81-82.
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