Bio: Phillips, Jason
Contact: Lani Bartelt

----Sources: Family Records

John T. Terrell and Son In Law, Jason Phillips

A recent obituary posted from the Marshfield News newspaper for 8 June 1893 for John T Terrell on our Clark Co site begins this biography.

Not a lot of information is known about John Terrell but this we do know: He was a person who believed in his country and served both in the Civil War and the war with Mexico and was honored at his gravesite by both the GAR Post and the WRC of Marshfield, Wood Co, WI He was between 89 and 91 years when he died and he had been living with his son-in-law Jason Phillips of Snow, WI for a number of years before his death Although the obit stated that the GAR performed their ritual ceremonies at the grave no cemetery was given in the obituary so I do not know where he is buried Since the obituary was from a Marshfield newspaper perhaps he and his wife are buried somewhere in Wood Co, WI.

John T Terrell was married to Elizabeth (Eliza) Friar and one of their children. a daughter, Avilda (Terrell) Davis, widow of Luther Davis, was the second wife of Jason Phillips. I also do not know when Elizabeth (Friar) Terrell died or where she is buried.

Lani note/April 2006 This is probably the GAR Post that performed the services at John Terrell’s funeral - James G Blaine, Post No 110 GAR of Marshfield, Wood Co, WI

JASON PHILLIPS FAMILY

CHILD'S GAZETTEER OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, TOWN OF THERESA

The following family group descriptions are adapted from Hamilton Child's "Gazetteer of Jefferson County, N.Y.", published in 1890. The families are arranged alphabetically by township, and wherever possible, a link has been made to a Jefferson County Pioneer.

EDEN PHILLIPS

Eden Phillips came from Massachusetts and located in the town of Pamelia in 1822. He married Sally Dresser, also a native of Massachusetts, and they had five sons and two daughters, namely: Orrel, Obed, Marian, John N., Jason, Sarah, and Freeman. The latter (Freeman) enlisted in the late war when 20 years of age, and served three years and 11 months. While home on a furlough, in 1864, he married Emily J., daughter of Lauren L. Soper, of Theresa, by whom he has had two sons and four daughters, viz.: Frank L., Abbie L., Jennie P., Maud L., Fay L., and Freddie, who died in infancy. Frank L. married Emogene House. Abigail Soper, widow of Lauren L., at the age of 88 years, resides with her daughter, Mrs. Truman Phillips.

JOHN PHILLIPS

John Phillips, Jr. was born in Herkimer County in 1806, and when quite young removed with his father to this county and located in the town of Lyme. In 1826 he married Sarah McCombs, of Lyme, by whom he has had 12 children, of whom Cordelia (Mrs. Leroy Gray) died in 1875, and 11 survive, namely: George W., John C., Edward, Egbert, Gustavus C., William D., Lewis F., Tyler D., Phineas F., Jasper W., and Sarah C. William D. Phillips was educated in the common schools and helped his father on the farm until he attained his majority. He then worked three years for David Foster, of Theresa, and January 6, 1862, married Emmoretta V., daughter of David Foster, and they have had five children, one of whom, Ada, died in infancy, and four survive, viz.: David f., Weston D., Ethel G. and John H. August 12, 1862, Mr. Phillips enlisted in Co. F, 10th N.Y.H.A., and served until October 17, 1865. John N. Phillips holds the service record as one of the best and most reliable engineers on the lakes. He is now serving his forty-fifth season as chief engineer, and has never missed a trip or laid off a watch during his long and useful career.

It is a pleasure to chronicle the integrity of purpose and honest, lifelong service of any one connected with the marine interests of the Great Lakes, but the record of a well-known pioneer engineer like Mr. Phillips is of more than ordinary interest to the able class of skilled mechanics now carrying out in their own sphere the grand destiny of the commerce of the Great Lakes. With such an unbroken and satisfactory record and the present indications of a rugged constitution, it is quite likely that Mr. Phillips has many years of active service before him, at least until he reaches the half-century mark; and it is certainly the wish of his many friends that in the autumn of his life he may be permitted to rest beneath his own vine and fig tree, which his thrifty and abstemious habits have permitted him to grow in his native town of Alexandria, with his trusting consort, who for many years has anticipated the opening and patiently awaited the close of each season of navigation.

Personally, he is a man of great good nature, an enjoyable companion, and a shipmate above reproach. He is the son of Eden and Sarah (Dresser) Phillips, and was born in Parmelia, Jefferson Co., N. Y., October 18, 1831. His father was born in Salem, Mass., and is a descendant of old Puritan stock. In 1834 John N. removed with his parents to Alexandria Bay, NY the family being numbered among the pioneers of that charming locality, as there were but three or four houses in Alexandria at that time, and it was there that young Phillips received his public-school education. After leaving school he went to work with his father in the carpenter shop, but he soon discovered the benches were too high for a boy of his inches, and he exchanged this berth for a place in a sawmill, where he remained for years, during which time he gained a good general knowledge of machinery.

Hence we find Mr. Phillips in 1853, second engineer on the steamer Cincinnati, of the old Oswego Steamboat line, plying between Oswego and Chicago. The next spring he shipped as second engineer on the steamer St. Nicholas, holding that berth until May, when he was appointed chief. In the spring of 1855 he was placed in charge of the machinery of the steamer Kentucky, and remained in that position three years, transferring, in 1858, to the steamer Dubuque, of the same line. In the spring of 1859 he entered the employ of the old Northern Transportation Company as chief engineer of the propeller Ogdensburg, plying between Ogdensburg and Chicago. During the next four years he had charge of the machinery of the propeller Empire, followed by three seasons on the propeller Maine. In the spring of 1867 he was transferred to the propeller City of Toledo, and ran her two seasons. When disaster overtook this fine old line of propellers in 1869, Mr. Phillips went to work for Mr. Merrick, of Detroit, as chief engineer on the lake tug Samson, retaining that berth two seasons. In the spring of 1871 he was made chief of the steamer Glasgow, plying in the lumber trade and owned by D. C. Whitney, of Detroit, remaining on her three seasons. His next steamer was the Inter-Ocean, also belonging to Mr. Merrick, which he ran five seasons, transferring in 1879 to the Glasgow, on which he passed three seasons, and bringing out new the steamer D. C. Whitney, in 1882, as chief, retaining that berth seven successive seasons, thus rounding out thirteen years in the D. C. Whitney employ, while he was seven years in the Merrick employ.

In the spring of 1889 Mr. Phillips entered the employ of the Ogdensburg Transportation Company as chief engineer of the steamer William J. Averill, transferring the next season to the James R. Langden, on which boat he served five seasons. In the spring of 1895 he was appointed chief engineer of the Governor Smith, which berth he was holding at the close of 1898. As Mr. Phillips has never had any severe accident to his machinery, and has never been discharged from any berth, it is needless to say that he has given universal satisfaction to the people for whom he has worked. He has issues of forty-one marine engineer licenses, and was engineer for three years before such papers were required by the government.

Socially he is a Master Mason, his lodge being No. 297, of Alexandria Bay, which he joined in 1858, and has therefore been a veteran for forty years. On March 23, 1851, Mr. Phillips was united in marriage to Miss Nancy Seaman, and their only daughter, May, is now Mrs. William T. Bascom, a druggist at Alexandra Bay.

JASON PHILLIPS

Jason Phillips, was a resident of Chili, Fremont Township, Clark Co, WI The 1918 History of Clark Co, WI states he was a resident for forty-six years. Born in Jefferson Co, NY July 12,1834 and was a son of Eden and Sally (Dresser) Phillips. His father was born in Massachusetts and was the son of Jason Phillips, an Englishman who settled in the United States towards the end of the colonial period or soon after the establishment of the United States. Jason’s mother was from NY. There were seven children in Eden and Sally Phillips with Jason being the fifth child. In his childhood Jason attended a subscription school in NY State and grew up on his parents’ farm.

When he was twelve years old his father died and he had to look after himself. He took up work on Lake Ontario and followed the water for about two years. At the age of seventeen he came to WI locating at Hartford in the vicinity of which he worked on farms. He later bought a farm on Empire Prairie, north of Madison but after living there for a time and he sold it and bought a farm in Winnebago Co, on which he built buildings. There he would live for twenty years. There he married Lovina Hoadley. They next moved to Adams County, WI where he farmed for fifteen years.

When the Civil War broke out he enlisted in Co E 16th WI Infantry.

Jason Phillips

Regiment Name:16th Wisconsin Infantry

Side: Union

Soldiers Rank In: Pvt.

Soldiers Rank Out: Pvt.

16th Regiment, Wisconsin Infantry

Organized at Madison, Wis., and mustered in January 31, 1862. Left State for St. Louis, Mo., March 13, thence moved to Pittsburg Landing, Tenn., March 14-20. Attached to 1st Brigade, 6th Division, Army of the Tennessee, to July, 1862. 1st Brigade, 6th Division, District of Corinth, Miss., to November, 1862. 1st Brigade, 6th Division, Left Wing 13th Army Corps (Old), Dept. of the Tennessee, to December, 1862. 1st Brigade, 6th Division, 16th Army Corps, to January, 1863. 1st Brigade 6th Division, 17th Army Corps, to September, 1863. 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 17th Army Corps, to April, 1864. 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, 17th Army Corps, to July, 1865. SERVICE.-Battle of Shiloh, Tenn., April 6-7, 1862. Advance on and siege of Corinth, Miss., April 29-May 30. Duty at Corinth till September 17. Battle of Corinth, Miss., October 3-4. Pursuit to Ripley October 5-12. Ordered to Grand Junction November 2 and duty there till November 28. Grant's Central Mississippi Campaign. Operations on the Mississippi Central Railroad to December 28. Moved to Moscow and duty along Memphis & Charleston Railroad till January 10, 1863. Moved to Memphis, Tenn., January 10, thence to Young's Point, La., January 17, and to Lake Providence March 8. Action at Old River, Lake Providence, February 10. Provost duty at Lake Providence till August. Pin Hook and Caledonia Bayou. Macon, May 10. Expedition to Mechanicsburg May 26-June 4. Near Lake Providence June 9. Moved to Red Bone Church August 1 and duty there till February 5, 1864. Garrison duty at Vicksburg till March 4. Veterans on furlough March and April. Non-veterans on duty at Vicksburg till April 5, then joined Regiment at Cairo, Ill. Veterans moved to Cairo, Ill., April 20-22. Moved to Clifton, Tenn., May 4, thence march to Ackworth, Ga. via Huntsville and Decatur, Ala., and Rome, Ga., May 5-June 8. Atlanta (Ga.)Campaign June 8-September 8. Operations about Marietta and against Kenesaw Mountain June 10-July 2. Brush Mountain June 15. Assault on Kenesaw Mountain June 27. Nickajack Creek July 2-5. Howell's Ferry July 5. Chattahoochie River July 5-17. Leggett's or Bald Hill July 20-21. Battle of Atlanta July 22. Siege of Atlanta July 22-August 25. Ezra Chapel July 28. Flank movement on Jonesboro August 25-30. Battle of Jonesboro August 31-September 1. Lovejoy Station September 2-6. Operations against Hood in North Georgia and North Alabama September 29-November 3. March to the sea November 15-December 10. Siege of Savannah December 10-21. Campaign of the Carolinas January to April, 1865. Pocotaligo, S. C., January 14. Reconnoissance to Salkehatchie River January 25. Barker¿s Mills, Whippy Swamp, February 1. Salkehatchie Swamp February 2-5. Binnaker's Bridge, South Edisto, February 9. Orangeburg February 11-12. Columbia February 16-17. Averysboro , N. C., March 16. Battle of Bentonville March 19-21. Occupation of Goldsboro March 24. Advance on Raleigh April 10-14. Occupation of Raleigh April 14. Bennett's House April 26. Surrender of Johnston and his army. March to Washington, D. C., via Richmond, Va., April 29-May 19. Grand Review May 24. Moved to Louisville, Ky., June 7. Mustered out July 12, 1865.

Regiment lost during service 6 Officers and 141 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 4 Officers and 248 Enlisted men by disease. Total 399.

After the Civil War Jason Phillips returned to his wife and two children, Emily and Dexter.

In 1871 he and his family came to Clark County, locating in section 36 Fremont Township, where he obtained forty acres of wild land. Here he built a log home of three rooms 20 by 22 feet and began clearing his land with an ox team. He also built a frame barn and as time went on he cleared his land. From 1880-1900 he was postmaster of Snow post office, which was located at his house. This post office was closed June 6,1900.

For some time he held office on the district school board and also served as town assessor. His first wife, Lovina Hoadsley, died at age forty.

Jason married a second time on 3 March 1879 to Avilda Davis, who was born 5 March 1845 in Montello, WI and she was the daughter of John T and Elizabeth (Friar) Terrell. They came to WI from NY and located first at Marquette Co, WI. Of Jason Phillips second marriage to Avilda Davis no children were born. Avilda Davis was the widow of Luther Davis.

From his first marriage, daughter Emily lived at Belfield, ND and son Dexter, who was born at Omro, Winnebago Co, WI 7 Nov 1855 spent most of his life on the farm with his parents. He later owned the west half of the homestead in Fremont Township and engaged in farming. For three years he followed railroading and also spent twelve winters in the woods at lumbering. He was married in January 1883 to Elizabeth Davis and had five children of whom Lenore, was married and lived in Rock Township, Wood Co, WI; Wayland F. a locomotive engineer, married Angel and lived in Gurney, WI; and Myra M was a teacher at Hazel, ND.

Jason Phillips was a member of James G Blaine, Post No 110 GAR of Marshfield, Wood Co, WI Jason Phillips died 13 Sept 1918. Avilda Terrell Davis died 28 Nov 1935. Both are buried at the Yolo Cemetery, Fremont, Clark Co, WI.

These are the other Phillips buried in Clark Co, WI. Whether they are related to Jason Phillips I am not sure.