by Charles W. Bowman

Biographies

   In 1877, Dr. Phillips came to Colorado, settling in West Las Animas, Bent Co., where he has resided until the present time. He was born in North Adams, Berkshire Co., Mass., November, 1821. His father was a farmer, and for twenty years he remained among the Berkshire Hills, working on the farm and attending school. He spent a number of terms at the Academy in Shelburne Falls, Mass., previous to his father's moving with his family to Aurora, Ill, in 1841. Forty years ago was any early period in the history of rapid transit, and the family came West by the way of the Erie Canal to Buffalo, N.Y., and from thence to Chicago, Ill., by steamboat, making the trip of the lakes via Mackinaw Straits. Like many other young men, Dr. Phillips was obliged to assist himself in obtaining a medical education. He taught school to enable him to pursue his studies, and he attended his first course of lectures at Rush Medical College, Chicago, in the winter of 1842 and 1843, the first course ever given in that college. He continued his studies with Dr. G.W. Richards, of St. Charles, Ill., and after a thorough course of study, he graduated from the Indiana Medical College at La Porte, Ind. Immediately after graduating in 1846, he settle in Dodgeville, Wis., where he remained for two years, and then went overland to California, where he practiced his profession for four years, after which he returned to Illinois, via Isthmus, and located in Dixon. In 1859, the State Medical Society of Illinois offered a $50 prize for the best written article upon any medical topic, the writer to choose his own subject. The Doctor entered a paper upon the "Effect of Climate on Tuberculous Disease", and took the prize. During the year 1862, the Seventy-fifth Illinois Regiment of Infantry was formed and Dr. Phillips was appointed its Surgeon, and remained with the regiment nearly a year, and then resigning only on account of ill health. When he left the army, Gen. Jeff C. Davis indorsed his discharge papers with a flattering testimonial as to his ability and faithfulness as a Surgeon. In 1864, he again joined the army, being appointed Surgeon to the One Hundred and Fortieth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, with which he served six months. In both of his enlistments he was Surgeon for the brigade with which he was connected. Though it will be seen that he was not in actual service as long as many others, yet he passed through some of the severest contests of the war, being actively engaged in the battles of Memphis, Perryville and Stone River. After his military services closed, he returned to Dixon and followed the practice of his profession until 1872, when he removed to Independence in Southern Kansas, where he remained three years. Then moving to Howard City, Kan., he resided two years. From thence he came to West Las Animas, where he enjoys the respect and confidence of his fellow-citizens, being frequently called to the extreme limits of the county to attend to professional duties.