“The good old horse and buggy days” were recalled by Thomas Jasper Phillips of Rusk as his 90th birthday approaches. Mr. Phillips lives with his son and family, Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Phillips near the State Crossing in Rusk.
Mr. Phillips was born on April 25, 1880 six miles from Rusk on the Mt. Hope Road. He was the fifth child born to Robert Robertson and Elizabeth Ann Phillips on their home place. Mr. Phillips’ sister, Mrs. Viola Halbert of Rusk, celebrated her 94th birthday on February 14th.
In recalling his early days, Mr. Phillips remembered the cattle drives his father made from Rusk to Colorado and Kansas. He recalled a time when there were only two houses between Rusk and the Neches River and the woods in the area were filled with cows, turkey, deer, and hogs. He said he and his brothers and sisters used to try to catch the wild turkey but were never able to tame them. A prized possession of Mr. Phillips is a framed picture of his father. The exact age of the picture and frame are not known but his father was a young man in the picture and Bob Phillips was born October 16, 1837. Mr. Phillips recalls that his father fought four years in the Civil War. Bob Phillips rode off on his horse to join the war and returned four years later riding the same horse.
Jasper Phillips spent his life farming near Rusk. He also worked in a saw mill, on the railroad and worked almost seven years at Rusk State Hospital.
On Christmas Eve, 1900, Phillips married Lillie Ann Halbert and they had six children, Jack Phillips of Kermit, Texas; Alvin Phillips, deceased; Leon Phillips of Rusk; Adele Phillips Parker of Rusk; C.N. Phillips of Rusk; and Elizabeth Phillips, deceased.
Following his wife’s death, Phillips married Myrtle McDaniel in 1921 and they had two children, Clyde Alton Phillips of Rusk and Thomas Jasper Phillips, Jr. of Lindale.
Mr. Phillips, who will be 90 years old Saturday, has 10 grandchildren, 15 great grandchildren and 2 great great grandchildren.
Source: The Cherokeean, Rusk Texas, Thursday, April 23, 1970; Pg. 12
NOTE: Per Texas Death Cert. #00946:
Thomas Jasper Phillips, s/o Robert Phillips and Elizabeth Williams
Obituary:
Thomas J. Phillips, 92, Rt. 4, Rusk died Sunday afternoon in a Rusk nursing home following a lengthy illness.
Last rites were read at 2 p.m. Wednesday in the Mt. Hope Baptist Church with Rev. Don Copeland and Rev. O.P. Meador officiating. Burial was in the Mt. Hope Cemetery under the direction of Wallace Funeral Home.
Mr. Phillips was born near Maydelle and had lived in the area all of his life. He was a retired farmer, employee of Rusk State Hospital and a member of the Oakland Baptist Church.
Surviving him are four sons, Jack Phillips and J.T. Phillips, Jacksonville; Corry Phillips and Clyde Phillips, Rusk; a daughter, Mrs. Adell Parker, Rusk; a sister, Mrs. Viola Halbert, Dialville; 13 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and two great-great grandchildren.
Richards Phillips, Corry Ray Phillips, Richard Bobbitt, Dan Blair, Bobby Joe Coates and Curtis Mainer served as pallbearers.
Source: The Cherokeean, Rusk, Texas, Thursday, January 25, 1973; Pg. 12
