Rev. W. F. Phillips, the present pastor of the Baptist Church, of the village of Ontario, Vernon Co., Wis., was born in Wales, in 1801. When quite young he became imbued with the idea of becoming a minister of the gospel and at the age of fifteen years com menced to talk on religious matters. In 1818 he entered Brecon College,.in the south of Wales, to prepare for the ministry. He was graduated in 1822, and in 1842 came to these United States. His first charge was the Welsh Baptist Church, at Utica, N. Y., where he remained four years. He then removed to Freedom, in the same State, where he officiated as pastor to both the English and Welsh Baptist Churches for about nine years. He was subsequently in charge of two Baptist congregations at Dodgeville, Iowa Co., Wis., for three years, and was then called to the Church at Spring Green, Sauk Co., Wis., where he ministered to the spiritual wants of three congregations until 1870. In the latter year, he came to Ontario, and has since officiated as their pastor. A glance at the foregoing will abundantly serve to show that Rev. Phillips has spent a long and useful life in the service of his Lord and Master. He is now nearing the end of this mortal life, but the years that have whitened his locks and enfeebled his steps have also added strength to his soul and a determination to die in the harness. He was united in marriage, in 1831, to Ann Jones, and seven children have been born to them, five living—Frank M. (Daniel), Jennie (Davis), William C., Lucinda (Green) and Catherine (Fox). Mrs. Phillips crossed over the dark river in 1869, and Jan. 12, 1875, Rev. Phillips married Lydia Beecher, a native of Hinesburg, Vt.
Source: History of Vernon County, Wisconsin, Illustrated, published by Union Publishing Company, Springfield, Ill., 1884; Pg. 757
