JOHN Y. PHILLIPS is to be classed as one of the earliest pioneers in this northwest country and a record of his travels and experiences during those days would make a very interesting volume. It is with pleasure, therefore, that we mention the salient points of the same.
John Y. Phillips was born in Boone county. Missouri, on May 30, 1839, the son of John Y. and Margaret (Ward) Phillips, both of whom died in 1847. Our subject's uncle, Hiram Phillips, was the judge of Boone county and was appointed guardian of the orphans and estate of the elder Phillips, deceased. In 1853 John Y. came with his brother, Newton. who had previously been to California, across the plains with a band of cattle to California. They were ten months en route. Newton Phillips is now a wealthy land owner of Fresno, California. In 1855, our subject returned to Missouri, and four years later crossed the plains with about five hundred head of stock cattle. It was in 1862, that he came to Florence and mined there and in adjacent camps. Afterward, he passed through the Lolo trail to East Bannock, then was at Alder Gulch, where he did placer mining. In 1886, he went to Portland, Oregon, and was one of forty-five men who chartered the steamer Growler and went to Sitka, Alaska. They met with indifferent success, as regards mining, and the next trip the steamer was lost with all on board. We next see him in Seattle, whence he went to Montana; then he came to the Similkameen river just above Oroville, in 1868, where he did placer mining, clearing about twenty—five dollars per day. The next summer, he was with William Hall at the mouth of the Pend d’Oreille. Mr. Hall afterwards discovered the famous Hall mines in British Columbia. In 1871, Mr. Phillips went to the Priest river mines, in British Columbia, then settled on a ranch in Mason valley and took up stock raising. In 1885, he moved his property to Toat’s coulee creek, near Mr. Thorp’s ranch, where he owns a ranch. During the winter of 1889-90 he lost one hundred and forty-three head of cattle, and the next spring he came to his present place, three miles east of Anglin, being the first settler on Bonaparte creek.
Mr. Phillips married an Indian woman and has two children. Charles, and Martha, wife of J. C. Patterson of this county. Mr. Phillips is a good substantial citizen and has been very successful in handling cattle, having some fine thoroughbreds now.
Source: AN ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF STEVENS, FERRY, OKANOGAN AND CHELAN COUNTIES, STATE OF WASHINGTON, published by Western Historical Publishing Company, 1904; Pgs. 578-579
