HON. KIRK GUNBY PHILLIPS.
Hon. Kirk Gunby Phillips, deceased, was one of the pioneer settlers of the Black Hills and took an active and helpful part in promoting its substantial development and improvement, so that his history has become an integral chapter in the record of that section of the state. A native of Maryland, he was born in Wicomico county, November 25, 1851, a son of Levin and Mary (Gunby) Phillips, who were also natives of Maryland. The mother died in the year 1857 and the father survived until 1863. He was an extensive landowner and farmer and to his business interests devoted his entire attention, never caring for public office. He was twice married and by the first union had one child, while five were born of the second marriage.
Kirk G. Phillips was the third child and at the place of his nativity in Maryland he attended the public schools. He went alone to Montana in 1867, when a youth of but sixteen years, traveling overland from Omaha and settling near Helena, where he engaged in mining on his own account and in the employ of others. In 1876 he removed to Dcadwood, journeying by stage to Ogden, thence by rail to Sidney and on by stage to the Black Hills, where he arrived in 1876. Establishing his home in Deadwood, he engaged in the drug business for a short time, after which he obtained a contract for building the Boulder ditch. When he had completed the contract he again engaged in the drug business, in which he continued throughout the remainder of his life, being one of the well known, enterprising and representative merchants of his city. About 1900 he extended the scope of his activities to include the sale of mining and milling supplies. His business was conducted along both retail and wholesale lines and a liberal patronage was accorded him. He was also a large stockholder and director of the mine known as Wasp No. 2 and was connected with various other mining projects and enterprises. He was also a landowner and had considerable city realty. His investments were judiciously made and success attended his intelligently directed efforts and crowned his industry and determination with prosperity.
On the 30th of June, 1887, Mr. Phillips was united in marriage to Miss Annie I. Cooper, who was born near Morristown, New Jersey. In 1913 she was called upon to mourn the loss of her husband, w ho passed away on the 7th of August of that year. Since his death she has continued the drug business as before and also managed the other interests and investments left her.
Mr. Phillips was well known in Masonic circles, holding membership in Deadwood Lodge, No. 7, F. & A. M.; Royal Arch Chapter; Dakota Commandery, No. 1, K. T.; Deadwood Consistory, S. P. R. S.; and Naja Temple of the Mystic Shrine. He was also connected with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and the Ancient Order of United Workmen and in religious faith was an Episcopalian. Mr. Phillips gave his political allegiance to the republican party, being one of its most stalwart supporters, and on several occasions he was called to public office. He was the first mayor of Deadwood after the granting of the city charter and filled that position for two years. He was also county treasurer for six years and then higher honors were conferred upon him in his election to the office of state treasurer, in which he served for four years. Mr. Phillips entered upon the duties of this office under the most trying circumstances. The treasury had been swept clean by his predecessor and warrants were selling at ninety cents on the dollar. Within thirty days, so strong was his personal credit and the faith the moneyed men had in him, he raised three hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars and sent the money changers and usurers flying to their holes. His subsequent administration of the financial affairs of the state was a source of pride to every citizen. He immediately made good a loss of twenty-five thousand, five hundred and forty-five dollars of the state funds sustained by the failure of the Dakota National Bank of Sioux Fails, borrowing the money at a high rate of interest on his own personal security. And two months later, when Governor Lee demanded that the state's money be brought to Pierre in actual cash for the legislature to count, Mr. Phillips complied and at a heavy personal expense expressed to Pierre every dollar of the state's cash. In 1898 lie was his party's candidate for governor but the fever heat of populism was yet too hot in the . land and he was defeated by the small majority of three hundred and eighty-five votes. Probably no state ever elected a governor by so small a majority. Realizing his strength, the whole force of the campaign by the opposition had been waged against him. His opinions long carried weight in the councils of his party and none questioned his devotion to the best interests of the state. Nature qualified him for leadership. He never regarded lightly the duties and obligations which devolved upon him but on the contrary did full justice to every task of a public or private nature and was ever working toward higher ideals in manhood and in citizenship.
Source: History of Dakota Territory, Volume IV, by George Washington Kingsbury, published by the S.J. Clarke Publishing Company, Chicago, 1915; Pgs. 665-666
