Charles M. Phillips - Son of John Taylor Phillips and Mary Ellen Bough.
B. 21 Feb. 1871; D. 1966
Obituary:
Charles M. Phillips, 95, known throughout the Midwest for his experiments with new types of farm machinery and his progressive farming methods, died Sunday morning at his residence in Worthington.
He was the father of Mrs. Mary Kirkman of Arlington Rd. and the grandfather of Bliss Phillips, Jr. of S. Lincoln St.
In the early 1900’s Mr. Phillips did experimental work with the agricultural departments of the University of Illinois and the University of Iowa at Ames. His work was primarily aimed at seeing if the new farm machines were profitable for practical use. One of the machines he tested was the first Du-laval milk separator. He also did experiments with rotation of soil.
In 1916 he retired from the University at Ames and began farming for himself. On his Iowa farm he also raised livestock for the Chicago market. He then moved to Watertown, S. Dakota. About 43 years ago he came to Worthington and established the Phillips Fruit Farm, which was noted for its excellent strawberries.
He was a member of the Christian church.
His first wife, Nora Cruise Phillips, died about 25 years ago. He later remarried, and his wife, Jenny Phillips, survives.
By his first marriage he leaves two daughters, Mrs. Kirkman and Mrs. Max Fountain of Phoenix, Ariz. A son, Bliss Phillips, Sr., died last January. He leaves two grandchildren in addition to Bliss, Jr., John Grant Kirkman of Lawrence and Freida Pearson of Huntington Park, Calif., and a great-grandson, John William Kirkman of Indianapolis. He also leaves a step-daughter, Mrs. Florence Trimmer of Bloomfield; a foster son, Floyd Starkey of Des Moines, Iowa, and two sisters, Mrs. Pearl Johnson of Emmet, Idaho and Ella Sheets of Grand Junction, Colo. A number of brothers and sisters preceded him in death.
Funeral is today in Worthington at the Myers Funeral Home, with burial in Worthington Cemetery.
Source: Following Our Phillips Trail, Volume I, by Marguerite (Phillips) Ryan & Marilyn (Phillips) Stanton, published by Author House, Bloomington, Indiana, 2005; Pg. 114
