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Note: EY Phillips (OBITUARY) Charles TORREY PHILLIPS, son of Jeremiah and Adelia Washburn PHILLIPS, was born in Delaware county Ohio, July 13, 1847, and died in Palestine, Illinois Tuesday morning, June 13, 1939, at the age of 91 years and 11 months. His father was born in Eire county, New York March 31, 1816 and his mother, Adelia Washburn, was born in Ulster county, New York Nov. 1, 1819. His grandfather, the father of Jeremiah PHILLIPS, was Jesse PHILLIPS, born in Weathersfield, Conn. August 10, 1774; and his grandmother, the wife of Jesse PHILLIPS, was Alcie Holms before marriage and born in New York state July 19, 1773. Jeremiah PHILLIPS was a practicing physician who moved with his family to Leesburg, Carroll county, Ohio, while Charley was in his infancy. In 1855, the family moved to Lansing, Michigan, where Dr. Phillips continued to practice, but in 1859 he moved to Richland county Illinois where Dr. Phillips completed his professional career and where he died. He was buried in the Olney cemetery. Early in the Civil War, Victor E. Phillips, volunteered service in the Union army, enlisting in Co. A, 63rd Ill. Infantry, and shortly later, his 14-year-old brother, Charles Torrey, shouldered a musket in Co. I of the same Regiment. The regiment served under Gen. John A. Logan for the greater portion of the war; under U.S. Grant until he was promoted to the command of all the union armies then under Gen. W.T. Sherman until the close of the war. Private Charles TORREY Phillips was discharged from the army at Louisville, Ky., July 13, 1865, his 18th birthday. Returning to his parental home in Olney, Illinois, he remained a few months unsuccessfully trying to find employment. Realizing he would have to seek work elsewhere, Charles started for the West, gaining experience which furnished material for a lecture he delivered in later years: Across the Plains in 1866. He traveled by rail and boat to Leavenworth Kansas and in the summer of 1866, he drove an ox team from Atchison, Kansas to Salt Lake City as a member of a large commercial prairie train. Three colorful years of youth were spent in the Far West, on the trail, in mining camps, in boom towns and on the farm. Indians, friendly and unfriendly, came into this experience. He admitted knowing the chilling fear of their savagery. Charles PHILLIPS returned east in 1869. On Dec. 14th, 1870, he was joined in marriage to Elizabeth Ellen Eckley in Kenton, Tenn. She was the daughter of Milton and Eliza Eckley and was born at Jersey, Stark county, Illinois Feb. 9, 1847. To this union, seven children were born, one, Philip Leroy, dying in infancy; another, Mrs. Charles J. Cheesman (Nellie Ethelind), dying in Princeville, Ill., Jan 31, 1930 a short time before the wife's death in Palestine, Ill. March 25, 1930. The surviving children are: Thomas M. and Charles H., Memphis, Tenn., Mrs. Mignonne Alexander, Branson, Mo., Clarence M., Palestine Ill., and Ray P., Memphis Tenn. Three sisters and one brother preceded him in death, Alcie Victoria, Sarah Sophia, Mary Adelia and Victor Emanuel. Charles TORREY PHILLIPS taught school for several years in Tennessee at the same time preparing for the Presbyterian ministry. He was licensed to preach by the Presbytery of the Western District Presbyterian Church, U.S. (Southern) in the spring of 1875 and was ordained the following spring at Trenton, Tenn. By the same Presbytery. His first charge was at Concord in the country between Milan and Trenton, Tenn. Later he accepted a call to a missionary field near Hutchinson, Kans; making Burrton, Kansas his home. In 1878 he went to the Presbyterian church at Duquoin, Ill., to Belleville, Ill. In 1882, to Cairo, Ill. In 1891, to Princeville, Ill. In 1897, later to Albany, Texas and then to Palestine, Ill. in 1906, his home until his passing. He was honorably retired by the Presbytery of Mattoon after eight years of service at Palestine a part of which time he also served as pastor of the old Beckwith Prairie church. Ill health necessitated a halt to strenuous ministerial activity, but during his retirement, Rev. Phillips supplied the pulpits of the United Presbyterian Churches at Morea and Duncanville at different times. The passing of Rev. Phillips sees departure of the last member of Alfred Harrison Post No. 152 G.A.R. and leaves in Crawford county but one survivor of the Union army, Durritt Chapman, 93, who lives west of Annapolis. Twenty-five years ago the Palestine post had a large membership. Minutes kept by different adjutants, of which Rev. Phillips was the last to tell a sad story of a roster dwindled more and more through these years by deaths. Orders came from the state command for the post to carry on to the last man. In 1931, the minutes of Adjutant PHILLIPS showed but three survivors, Perry Brimberry, Post Commander, E.C. Newland, Vice Commander and himself. The routine of elections and records had been kept up by this time and the three survivors agreed they would carry out the state head- quarters command to the last man. As a group, the three remaining comrades were sole custodians of the Post but briefly. Adjutant PHILLIPS noted in the Record the death of E.C. Newland May 16, 1931 and further in the minutes noted the death of Perry Brimberry September 17, 1931. Notations were made in the Record by the sole survivor until July 13, 1937, his last entry. Failing eyesight prevented further execution of this function.. Rev. Phillips, however, did follow the old post flag once more when memorial services were held Sunday May 28, 1939 at the Palestine Christian church. He entered on the arm of a friend, Harry Hulse, who also carried the colors for him.
Note: The following is from the Palestine Register June 15, 1939. CHARLES TORR
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