Memorials › John Wesley "J.W." Phillips

John Wesley "J.W." Phillips

17 Oct 1832 – 1904

Birth	17 Oct 1832
Death	1904
Cemetery	Antioch Cemetery #2 Barber , Logan County , Arkansas , USA
Added by	Larry Burwell on 03 Apr 2011
FaG	https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/35536215

Bio

CSA - Private, Company E, 43 Regiment Tennessee, POW at Vicksburg John "J.W." Wesley Phillips was born 17 October 1832 in Greenville Township, Greenville, South Carolina. He was the oldest of the 10 children born to Stephen B. Phillips Jr. and Juliet Hawkins Phillips. Siblings: Susan Catharine [Phillips] Burk (1834-1914), Mary Elizabeth [Phillips] Mitchell (1837-1858), Edward Stephen Phillips (1839-1922), William Theador Phillips (1842-1921), Sarah Sopshire [Phillips] Chesnutt] (1845-1918), Caroline Sophrona [Phillips] Meyers (1845-1903), Emily Jane [Phillips] Fowler (1850-1893), George Washington Phillips (1853-1925) and Robert Perry Phillips (1856-1939). John Wesley married Sarah Adeline Burk[e] (still looking for some documentation on her maiden name). J.W. and Sarah were the parents of 6 (known) children: Nancy, James S. Phillips (1856-1905), George William Phillips (1861-1943), William Thomas Phillips (1863-1901), Henry Anderson Phillips (1868-1938) and John Harvey Phillips (1873-1954). The 1850 Census shows him still in Greenville, South Carolina but the 1860 Census finds him just across the border from Tennessee in Cassandra, Walker, Georgia. During this period of time, threats of war loomed overhead. The issue over slavery was heating up and following declarations of secession by seven Southern states, South Carolina demanded that the US Army abandon its facilities in Charleston Harbor. The Battle of Fort Sumter near Charleston, South Carolina on April 12–14, 1861 was the catalyst that started the American Civil War. J. W. was called into service for the Confederate Army during the War Between the States. He advanced to the rank of Captain and was commander of Company E of the 43rd Regiment of Tennessee. He had charge of 850 soldiers at the beginning of the war. On 4 July 1863, his unit was surrendered at Vicksburg. After exchange, the unit was mounted and served as mounted infantry. On 22 Apr 1865, the unit of 123 men was surrendered. The men were released on parole and instructed to return home. After the Civil War, John moved his family to Arkansas and they settled in the area around Barber, Scott (now Logan) County. Sarah died early in the year of 1900 and around May or June of 1900, J.W. married the widow Amanda Holland (the widow of James Washington Holland, and the mother of his daughter-in-law Sarah Cora Holland Phillips). J.W. and Amanda were divorced in February 1902 and J.W. was married again to Martha A. Whittle on March 9, 1904 in Logan County, Arkansas. John Wesley died later that same year (after 1 Sep. 1904). Some sources list his death as August 20, 1904 but as you can see from the transcript of the letter below, he was alive on 30 August 1904. Note: The 1910 Census record for Jefferson County, Oklahoma show a Martha A. Phillips-56 years old living with Henry A. Phillips and her relationship to Henry is widowed step-mother. Also living in his household is 16 year old Buel B. Whittle and his relationship is step-brother to Henry. Below is parts of a letter from Martha Whittle Phillips she wrote to one of her daughters in Bowie County, Texas. Notice the date. J W 'pap' Phillips was still alive From a handwritten letter: (In the following reproduction of the original letter, all original spellings and punctuations have been maintained) Barber, Ark Aug the 30 1904 Mrs Lou May Dear Daughter I will rite you a few lines this bares all. Well I hope you all well. I was glad to hear you and George was married. I want you to rite to me. Buel has been going to school. he has went through the second reader Page 2 pap is good to Buel. Lou, the Phillips is all friends to you. they all like you. Buel said tell you he has got a good pa. tell Maxie to rite to me. did you marry at franks. I wish I could see you. I want you to bee good to george and get along all rite. I will close by asking you to rite to me. pap sends his love to you Page 3 George I want you to rite to me. I hope you and Lou will live a long and happy life together. I wish I could see you. rite all The news in old Bowie. When you rite to me back your letter to M. A. Phillips Barber Ark. logan co I will close by asking you to rite soon as ever your Mother M. A. Phillips

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