Memorials › William Thomas "Bill" Phillips

William Thomas "Bill" Phillips

23 Oct 1863 – 18 May 1901

Birth	23 Oct 1863
Death	18 May 1901
Cemetery	Antioch Cemetery #2 Barber , Logan County , Arkansas , USA
Added by	Larry Burwell on 14 Mar 2011
FaG	https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/35536245

Bio

The name Phillips is derived from the Greek words Pilas and Aypros – A lover of horses. It was a common name in Wales. William "W.T." Thomas Phillips was born October 23, 1863 in Georgia, USA. His father was born in South Carolina and his mother in Tennessee. He was 3rd of the six children born to John Wesley Phillips and Sarah A. [Burke] Phillips. Siblings: Nancy E. Phillips, James S. Phillips (1856 -1905), George W. Phillips (1861 - 1943), Henry Anderson Phillips (1868 - 1938) and John Harvey Phillips (1873–1954). (Although some records list Harvey as one of their children, I still have not found conclusive evidence of his relationship). He was married to Sarah "S.C." Cora Holland and they were the parents of 10 children. James Wesley (1883-1944), S.E. Viana (1884-1957), Myrtle Edola (1889-1966), Stephen 'B' (1891-1936), Ola Mae (1894-1960) and her twin Odis (1894-1894), Zula Jane (1895-1940), Ruby Marie (1899-1903?) and William Thomas Phillips II (1900-1972) *I can account for 9 of them but there may have been a stillborn child around 1887. According to the 1900 United States Census Record, the family was living in Boone, Logan, Arkansas and Bill's occupation was listed as a farmer. He could read, write and speak English and he owned his farm and house without any mortgage. His life was cut short when he was shot and killed on May 18, 1901 by 25 year old L. Preston Edwards. Bill was 36 years of age. An account of his shooting in the newspaper on 24 May 1901 reads as follows: W.T PHILLIPS KILLED. L.P. Edwards Shoots Him Through Heart. WHISKEY THE CAUSE. A terrible tragedy occurred at [faded and unreadable] railroad on Saturday, May 18th at six p.m., in which W.T. Phillips [faded and unreadable] lost his life at the hands of Press Edwards, a farmer of the same neighborhood. Edwards used a .38 Winchester and sent two fatal bullets through the body of his victim, one piercing the heart and causing instantaneous death. Reports are conflicting as to the cause of the shooting and also as to the aggressor. From letters received by the Reporter from different persons, it seems that bad blood had existed between them for several years because of family affairs. Both are men of families, but Edwards had secured a divorce and was wont to pay attention to a relative of Phillips' and against the latter's consent. Several incidents had added fuel to the flame. On the day above they quarreled, but were kept apart by friends for a time, but both being under the influence of whiskey they were on the lookout for each other. Both were armed, but Phillips failed to get in a shot as Edwards was too swift with his deadly rifle. The killing has caused great excitement at Barber, and the sheriff went to the scene early Tuesday morning, also the deputy prosecuting attorney. It is greatly deplored, and might have been prevented had they not been drinking. Edwards escaped arrest and is still at large. He was laid to rest in the same cemetery that his parents are in, the Antioch Cemetery #2 located in Barber, Logan County, Arkansas.

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