Obituary - William H. Phillips

November 04, 1912
Alaska Daily Empire, Juneau

Old Pioneer Passes Away

Wm. H. Phillips, lovingly designated as "Grandpa" Phillips, by all the inhabitants of Juneau, was suddenly stricken with pneumonia and passed away at his garden home about seven o'clock Saturday evening. Mr. Phillips contracted influenza about a week ago and Dr. Simpson who had been called gave him the best of attention, but age and activity had done their work and on Saturday evening a sudden collapse resulted in death.

Mr. Phillips was 76 years of age having been born at Schuylkill Haven, Penn., on Jan. 13, 1837. Deceased came to Juneau in 1895 and settled on the land which became his home during all the succeeding years. The house in which he lived is located on city property being part of the cemetery grounds, but he had been granted a life tenure by the city government on account of his early settlement and the esteem in which he was held by the people of Juneau. Adjoining his home he had acquired title to a half acre of ground through purchase from Shattuck & Casey. This land he had reduced to a high state of cultivation and had for many years catered to the wants of Juneau in the matter of vegetables. His garden was always a success owing to the care he bestowed on it.

In the early efforts at gardening he had Wm. Rinehart associated with him. The latter, however, left for interior Alaska and was killed in Fairbanks.

Mr. Phillips continued making his livelihood from the garden exclusively until about two years ago when he found the task growing too hard and went into the chicken business; however, he continued raising potatoes, harvesting this fall 80 bushels from his small tract. He was very energetic and worked up to the moment of his illness.

H. Peehan lived with him in his last days at the little farm house. According to H. Peehan and J. R. Dull, who knew Phillips well, he drove overland from Minnesota to Seattle in 1895, but remained there only a short time, coming direct to Juneau. Mr. Phillips had a nephew, John T. Phillips, who lives in Spokane, a brother in Tacoma, a sister at his old Pennsylvania home, and a niece, Miss Steinhoff, in Philadelphia. Mr. Phillips had been married before he left Minnesota. The funeral took place this afternoon at 2 o'clock from C. W. Young Co.'s chapel.

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