Bios: Hon. Jesse Phillips, 1824-aft 1888: Greene County

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HON. JESSE PHILLIPS, Spragg's, Penn., born in Whiteley Township, February 10, 
1824, is a son of Richard and Abigail (Starkey) Phillips.  His parents were 
natives of Greene County, where they spent their whole life.  His father died 
in the year 1877, and his mother in 1879.  They were the parents of eleven 
children. of whom are subject is the second, and was united in marriage, 
December 22, 1845, with Mary, daughter of David and Nancy (Gorden) Spragg.  
They were also natives of this county, where they remained till Mr. Spragg's 
death in 1877.  His wife died in 1886.  By this marriage Mr. Phillips is the 
father of twelve children--William D., Richard, Caleb, Levi, Adam F., 
Thomas E., Jesse L., Deborah F., James L., John W.; and Otho and Nancy E. 
(deceased).  Their mother departed life in 1871.  She was a faithful member 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church.  Mr. Phillips' second wife was Deborah,  
daughter of David and Nancy (Gorden) Spragg, now deceased.  By this marriage 
Mr. and Mrs. Phillips have three children--George, Daniel and Clemmie 
(deceased).  Although raised on a farm and devoting much of his time to 
agricutural interests and stock-raising, Mr. Phillips has also been actively 
engaged in political affairs.  He is a democrat, and in 1881 was elected 
associate judge, having polled nearly as many votes as his three competitors.  
In April, 1888, he sat on the jury which found George Clark guilty of murder 
in the first degree, for the killing of William McCausland.  This was the 
first verdict of murder in the first degree ever found by a jury in Greene 
County.  Mr. Phillips has a fine farm of 500 acres, and he and wife are 
members of the Patrons of Husbandry Lodge in Kughntown.  The whole family 
are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

>From "History of Greene County, Pennsylvania"
Nelson, Rishforth, & Co.; Chicago, IL (1888) [1993]
by Samuel P. Bates (Samuel Pennimann) Page 881