|
biography
|
|
Philips, Dr. James Francis, whose family name is derived from the word
"Philip" meaning a lover of horses, located at No 2139 Wylie Avenue,
Pittsburg, Penna, was born in the little village of Library, Allegheny
county, Penna, May 17, 1859. The town of Library was so-called because it
contained the first circulating library established west of the Allegheny
mountains, and has grown but little since it was first founded.
Dr Philips is the son of David L Philips and Nancy Allison Philips, his
father being a contractor and builder who died in 1893.
His ancestors were among the early settlers of Pennsylvania. Dr Philips's
great grandfather, David Philips, came with his parents Joseph and Mary
Philips, to America in 1755 from Pembrokeshire, Wales, and settled near
the town of West Chester, Penna. During the Revolutionary War, General
Washington's army was located for a while near the Philips' homestead,
and David and his three brothers rendered the American general valuable
service in the way of giving information concerning the people inhabiting
that section of the state. In a personal interview with General
Washington, they obtained permission to form a company, and each of the
four boys received a commission: David as captain; two as lieutenants;
and the fourth as ensign which was then a commissioned officer.
After the war, Captain David Philips settled at Library, Penna, where he
organized the Peters Creek Baptist church of which he was pastor from
1783 to 1829, being the first Baptist minister west of the Allegheny
mountains. He died in 1829 and lies buried in the graveyard at Library,
his grave being marked by a Revolutionary marker. Dr Philips's mother was
a lineal descendant of one of the old Holland families that settled in
New Amsterdam at a very early date. Dr Philips was educated in the public
schools of Allegheny county and at Piersol's Academy at Bridgewater,
Beaver county, Penna, from which some of the greatest men in the country
received their education.
After leaving the academy, he taught for nine years in the public schools
of Allegheny and Beaver counties. He entered the college of physicians
and surgeons at Baltimore, Maryland, and graduated in 1889 after a three
year course. The same year he received the degree of MD from the
Medico-Chirurgical college of Philadelphia. On May 8, 1889, he located at
his present address and began the practice of medicine. He is a member of
the Allegheny county medical society, the American medical association,
Dallas lodge, No 508 Free and Accepted Masons, Beaver lodge No 248
Independent Order of Odd Fellows located in West Bridgewater, Beaver
county, member of Beulah conclave, No 296 Order of Heptasophs, and Center
avenue lodge No 124 AOUW, and the Masonic country club.
From 1890 to 1895 he was vaccine physician for the city of Pittsburg.
During the year 1901 he was surgeon to the police force and fire
department of the city of Pittsburg and for the same period was physician
for the department of health. From 1894 to 1899 he was examiner for the
Order of Heptasophs and for the Ancient Order of United Workmen.
Politically Dr Philips is a republican, but was one of the instigators
and promotors of the citizens' party in Pittsburg, having been chairman
of the party organization in the eleventh ward from the beginning of the
movement. He is a member of the Christ Methodist Episcopal church. Dr
Philips is in the highest sense of the term a self-made man. His genial
disposition makes friends, but he holds those friends through the
sterling qualities that he has developed by careful study and training.
His patients know him for a conscientious physician and humane man. They
know too that they can rely fully upon his word, and have faith in his
skill and promises.
Memoirs of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania; personal and genealogical.
Vol. 1 p 187
|