Horace Mann Philips. Up to twenty-five years ago Horace Mann Philips was a Pennsylvania banker. To look after his investments in Kansas real estate he came West, and the visit made such a strong impression upon his mind that he determined forthwith to identify himself with the growing Sunflower State. He had been a resident of Kansas ever since, was a former county treasurer of Shawnee County, and is now engaged in banking at Dover in that county.
Mr. Philips was born in Chester County, Pennsylvania, December 7, 1850. He is one of four children, two of whom are still living, born on Lewis and Jane (Keeley) Philip. He was reared on a Pennsylvania farm, and his education was finished in the West Chester Normal School. After the first twenty-four years of his life had been spent on the home farm he engaged in the real estate business at West Chester and while there he organized the Dime Savings Bank of Chester County. He was its cashier. He and his partner were also in the loan business, and during this time made some heavy loans in Kansas. At one time it seemed that their faith in the western country was misplaced, and during many deprossing days there was much anxiety as to whether the principal of the loans would ever be recovered.
It was for the purpose of looking after these investments that Mr. Philips arrived in Kansas in 1891. He found conditions better than he had expected, and after his primary mission was successfully accomplished, he found himself overpowered with a love of Kansas and its people, and not long afterward he became a resident of Topeka.
From business affairs in 1897 he was called by popular vote to the office of treasurer of Shawnee County. He was re-elected and served altogether about five years. Soon after leaving office Mr. Philips located in the Town of Dover, and that had since been his home. Upon the organization of the Dover State Bank he accepted the post of cashier and is still filling that place of responsibility.
Mr. Philips had long been prominent in military affairs. In his native state from 1873 to 1891 he was a member of the Pennsylvania State Militia, in which he attained the rank of first lieutenant in Company I of the Sixth Regiment. After his removal to Kansas he again identified himself with the State Militia and was active in its ranks until December, 1914. He became major in the inspector general’s department, and for five years was inspector general. Major Philips is an active member of the Masonic fraternity and he and his wife belong to the Baptist Church.
On January 1, 1878, he married Miss Mary Griffith of West Chester, Pennsylvania. Their only son, Allen G., is now a member of the faculty of the Purdue University at Lafayette, Indiana, being in charge of the poultry department.