E. J. Phillips was born in Chesterfield county, Virginia, May 18, 1831. His parents, Edward and Elizabeth Phillips, were also natives of Virginia. The subject of our sketch learned the carpenter’s trade when he was twenty-one years old, and was employed in that business for seven years; next worked as a millwright for a few years, then began farming, which has been his occupation ever since. In 1852 he came to Missouri and settled in Platte county, and in 1877 came to this county, and now owns a fine farm of 200 acres.
Mr. Phillips was united in marriage, September 5, 1854, to Miss Eupha Beim, who was born September 5, 1838. By this marriage they have had eleven children, six of whom are living; namely, Virginia, born in July, 1855; Martha A., born in October, 1857; John L., born January 1, 1865; William R, born February 15, 1869; Eupha A., born in May, 1873; and Dora, born in 1875. Mrs. Phillips died September 23, 1877. September 8, 1881, he married Miss Cora A. Bowen, who was born September 13, 1848.