THIRD GENERATION


4. James Andrew PHILLIPS (5) (photo) was born on 25 Apr 1870 in Brockway Center, St Clair Co, MI. (6)(7) Obituary and memorial card give birth as 09 Apr 1870 in Yale, MI. Birth registration was delayed by almost 18 months, so it may not be entirely reliable, but the official certificate shows 25 Apr 1870 in Brockway. Brockway is an unincorporated village in the southeast corner of Brockway Township, and is not the same as Brockway Center, which eventually became the city of Yale. Since Abraham Phillips owned 80 acres just west of Brockway Center in 1876, it seems likely that the birth actually took place there making Yale the correct designation of the place by 1931.
He appeared on the census on 7 Jun 1880 in Brockway Twp, St Clair Co, MI. (8) He is listed as white, male, age 10, at home, son of Abraham and Elizabeth who had attended school during the previous 12 months.
He was a carpenter between 1893 and 1930 in Pontiac, Oakland Co, MI. (9) Continued in this occupation until his death. He left many carpenter's tools among his effects. He died on 7 May 1931 in Pontiac, Oakland Co, MI. (9) Cause of death was probably a stroke. He was buried on 11 May 1931 in Franklin, Oakland Co, MI. (9) James left home very early, perhaps by age 12. In later years, as reported by his youngest son, Laurence, he was quite hostile to his siblings and refused to speak to them even if they were in the same room with him. One can only guess that this was precipitated as a result of events that occurred after the death of his mother in 1880. On one occasion about 1920, Melvina visited James and Mary's home in Pontiac and stayed for three days. During that time, she ate with the family and was treated as a guest by Mary and the children, but James never acknowledged her presence or spoke to her. He was married to Mary Jane LEE about 1893.(9) Estimated marriage date based on "1883" given in James' obituary, which undoubtedly was a typo or an error induced by stress when Mary gave the information to the undertaker. James would have been 13 years old, and Mary 11 in 1883. Their first child was born in 1894.

5. Mary Jane LEE (photo) was born on 12 May 1872 in Pontiac, Oakland Co, MI.(10) She was christened on 29 Jul 1872 in St Vincent de Paul Ch, Pontiac, Oakland Co, MI. (10) She died on 15 Apr 1961 in Farmington, Oakland Co, MI. She was buried on 18 Apr 1961 in Franklin, Oakland Co, MI. She also used the name "Mary Jeneaveve". Children were:

child i. Lee Abraham PHILLIPS was born on 10 Jul 1894. He died on 7 May 1924. He was buried in Franklin, Oakland Co, MI.
child ii. Ray Marion PHILLIPS was born on 29 Jun 1896. He entered military service Michigan National Guard Co E 31st Mich Inf on 24 Jun 1916. (11) He served until 20 Jan 1917 near the Mexican border. He was in military service on 1 Aug 1918.(11) Description: appointed Corporal Co C 125th Mich Inft 32 Div, US Army, serving in Allied Expeditionary Force in Europe He served in the military on 1 Aug 1918. (11) At this time he was appointed corporal in Co C 125th Mich Inf 32 Div, US Army, and served in the Allied Expeditionary Force in Europe. He was discharged from the military on 24 Feb 1919 in Battle Creek, Calhoun Co, MI.(11) He was discharged at Fort Custer. He died on 24 Feb 1931 in Pittsburgh, Allegheny Co, PA. (11) Cause of death was pneumonia, aggravated by his war injuries. (He had been exposed to mustard gas during the European campaign and never fully healed.) He was buried in Highwood Cem, Pittsburgh, Allegheny Co, PA.(12) (Lot 350, section E, grave 5.)
child iii. Guy Lee PHILLIPS (photo) was born on 30 May 1899. (4) He graduated in 1918 in Pontiac, Oakland Co, MI. He received his diploma from Pontiac High School. He was living in 1931 in Holland, Ottawa Co, MI.(9) He was living about 1943 in Cleveland Heights, Cuyahoga Co, OH. He was living between 1955 and 1965 in Muncie, Delaware Co, IN. He was employed as regional sales manager for National Cash Register Corp. between 1955 and 1965 in Muncie, Delaware Co, IN. He died on 16 Oct 1979 in Sarasota, Sarasota Co, FL. (4) Cause of death was heart failure. He had Social Security Number 275-05-7293.(4) He was buried in Clarkston, Oakland Co, MI.
child iv. Lester PHILLIPS was born on 6 Mar 1904. He died on 8 Mar 1926. He was buried in Franklin, Oakland Co, MI.
child v. Josephine Elizabeth PHILLIPS was born on 26 Jan 1907. She died on 20 Dec 1925. She was buried in Franklin, Oakland Co, MI.
child2 vi. Laurence Mentor PHILLIPS.

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