~ FRANKLIN PHILLIPS ~ 1819 - 1899 ~
Husband of Fannie Shurtliff
Son of William Phillips and Mehitable Gould
Great Grandson of Philip Phillips and Mercy Phillips

FRANKLIN PHILLIPS- Franklin Phillips was the oldest child of William and Mehitable Gould Phillips.  He was born February 12, 1819, and died November 26, 1899.  He married twice.  His first wife was Fanny Shurtliff and their children were : William O., Emily (Lanham), Evalene (Morgan), Marcellus, Edwin, Maxwell, Brown, and Olive (Brady).  His second wife was Caroline Simons, the widow of Almandus Young, and their children were Jannie (Smallridge), and Cora (Ervin). Franklin Phillips was a member of Co. E, Sixth West Virginia Cavalry, late Third Infantry.  He was wounded at McDowell.  His story has been told by his nephew, Justin E. Loomis, in The Pioneer for 1926.

During the time of furloughs, Uncle Frank visited us, and in talking matters over, Mother expressed her opinion that he ought to have stayed at home instead of enlisting, he was the oldest of the family - being up in the forties, and had a large family of his own. "If the young men won't go to war, " he said, "the old men will have to/" "Yes", mother replied, "but what if you should be killed."

Then Uncle Frank made a statement that came back to us again and again in the months and years that followed.  "I will never be killed by a rebel bullet" he exclaimed solemnly.  "They may shoot me to pieces but they won't kill  me."

 "You better be careful what you say" Mother told him, but he didn't say it in a spurt of  bravado. He was a Christian man whose belief in God was substantiated by  a life that corresponded well with such belief,  and God by his omnsicience beheld him in the coming summer of 1862, living for 3 long months, desperately wounded,  in a hostile country, neglected, weak,  helpless and homesick, and seemingly gave him beforehand the assurance that an enemy bullet would never kill him, to keep him from sinking into despair during that almost unprecedented ordeal.  He himself so regarded it,  and so expressed himself though he was little given to incline of telling his inner experiences.

Source:  Civil War Days at French Creek - The Pioneer by Justin Loomis

Note: Mr. Loomis is a resident of Diamond Springs, Kansas.  He is closely related to the Gould and Phillips families, being the great-grandson of David Phillips from Ashfield, Mass..

According to Nell Stevens:

Franklin Phillips m.

1. Fannie Shurtleff, Nov. 14 1844 she died Jan, 25, 1867.

2. He married Caroline Simon Young, widow of Amandus Young, he was killed at Camp Sumter, April 6 1864. They had three children. They were married Dec. 15 1867

1870 Census

Franklin age 51 farmer, Caroline age 38 housekeeper, William O. age 25 teacher, Emile age 23, Maxwell age 15, Olive L. age 12 and James M. age 1

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