Robert J. Philips

Source: History Morris County New Jersey, Volume II, Lewis Publishing Co., 1914

The town of Dover, Morris county, New Jersey, is a center of business activity, and among the energetic and ambitious business men of the city, who are deserving of especial mention because of executive ability and business acumen of an exceptionally high order, the name of Robert J. PHILIPS must take a prominent place. He is a representative of a fine old English family, and combines with the progressive American methods those more conservative habits of his ancestors, the possession of which has often been demonstrated to be an inestimable benefit.

William S. PHILIPS, father of Robert J. PHILIPS, was born in London, England, in February, 1812, died in Dover, Morris county, New Jersey, in 1900. Robert E. PHILIPS, a brother, and a famous London architect, came to Dover in 1869, and died there in 1871, his remains being interred in St. Mary’s Cemetery; he was sixty-three years of age at the time of death. William S. PHILIPS came to America about 1837, and made his home in the city of New York. At the expiration of five years he removed to Dover, Morris county, New Jersey, and there purchased eighty-four acres of land, this including the old homestead of Josiah HURD, from South Backwell street back to and including a part of the mountain. For some time he was very profitably engaged in farming. In 1846 Mr. PHILIPS and his wife donated ground on their farm for the erection of the first Catholic church and graveyard. Mr. PHILIPS married in London, England, about 1834, Agnes HAGAN, born March 20, 1814, died in Dover, in 1890. They had children: 1. William A., born in England in 1836, died in the month of May, 1885; he married Maria McQUADE, also now deceased, and they were the parents of eight children, of whom five are now living. 2. Richard, born in the old HURD House, in 1844, still resides on a part of that farm; he married (first) Kate TURNER, now deceased, and (second) Margaret BURNS by whom he had one son, Stephen J. 3. Robert J., of whom further.

Robert J. PHILIPS was born on what is still spoken of as the HURD estate, January 23, 1851. The house in which Mr. PHILIPS was born was erected about 150 years ago, and was torn down in the fall of 1913, a portion of the material of the old house being used in the construction of the house in which Mr. PHILIPS is now living. This old house was built by the HURDs, and the nails in it were made by hand. Three HURD brothers came to Morris county around 1725, and the property now in the possession of the PHILIPS family is a part of their estate. The room now occupied by the wife of Mr. PHILIPS in their present residence was in the old house used by the parish of St. Mary’ when religious services were conducted by the late Bishop McQUADE and Father SENUS, and it was also used for the parish school. The present residence is a fine double house on West Blackwell street, with all modern conveniences and improvements. It is arranged for the use of two families.

Mr. PHILIPS received an excellent and practical education in the parochial schools of the town, and at a suitable age was apprenticed to learn the carpenter’s trade. He has followed this very successfully for many years, and is a highly esteemed member of the Carpenter’s Union. Mr. PHILIPS married, May 29, 1884, Jane, daughter of John and Sarah (REYNOLDS) QUINN, the former of whom died, and his widow married (second) John MALLOY, also a native of Ireland. Mrs. PHILIPS was born in Ireland, in a house which had been in the possession of her family for 400 years, and was five years of age when she came to America with her mother and stepfather, who removed to Lafayette, Indiana, in 1858. Two years later the mother died. Mrs. PHILIPS and a sister, Mrs. Bernard O’CONNELL, came to Dover, New Jersey, after their respective marriages. Mr. and Mrs. PHILIPS have been residents of a number of towns in the State of New Jersey, these being: Morristown, Chatham, Millburn and Summit. They are communicants of St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, of Dover. Mr. PHILIPS is the owner of a quantity of valuable real estate in Dover, and he owns a clock made by the famous James HOWE, of Bromley, Kent, England.

Transcribed by John Cresseveur (1949-2003)