Bio: Jesse C. Phillips, s/o Elijah Phillips and Hannah Corwin
Source: The History of Champaign County, Ohio: Containing a History of the County; Its Cities, Towns, etc.; General and Local Statistics; Portraits of Early Settlers and Prominent Men; History of the Northwest Territory; History of Ohio; Map of Champaign County; Constitution of the United States, Miscellaneous Matters, etc., etc., by John W. Ogden, published by W.H. Beers & Co., Chicago, 1881;
Pg. 910-911
UNION TOWNSHIP.
JESSE C. PHILLIPS, farmer, P.O. Urbana; was born in Kentucky March 14, 1799; he is a son of Elijah and Hannah Corwin Phillips, both natives of Pennsylvania, who emigrated to Kentucky in an early day; Elijah Phillips died within a few days of the birth of Jesse C.; his wife, in company with her brothers, of the old family of Corwins, came to Warren Co. in the summr of 1799. In the year 1813 Mrs. Phillips removed to Champaign Co., where, in the course of a year or so, she married Philip Kenton, one of the pioneers of this county; she remained here till the time of her death, some twenty-five years ago. Jesse C. is the survivor of five children; he has following the business of tanning and currying the greater part of his life, having devoted his entire attention to the business for thirty-seven years; for the past twenty years, he has followed farming; he has always been an energetic citizen, taking an active part in anything tending to the general good of the county. In 1837 he was elected Representative to the Ohio Legislature, and re-elected in 1839; he served as Justice of the Peace for seven terms (twenty-one years). On the 25th day of March, 1827, he was joined in wedlock with Ellen Stewart; they were the parents of eleven children, five of whom-Elizabeth, Elijah, Hannah, Francis W. and Sophia S.-are still living. Mr. and Mrs. Phillips have been married for more than fifty-three years, and, although Mr. Phillips is rather feeble, his partner for so many years is hale for a lady her age, and able to attend his wants. They have witnessed many changing scenes in life, and great developments in the country. Their children are living in this State, except one, who resides in Wisconsin. Mr. and Mrs. Phillips have been members of the O.S. Baptist Church (Nettle Creek) for more than forty years; he has been a member of the Masonic Order since Oct. 12, 1826.