Bio: Henry Moses Phillips, s/o Alphonzo Daniel & Mary Ann (Robinson) Phillips
Source: Biographical History Of Massachusetts, Vol. IV, by Samuel Atkins Eliot, A.M. & D.D.; published by Massachusetts Biographical Society, 1913;
HENRY MOSES PHILLIPS was bom in Athol, Massachusetts, August 11,1845, and died at his home in Springfield, Massachusetts, March 2,1911. His father, Alphonzo Daniel Phillips, was born in 1812. His vocation was that of farmer and hotel proprietor. He was known to a large number of people who prized him for his honesty, integrity, and hospitality, very choice attributes of character for any man's possession and winning for the elder Phillips a host of friends. The maiden name of Henry Moses Phillips' mother was Mary Ann Robinson, who exerted a very marked influence upon the moral and spiritual life of her son, which followed him through all the years. Mr. Phillips was of English descent. The paternal immigrant ancestor of the Phillips family was Rev. George Phillips, who emigrated from England to America about 1630.
The special taste evinced by Mr. Phillips as a lad was fondness for out-of-door life, living near to nature's heart, and in school his favorite study was mathematics. He found no special difficulties in gaining an education previous to his entrance into the military service of the United States. He enlisted in June, 1862, and was an officer in the cavalry from '63 to '68.
After attending the public schools, young Phillips studied at Deerfield Academy in Massachusetts and then at Norwich, Vermont. He received an honorary degree from Norwich University while serving his country in the civil war. After returning from the war he began his business career and in 1875 became the president of the Phillips Manufacturing Co., at Springfield, Massachusetts, holding that position until 1890. He became secretary of the Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company in 1895 and was elected vice-president of that corporation in 1904, which position he held until his death. Though busy with these large interests, Mr. Phillips found time to serve the people as representative in the legislature during 1880-81; state senator 1886-87; postmaster of Springfield 1890-91-92-93; Treasurer and Receiver General of Massachusetts, 1894-95. In all these varied activities he manifested conspicuous ability, commanding the admiration and respect of all classes. In fraternal organizations, Mr. Phillips was a Master Mason, and belonged to the Knights Templar, the Massachusetts Commandery Loyal Legion, and the Grand Army of the Republic, and he was always influential in the best things these organizations represent. He served as Recorder Commander and Senior ViceCommander Massachusetts Grand Army Republic with honor to himself and those he represented.
In politics he was always an ardent Republican, while religiously he found expression for his spiritual convictions in the Unitarian fellowship. For amusement and exercise, this busy, many-sided man always cherished fondness for driving and walking, two of the sanest forms of activity, producing pleasure and sustaining health.
In 1874, December 29, Mr. Phillips was married to Julia Â., daughter of Henry and Amelia Bowles Alexander, and grand-daughter of Samuel and Huldah (Deming) Bowles. One child was born, Henry Alexander Phillips, a successful architect.
During the years of remarkable energy and success, Mr. Phillips realized the influence enacted upon him by contact with men in active life, home, training at school, early companionship and private study, and so emphasized these things for the consideration of others in their life endeavor. The family residence in Springfield, Massachusetts, is known far and wide for its atmosphere of culture and hospitality.
Among the many tributes to Mr. Phillips' memory the resolution of the Loyal Legion is here quoted: "His Companions in Arms honor and will forever hold him in sacred remembrance, a faithful officer in the war which preserved the Union and destroyed slavery."