Re: St Tudy, Cornwall- Philp Family
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In reply to:
St Tudy, Cornwall- Philp Family
jen brown 6/10/04
Dear Jen:
I have been working on my family history for years. It does link with yours in St. Tudy. While itextends far beyond the St. Tudy years, here it is. It might be of interest. At least we can fill out a little of the information each has on the family in St. Tudy.
Sincerely,
David Lowell
Robert Philp Family
St. Tudy in Cornwall, England, was the home of Captain Bligh of “Mutiny on the Bounty” fame.It was also the home of the Philp family whose members were much more important to the readers of this history.When Robert Philp was born there on June 4, 1834, he was part ofthe third generation of Philps to live in St. Tudy.He was the second son of John Philp, a shoemaker,who wasborn in St. Tudy on May 2, 1797, and Philippa Jane Hooper Philp who was born in St. Tudy September 7, 1799.
While our family in Cornwallwas not famous, Dr. A.L. Rouse-the Oxford historian, said in a lecture in 1985 that St. Tudy has had more eminent people living in it than any other rural parish in Cornwall.The Duke of Cornwall has large land holdings there.
The village of St. Tudy was named after a 6th Century monk and missionary.St. Tudy founded monasteries in Brittany whose inhabitants had fled Cornwall when the Anglo Saxons invaded it in 450 A.D. Some historians claim St. Tudy first founded monasteries in Cornwall after having been passed over to be the first Bishop of Cornwall.
Returning to our Philp history, Robert Philp’s mother-Philippa Jane Hooper Philp, was the daughter of James and Elizabeth (Prout) Hooper.James Hooper, a blacksmith,was one of the wealthiest men in St. Tudy. He andElizabeth also hadseven sons, six of whom were blacksmiths. This blacksmith heritage and background was undoubtedly a strong influence onthe two Philp sons who emigrated to Algonquin and Crystal Lake.
John Philp (our Robert’s father), inturn, was the son of Robert and Elizabeth(Williams) Philp who were of old English stock and life residents of St. Tudy. Elizabeth’s parents, John and Judith Williams, kept a public house in St. Tudy village.This RobertPhilp was born in 1773 and diedin 1848. His parents were John and Susannah Philp, farmers of Pemrose, Parish of St. Bernard. They had a family of four children- John, Richard, Hugh andRobert - grandfather of the Robert of thisfamily history.
The Robert Philp, grandson of Robert and son of John,who is the subject of this sketch, had an older brother, James, and a sister, Elizabeth,who died in England in 1850 at age 18.Robert, as the second son, received a limited education in a subscription school in St. Tudy. He did learn the blacksmith tradeand served a three year apprenticeship there.James also learned to be a blacksmith which undoubtedly helped him with his carriage manufacturing business in America.Both sons were probably influencedby theirmaternal uncles and grandfather.
At the age of 21 Robertsailed from Plymouth, England, in August of 1855, to Quebec.The sailing vessel took seven weeks to cross the Atlantic.Once in Quebec, he came directly to Chicago, then Algonquin, Illinois, where he arrived September 30, 1855.Robert Philp came to America and Algonquin because his brother, James Philp had beenthere since 1851 and had builta successful carriage manufacturing businessthere.
Beyond the dates and ports, we have no record of Robert’s voyage across the Atlantic in 1855. We do have James Philp’s diary of a very similar voyage in 1851. He and his wife, Jane Cornelius Philp, and their baby, Libby, crossed the ocean from Padstow to Quebec in seven weeks, August 13th to October 1st, on the barque- Belle of Padstow.
The 1850’s were still in the era of sailing vessels when daily hightlights were seeing two or three sails in the distance.The vagaries of the winds left them becalmed on some days, frightfully sick on others, and often not able to sail in the direction required.The trip took the Philps from their last view of Europe, the fields of Ireland near the ocean, through iceberg-filled waters of the North Atlantic to the haven of the St. Lawrence River and Quebec. Robert’s trip took a very similar path exactly four years later.
After working in Algonquin for nine years, Robert entered the Union Army in 1864 to serve the North during the Civil War. He spent six months near Nashville, Tennessee, serving as a blacksmith.After the war, he returned to Algonquin.
On June 11, 1867, he married Philippa Jane Hoskins in Chicago. Jane, as she was known, had been born in St. Teath, Cornwall,February 19, 1846. Her parents were Nicholas and Fannie (Parnall) Hoskins. Nicholas Hoskins, the father was born in St. Teath, England, June 3, 1824. He married Fannie Parnall, born in England, the daughter of John Parnall. Nicholas Hoskins was a member of the Church of England, and came to Canada (sailing from Plymouth, England, to Quebec) with his familyin 1849. He died in Ontario about six weeks after he arrived, leaving a widow and two children- Jane and Nicholas. Jane’s mother re-married and had three more children
Janeand her family were living in Strathroy, Ontario, when she visited James Philp andher first cousin,Jane Cornelius Philp,in Algonquin.The two Janes’ mothers were sisters from St. Teath.WhenJane Hoskinswas leaving for the visit, her mother said,”Now be careful about Jame’s brother, Robert, as he is wild.”As it turned out, Robert was anything but wild.He always was a complete gentleman according to his grand daughter, Beatrice Lowell.
After Robert and Jane married, they livedin Algonquin for two years.The couple then moved to Nunda, about seven or eight miles north of Algonquin. They arrived there in 1869 where Robertestablished himself in the blacksmith trade. Nunda was annexed into Crystal Lake in 1914 so was really the samegeneral community, even in1869.
Most of the followinginformation about Robert and Jane Philp came from Beatrice Lowell Wimple, one of his granddaughters and my aunt.She knewRobert Philp as she was 21 years old when he died.She was eight whenJane died.Aunt Bea said Robert Philp was a humble, unassuming man who was way ahead of his times.He wanted all of his children to be educated and he devoted time to them. He took them in turn frequently to Chicago to allow them to see the city and visit its places of interest. He took his daughter, Mary, (my grandmother) to Chicago for special art lessonswhich certainly paid off for her professionally. He also really enjoyed a drink of beer but did not want his son to say his father drank so he gave it up.
He did not have much money to spend.What he had, he earned by his own labor.It was his boast that his name had never been on anyone’s books, he always paid cash.When he did not have the cash, he did not buy.This ability to save wasa Philp family trait that came through to my father and, I believe, and to the Covalts who were the children ofMabel Philp, Mary Philp’s sister.
Robert Philp supported his family of six on $1.00 a day.That meant that all of the meals were at home, too- no dining out for them.He raised most of their food.They kept a cow and chickens.He had a huge garden, fruit trees, berries, and grapes.
Great-grandmother Philp did home canning andchurned the butter.Their annual 4th of July dinner was always special- fried chicken, new potatoes and peas, all of which he had raised.Also, people came from miles around to see Robert Philp’s beautiful flower gardens.This gardening must have been a tremendous influence on my grandmother, Mary Philp Lowell, the artist.Her specialty was painting flowers.She also considered herself a better gardener than painter.This gardening/painting combination was a little like Monet.
Robert and Jane had excellent taste in furniture and china.Some of it is still in use today.
Aunt Bea says she does not remember her Grandmother Philp very well.She knew she was an excellent homemaker.The dishes she cooked lived long in the memories of her children and, I’m sure were cooked by her daughters, in turn, for their children such as Aunt Bea and my father.Some of the favorites were parsnip stew, rice pudding, plum pudding and thick vegetable soup.Her daughter, Mary Philp Lowell, was also an outstanding seamstress and some of her work such as fine needlepoint was virtually of museum quality.I wonder if she learned this from her mother who would have been the natural person to have taught her.
The children of Robert and Jane were:
Mary born April 18, 1868, in Algonquin; died November 30,1870 in
Crystal Lake
Ida born May 27, 1870, in Crystal Lake; died 1932 in Crystal Lake
John R. born July 5, 1872, in Crystal Lake; died September, 1951, in Chicago
Mabel E. born November 17, 1873, in CrystalLake; died December 28, 1959 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Mary Hooper - born November 9, 1875, in Crystal Lake; died October 26, 1951,in Crystal Lake.
Bessie born April 24, 1882; diedNovember 16, 1954, in Indianapolis.
.
Crystal Lake is used entirely here as Nunda became CrystalLake in 1914.
Ida Philp never married and spent her life in Crystal Lake. She lived with her parents until they died, then kept the family home for a few years. Around 1927 she moved to a home in Woodstock.She died there of pneumonia in January of 1932.
John Philp was a very interesting person.He must have been a good student because he went to Dixon College in Dixon, Illinois, then studied law in Rockford, andbecame a lawyer.He had onespecial woman friend all of his adult life, Miss Anderson, who was also his secretary.Theynever married because she felt she had to take care of her mother.
Uncle John’sniece, Beatrice Lowell Wimple, wroteadescription of him:
“John R. Philp was through his boyhood a trial to his father.He must have had an early desire to travel since the police frequently brought him home at night.He had crawled down the roof of the second story andrun uptown in his night shirt
(no pajamas then) to see the trains go by.
“Allof his adult life, he was an attorney in Chicago. He first went into the officeof a Mr. Johnson, a successful lawyer, and later, upon the death of Mr. Johnson, succeeded his practice.
“John Philp’s greatest hobby and interests were travel and photography.He traveled all over this country and Europe. His favorite city was Berlin.He took pictures of his travels to illustrate his lectures of his trips.His pictures of the World’s Fair in Chicago were so excellent that they were accepted by the Chicago Historical Society.
“He was a Republicanand interested in Chicago politics.”
Bob Lowell, grandson of Mary Philp Lowell, said that Uncle John ran several times in the Republican primary for mayor of Chicago but was never successful.
Uncle Johnwasvery generous with my mother and father in regards to travel.He gave them their honeymoon which wentto Niagara Falls,Lake Louise, Jasper, Vancouver, San Francisco and the Grand Canyon.
Bob Covalt, grandson of Mabel Philp Covalt, added these vignettes to the story. ”Regarding John Philp, he used to call my parents(Byron and Thelma Covalt) and invite himself to dinner saying that he would bring a piece of corned beef that my mother could prepare along with cabbage and potatoes. While dinner was being prepared, he would sit in the living room and offer little in the way of conversation, as was the case for several of the Philps. My mother used to tell me that as a toddler , I would be intrigued by John's high top shoes that he wore and would crawl over and play with the laces. I gather that Uncle John didn't care very much for that type of attention.” Byron and Thelma probably saw more of John Philp because they lived in Chicago as he did.
Mabel (Aunt Mamie)Philp-
The newspaper article in the Crystal Lake Herald newspaper about thewedding of MabelPhilp andJ.B. Covalt (Bina) on October 4, 1899, offersa vignette of life over 100 years ago in our family plus shortbiographical sketches.
Crystal Lake Herald, October 5, 1899
The marriage of J. B. Covalt and Miss Mabel E. Philp, was solemnized at their own elegantly furnished home in Crystal Lake, on Wednesday evening, October 4, 1899, at6:30 o’clock.The residence was charmingly decorated with evergreen rope, palms, ferns and yellow roses- the predominant colorsbeing green and yellow.
Only relatives and most intimate friends of the contracting parties witnessed the ceremony, the guests numbering forty six.
At the hour appointed for the service, the beautiful Lohengrin wedding march was rendered on the piano by Miss Georgina St. Clair, and the officiating clergyman, Rev. W.H. Smith, pastor of the Nunda M.E. church, descended the stairway, followed by the little Misses Beatrice Lowell and Marion Hale, who scattered roses in the pathway.The groom, accompanied by his brother, Floyd, succeeded the flower girls, and next appeared the bride’s sister, Miss Bessie Philp, who attended as bridesmaid.
The bride, supported on the arm of her brother, Attorney J.R. Philp, of Chicago, passed down the stairway, and the bridal party took its position in the parlor, where Rev. Smith pronounced the words that united the twain in holy bonds of wedlock, using the abbreviated Methodist Episcopal service.Congratulations of the most sincere character followed.
The bride wore white Swiss, trimmed with Valenciennes lace, and carried bride’s roses.Her maid was attired in white lawn.
Supper was served in the dining room in two courses- sandwiches, olives, pickles and coffee, followed by ice cream, assorted cake, and salted almonds.While the refreshments were being passed, Miss Alice Mallory played a few selections on the piano.
The presents given the couple were numerous and of unusual value.Many of the handsome gifts of furniture, etc., were in use at the wedding and in the gift room the table was burdened with remembrances.
The route of the intended wedding trip of the newly-married couple was kept a profound secret, and they finally succeeded, with the aid of the groomsman, in making their escape, and disappearing, to the chagrin of the guests, who were prepared to give them the usual rice and old-shoe sendoff. About 8 o’clock in the evening they vanished, and the guests, supposing they would take the 8:40 train to Chicago, hurried to the station, only to find the birds had flown.
Telephone and telegraph messages to near-by towns have failed to disclose their whereabouts, but it is conjectured they have gone to St. Louis, where they may be staying for about a week.
Among the guests from out of town at the wedding were: Mr. and Mrs. H.G. Sawyer, of Carpentersville; Mr. and Mrs. J.W. Chewning, Miss Alice Philp of Algonquin; Walter Smith and John R. Philp of Chicago;Mrs. E. O’Connell, daughter, Nellie and son, Charles of Elgin;Mrs. Dr. Tuck, of Indianapolis, Ind.; Mrs. Frances Covalt and Mr. and Mrs. R.E. Covalt. of Aurora; Willard Watson, Bay City, Mich.
Mrs. J.B. Covalt is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. R. Philp, of this place.She was born and raised in Nunda, and occupies a leading place in its social and educational circles. She is a graduate of the Union school, and attended state normal at Normal for one year.She taught in the public school at Carpentersville for two years and in the Union school at this place three years.
The groom is the oldestson of Mr. and Mrs. F.W. Covalt, and was born in Barrington.He attended the MetropolitanBusiness college in Chicago, fitting himself for a business career.For several years he has been connected with the wholesale barber’s supply house of Theo. A. Kochs, Chicago, and is now one of their most valued travelling salesmen. He is a good business man, and, as well, as his bride, has a large circle of friends, who wish them both happiness on life’s journey.
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In a letter from Richard Moore,grandson ofMabel Philp, he said,”I recall your grandmother(Aunt Mary to me).I remember her as being quite lively and personable.I might add that this is in some contrast to my memory of my grandmother who was very quiet and not one to showgreat feelings.”
Don Moore, another of Mabel’s grandsons, has written the following reminiscences ofhis Grandmother and Grandfather Covalt as well as his parents, George Harold and Helen Covalt Moore.
“The Covalts had two children: Byron Leroy born 27 November 1900 and Helen Edith, born 30 March 1902. Mother was born in Crystal Lake; I assume Uncle Byron was as well. Later they moved to Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania - a high quality community adjoining Pittsburgh to the East. As I recall, it was once known as the City of Churches and it was dry.
“Granddad went into the barber supply business with a man named Smith. The firm of Covalt and Smith was located near what is now Gateway Center at the Point where the Monongahela and the Allegheny meet to form the Ohio River. Granddad commuted by train on the Pennsylvania Railroad from Wilkinsburg Station.
“Their products included their own brands of hair tonic and shampoo: Red Star and Red Seal; I do not know which was which. They also installed and renovated barbershops. Mother pointed to the shop in the Union Trust Building as an example. When I worked in Pittsburgh in the 1950s, it was still a large shop with at least six chairs (probably eight or ten), shoe shine stand, manicurists, etc.
“Granddad was handy and he had an impressive and well organized work bench in his basement. If anything needed fixed in our home, Mother called Granddad. I have no memory of a plumber or other repairman at our home while Granddad was alive.
“I do not recall the street where they lived when they arrived in Wilkinsburg but assume the house was rented. As business prospered, they built a substantial brick house at 740 Hill Avenue: 10 rooms, 6 bedrooms, two and a half baths. The tax assessor shows that it was built in 1920 but Dick and I are convinced that it was built before W.W.I. The house had a central vacuum system so that little boys could drop marbles in a second floor receptacle and have them reappear in the basement and it had a separate ice room into which the ice man could deliver ice without access to the house. It also had a secret room for storing valuables when they traveled, etc. I never knew about it when we lived there but Mother told me about it many years later.
“One reason we believe the house was built well before 1920 is that it was equipped for gas lights as well as electric lights. Our grandparents wanted the latest and best but, being very conservative, they had the house equipped for gas in case electricity did not work out. The gas fittings were disposed of in 1935. In 1936, when the St. Patrick's Day Flood caused metropolitan Pittsburgh to lose electrical power some neighbors still had a few gas lights.
“Uncle Byron graduated from Wilkinsburg High School and went to Dartmouth for a year. Then he transferred to W & J to be closer to a girlfriend -- the lady we remember as Aunt Thelma. They were married 1 October 1924 and they had one son, Robert Byron,born 8 November 1931.
“Mother also graduated from Wilkinsburg High School and returned to the Chicago area for one semester at Northwestern. That was during W.W.I, then known as The Great War, which was not a great time for a 17 year old girl to be living miles from home.After one semester, she transferred to Margaret Morrison, the women's unit of Carnegie Tech,for a semester and then transferred to Pitt where she graduated in 1923. There she met George Harold Moore an engineering student and Phi Delt from Altoona, Pennsylvania.
“While at Pitt, Mother introduced her friend and Kappa sister, Helen Toay, to Gordon Lowell, her cousin and son of her mother's sister, Mary Philp Lowell. In due time, Gordon used his influence at Marshall Field to get a good price on a pair of diamond engagement rings for two Phi Delta Thetas to present to their Kappa Helens.
“The Moores had two sons: Donald Philp born 29 April 1930 and Richard William, born 25 May 1933; the Lowells had twin boys born July 20, 1932: David Toay and Robert Philp.
“To fast forward for a moment, I received an NROTC commission at Dartmouth in 1953 and on July 6, I reported aboard the USS Columbus CA74, a heavy cruiser operating out ofBoston. Later in July, the Lowell twins reported aboard theColumbus from the University of Wisconsin for their NROTC cruise. All three of us were aboard the Columbus en route to the Panama Canal on July 27, when the shooting stopped in Korea - I guess they knew we meant business. In 1954, the twins graduated with NROTC commissions. Bob went first to the destroyer,USS Strong DD758, and then to Great Lakesfor duty training U.S. Navy recruits.Dave reported back aboard the USS Columbus where we had very similar assignments and shared the Junior Officers' Bunk Room with 10 other guys.
“In 1955, I completed my tour, returned to Pittsburgh and gave most of my uniforms to Dick who left for OCS after graduating from Williams. When he received his commission, Dick first went to Great Lakes with Bob and then to the USS Canberra, a sister ship of the USS Columbus that had been converted to a guided missile
cruiser after being damaged during W.W.II. Thus four of the five Philp great grand- children served on Baltimore Class Cruisers and the two Moores and two Lowells each got to knowtheir cousins better by sharing year’s terms of duty.
“Now back to the 1920s. Dad graduated from Pitt with an engineering degree in 1922 and joined the Pennsylvania Railroad. Like Uncle Byron, he had been born in 1900. Dad was from Altoona, a railroad town and his father was a long time employee of the railroad.
“Mother graduated from Pitt in 1923 and worked briefly for a bank. Mother and Dad were married 22 May 1926, and moved to Elizabeth, New Jersey, near Dad's then current assignment.
“Meanwhile, Granddad Covalthad an opportunity to sellhisbarber supply business which he did and take early retirement at the age of 54 - in February 1929. What a great time to cash out in a business that had passed its prime -- to say nothing of liquidating just before the 1929 Crash. They say you have to know when to hold and know when to fold; Granddad knew when to fold.”
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Bob Covalt, another Philp grandson, adds this valuable information about the sale of the barber supply business.” My father, Byron, told me that he was being groomed to follow in his father's barber shop supply business. The main reason that the business was sold was that the Mafia wanted him to handlebooze through his business and Grandfather refused, ergo the sale. This really created a problem for my father who hadn't trained for an alternate career. He then went to night school at Northwestern University while working during the day in Chicago to get his financial education, after having graduated from W&J.”
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Don Moore continues:“Grandma and Granddad bought a Packard touring car and set out to see the USA.They spent winters in Florida, August in places like Mackinac Island to cope with Granddad's hay fever, and they managed to visit each of the then 48 states before W.W.II interrupted their travels by car.
“By the late 1920s, Dad decided that he would rather work with people than things and I suspect that neither he nor Mother were thrilled with the prospect of living in a series of dreary railroad towns as Dad worked his way up the career ladder. Therefore, Dad left PRR to begin a long and successful career in life insurance. Another good move in view of what hindsight tells us about the future of PRR. Know when to fold.
“In a win-win arrangement, Mother and Dad moved into Grandmother and Granddad Covalt's house while Grandma and Granddad traveled, secure in the knowledge that their house was in good hands. I was born there in 1930 and Dick, in 1933. We remained there until 1936 so that I attended the same kindergarten as Mother, and, I assume, Uncle Byron.
“In 1936, Dad was recruited to be General Agent in charge of the Pittsburgh office of State Mutual Life Assurance Company of America - now Allmerica - and we moved to a rented house in Pittsburgh. In 1938 Mother and Dad bought a new house in Pittsburgh where they remained until the early 1960s when they bought a coop apartment at the intersection of Bellefield and Baird near Pitt. On other corners of the intersection were the Kappa House and the First Baptist Church where Peggy and I were married in 1958.
“Now, back to the 1930s. During the early grades, I managed to catch more than my share of childhood diseases, including whooping cough and scarlet fever. Only an alert physician's reading about the new "wonder drug" sulfa saved me from a mastoid operation. To build me up, Grandma and Granddad took me to St. Petersburg for the winter of 1937-8 where I attended second grade. Because the Florida schools were then below par, as they are now, I had an easy second grade but struggled when I returned north for third grade. However, I did learn to read quickly because Grandma,
a former school teacher, used billboards as flash cards when we were in the car. You had to read quickly or the message was gone.
“During the winter of 1947/8, Granddad suffered from severe back pain that caused him to cut short their winter in Florida and return to Wilkinsburg.Exploratory surgery disclosed inoperable cancer and he died 18 April 1948. In 1997, I described what I remembered to a urologist who was taking my history. He said the symptoms and circumstances described were consistent with prostate cancer. He added that we did not know much about prostate cancer in those days.
“Grandma Covalt was a good person and I liked her but I never thought of her with a sense of humor. However, two exceptions surfaced shortly after Granddad's death -- at a time when you would expect her to be subdued. First, shortly after Granddad died, someone in the family said something like: ‘Mabel, if anyone asks me how he left you fixed, what should I say?’ Grandma's reply was something like: ‘ Well just say your don't know ---BECAUSE YOU DON'T!’ Next, she requested an extra invitation to my graduation at Shady Side Academy and sent it to Uncle John with a note requesting his presents. She did not exclude his presence but she only specified his presents.
“When I was home during June of 1953 between my MBA at Dartmouth and the Navy in July, Grandma had sold the house on Hill Avenue and had temporary quarters at the Penn Lincoln Hotel in Wilkinsburg. One morning, we received word that she had fallen. Mother and I rushed to the William Penn and then caught up with her at the Hospital where she was on a gurney in the hall. She had fallen during the evening and had mat burns on her face from working her way across the rug toward the telephone. Unfortunately, she was unable to reach the phone and was not found until
morning. The radio was on when she fell and after midnight, programing switched to Hill Billy music. As she lay on the gurney in the hall, all battered and bruised, the only thing Grandma complained about was "that awful music" she endured all night.
“When I returned from the Navy in June of 1955, Grandma was living at the Fairfax Apartments near Pitt in the Oakland section of Pittsburgh with a
companion/nurse. I used to visit from time to time and take her for rides in my car. During those years, I was a Deacon in the Third Presbyterian Church and one of our responsibilities was to visit the folks at the Presbyterian Home in Oakmont. While Grandma and the other ladies at the Fairfax had more privacy and theoretical independence, I could not help but think that the folks at the Presbyterian Home had a more interesting life. I suspect Mother reached the same conclusion because several years after Dad died, she moved to a life care community.
“Grandma was not strong enough to attend our wedding on December 27, 1958. However, with the Church and the College Club reception both close
to her apartment, Peggy and I were able to stop in to visit immediately following the reception. While we made the visit because it was the right thing to do, it had the added benefit of confusing folks who made a practice of chasing the bride and groom after the reception. Instead of making a dash for our hideaway, we visited Grandma.
“One of my last recollections of Grandma was when Bob and Ginny Covalt came to Pittsburgh with Karen, who was than a very small child. I remember there was some concern among some of the adults as to how a toddler might react to someone as old and frail as Grandma. As Bob and/or Ginny brought Karen into the room, Grandma was sitting up in bed with her hair brushed and was wearing a nice bed jacket. Karen shouted "Grandma", broke loose from whomever was holding her, shot across the room and settled in bed beside Grandma. Karen could not have been better. It obviously made Grandma's day
“Mabel Philp Covalt died peacefully on 28 December 1959.
“After Dad died on 27 December 1981, Mother waited a few years and then moved to Friendship Village of South Hills as an original occupant of a new life care community. There she found many familiar faces, including a former neighbor from Hill Avenue, many fellow members of the College Club and, across the hall, Gertrude Hartman, a lifelong friend from among her Kappa friends at Pitt. For a number of years, Mother lived in relative independence in her own apartment at Friendship Village and joined a group of friends for dinner each day. Later, as her health declined, she moved
to the skilled care unit where she died on 28 January 1999; she was nearly 97.
*****
“Noting that the account of Mabel E. Philp's wedding to John Byron Covalt offered a vignette of life at the time of the wedding, Dave Lowell asked me to continue the story. When rereading my reminiscences, I saw they said much more about Dad and Granddad Covalt than about Mother and Grandma Covalt - the Philp descendants. To complete the reminiscences, I must comment on the critical supporting role that Mother played as part of the Helen/Harold team and that I assume Grandma played in the Mabel/Bina team.
“First, remember that we are describing a time before convenience food, many labor saving devices and other features of today's world that we now take for granted. Basically, Mother was Mrs. Inside to Dad's Mr. Outside - her role was similar to Executive Officer vis-a-vis Captain on a ship. Thanks to Mother, Dad came home to a clean, calm and orderly home with tasty nutritious meals. As he prepared to go to work, his clothes were always clean and pressed or ironed, as appropriate. Mother handled the household accounts and shopping. She hired, supervised and if necessary fired household help -- and even had to pick them up on occasion. She helped with homework and, fortunately she was good at language which was my weak spot. She cared for sick children and saw that we got to doctor and dentist appointments. She addressed and sent Christmas cards. She saw to routine maintenance around the house; Dad did not come home to endless "honey do" lists. She was a gracious
hostess at parties in the home and elsewhere and generally enhanced their social life.
“Basically, Mother and Dad were a team and each did his/her part to insure a successful family unit. The proof of the pudding is that it worked -- to the benefit of all concerned. For the benefit of future generations, this addendum is necessary to complete the vignette of life during the long married lives of Mother and Dad and of Grandma and Granddad Covalt.”
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Bob Covalt, another grandson ofMabel Philp, as his father, Byron, was Mabel and Bina Covalt’s son, describes his part of the Philp/Covalt family.
“My mother, Thelma Adams, was born in Terre Haute, Indiana, and spent her early years there. Her father, Joseph, was a teacher early in his career and later a bookeeper(accountant) with the Pennsylvania Railroad ( the same employer that Uncle Harold had after college). Joe was transferred to Pittsburgh and my mother entered Wilkinsburgh High School, where she met my father, Byron.
“After graduation, Dad went to Dartmouth and Mother went to the Margaret Morrison School at Carnegie Tech. Dad obviously missed her, so he returned to Pittsburgh after a year away and enrolled at Washington and Jefferson (W&J). He enrolled in a general liberal arts program, expecting to enter his family business upon graduation. That wasn't to be as Grandfather Covalt was under severe pressure to handle the sale of booze through his business.As a result, the business was sold and Dad needed to seek a new career.
“Dad joined the Kappa Sigma Fraternity at W&J, the same fraternity that I joined at Purdue. Dad was captain of the basketball team at W&J and an outstanding performer on the track team where he won gold medals in the 220 and 440 yard events in the Penn Relays. As an interesing aside, W&J was a significant school at that time. They played against Southern Cal in the Rose Bowl which ended in a 0-0 tie. The quarterback was Dad's roomate, Herb Kopf, who later married Walter Chrysler's daughter.
“The railroad transferred Joe Adams to Chicago and after Grandmother Adams became ill, Thelma and Byron moved to Chicago where he went to school at Northwestern to study business toward a career in accounting. Dad completed his career as the head of the Chicago Office of the National Association of Security Dealers (NASD). Prior to that he worked for the Chicago Board of Trade and with two of the leading accounting firms as an auditor. Because of all the travel involved, Dad advised me never to be an accountant, so I went to Purdue to study chemical engineering. It's interesting that both Don and my father were accountants and went to Dartmouth.
“I was born and raised in Chicago. I met my wife, Ginny, when we both attended Senn High School in the city. I wasin the Air Force ROTC program at Purdue and after a brief stint of employment at B.F Goodrich in Cleveland,Ohio, I entered the air force as a Lieutenant andtaught electronics at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Mississippi for two years.
“Upon leaving the service, I took a position with Morton International (Morton Salt) right back in McHenry County. I finished my career with them in Chicago after 37 years as Corporate Executive Vice President. Prior to that, I ran their chemical operations for 11 years with final sales approximating $1.4 Billion.
“Following my retirement fom Morton, I decided to try entrepreneurship and founded Sovereign Specialty Chemicals in 1996. Sovereign, after 11 acquistions is a global company with sales approximating $400 Million with 1,000 employees.
(DTL note: In 1999, Bob was named Person of the Year for the adhesives, sealants and coating industry.In the winter of 2002,More Than Money Journal featured a long interview with Bob that outlined Bob’s philosophy of management- the elimination ofcompany politics so all employees feel fairly treated and that they have an equal chance for success, and establishing a standard of total honesty in all company dealings.)
“Our daughter, Karen, and our son, David, each have three children and they all live in Crystal Lake. This is especially Interesting as thisis where the family roots are. Our oldest grandson, Robbie, is a sophmore at CrystalLake Central High School, the same school and the same building you and Bob attended and where your mother taught school.
“It might surprise you to know that Crystal Lake has a population of
50,000 and three high schools.Robert Philp never would have guessed. The other day I needed to go to the City Administration Building and in the entrance area, within a glass case, wasan old minute record book and the signaure of Robert Philp was visible as President.
“We also attend the same church that you attended in Crystal Lake - the CongregationalChurch. I remember seeing your parents one afternoon after
church when they were thinking of moving and they asked if we would be interested in buying the home on Mason Hill Road. We would have loved to have been able to have done it, but we didn't have the means to do so then. So here we are now, right down the way first on Bull Valley Road, then on Cold Springs Road.”
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Mary Hooper Philp will be featured in the next chapter of this history.
Bessie Philp married Harry C. Roberts August 18, 1908,and lived in Indianapolis. They never had any children.They appeared tohave led a quiet life. The family says that in their late years they would sit by the front window of their house and watch the world go by. After Aunt Bessie died, Don Moore had the occasion, whileon business in 1956-57, to visit Indianapolis and meet Harry Roberts twice. Don said the visits were very pleasant and Harry commented on how much he appreciated the attention he received from Bessie’s family. Harry died in January of 1965 in St. Petersburg, Florida.
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Obituary of Robert Philp from The Crystal Lake Herald, August 15,1915
ROBERT PHILP DIES
Passes Away At His HomeIn Crystal Lake
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WAS A CIVIL WAR VETERAN
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Descendant Came to America When 21 Years of Age-
Long a Resident of McHenry County
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One of the best known citizens of our city has just passed away. Robert Philp was born at St. Tudy, Cornwall county, England, June 4, 1834, and died of apoplexy, Thursday, Aug. 5,1915, at his home in Crystal Lake.
He spent his boyhood days with his parents in England, and came to this country when he was 21 years of age, locating at Algonquin, Ill.In the year of 1864 he enlisted in the cause of his adopted country, answering President Lincoln’s call for volunteers, and was assigned to the mechanical division of the army headquarters, located at Nashville, Tenn., and was honorably discharged after serving one year.
He was married to Jane Hoskins of Strathroy, Ontario, Canada, June 11,1867, and came to Crystal Lake April 1, 1869, where he resided up to the time of his death.
He was in the blacksmith business and filled that ancient, honorable calling for many years, retiring from active business at the age of 60.He established his business here at a time when the place was not even a village, and Mr. and Mrs. Philp had to undergo a great many hardshipsand made a great many sacrifices during their early married life, but they saw the city grow,raised a family and prospered. The first great sorrow came to this family when Mrs. Philp died on Feb. 5, 1903.
Public-Spirited Citizen
His activities were not confined to his business, however, as he was one of the most public-spirited citizens, having served the city in an official capacity for twenty eight years; first as a member of the village board, and later as mayor for a number of terms.He was again offered a renomination for the latter office, but declined, stating that he had held the position long enough and desired some younger man to take his place.His efforts on behalf of the city were untiring and most efficient.Most of the improvements of the city were made during his administration, and he gave to the interest of the community the closest attention and showed himself as a most able executive.
He was a man who was most highly respected by everyone and always had a host of friends. He was true to his word, possessed a fine sense of honor and was always known to be absolutely reliable in all of his dealings.His habits were exemplary and his domestic life was ideal.
There are many reasons for the high esteem in which he was universally held.One of these was the fact that he was never heard to utter an unkind word against anyone, and always took pleasure in speaking as well as he couldof high and low. He was very charitable in his views and deliberate of the feelings of others, and at the same time unswerving in the discharge of his duty.
Of a Genial Nature
He had a warm and genial nature, which showed itself in many ways.He was a lover of flowers, and for many years took pleasure and pride in maintaining a beautiful and really wonderful garden. His flower garden was one of the attractive places of the city and was pointed out to visitors and was always much admired.Birds were especially a study and matter of interest to him, and he was well versed in all their ways.
Mr. Philp’s health had been remarkably good for many years. With the exception of one occasion, during February and March of last year, he had never had a physician in attendance up to the time of his last illness.His splendid health was coupled with a disposition that was full of natural sunshine.
He is survived by five children- Miss Ida Philp and Mrs. L.D. Lowell of Crystal Lake, Mrs. J.B. Covalt of Pittsburgh, Mrs. Harry Roberts of Indianapolis, and John R. Philp of Chicago.
Episcopal funeral services were held athis late residence Saturday, Aug. 7, and he was buried in the family lot at the Unioncemetery.
The whole community and the many friends of the deceased feel his loss very keenly and realize that one of the best of men has been taken away, because it is to such men this country owes its growth and strength today.
We feel that we might say, in the words of Wendell Phillips in his famous eulogy of John Brown; “We believe more firmly in virtue now that such a man has lived.”
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Obituary of Mrs. Robert Philp in The Crystal Lake Herald:
MRS. ROBERT PHILP
Lays Down Life’s Burden and Passes to the Other Shore
Died at her home in Nunda, Ill., Thursday, Feb. 5, 1903, Mrs. Robert Philp, aged 56 years 11 months and 16 days.
Jane Philp was born in St. Teath, Cornwall, England, Feb. 19, 1846.She came to Strathroy, Canada, with her parents, when about two and a half years of age.There she lived until her marriage with Robert Philp of Algonquin, Ill., on June 11, 1867.With her husband she moved to Nunda April 1, 1869, and resided in this village until the time of her death.
Mrs. Philp’s nature was quiet and unassuming, but kindly and full of charity, and her family and near friends alone realized the depth of her love and thoughtfulness for others. She enjoyed her home life, and was never happier than when ministering to the needs of her family.Her death leaves vacant the chair of wife and mother, and the bereaved husband and childrenmutely bow their heads and with stricken hearts mourn their great loss.
Deceased was baptized in the Episcopal church and believed in the Christian faith.
Her husband, mother and five children-- Ida of Nunda, John R. of Chicago, Mrs. J.B. Covalt, Mrs. L.D. Lowell and Bessie of Nunda- still survive her. Mary, her oldest child, died at age two and one half years.
The funeral services were held from the house, Saturday at 2:30 p.m., Rev. J.W. Bolton, pastor ofthe Christian church, officiating.Music was furnished by W.W. Dike, Mrs. H.L.Patten and Mrs. C.E. Dickenson, Mrs. C.E. Irwin being organist. There were many and beautiful floral tributes, farewell tokens of love and esteem. The husband of the deceased, being president of the village board, it was fitting that the members of the board- Messrs. Throop, Mason, Thomas, Wicox, Colby and Paine--should act as pall-bearers. The interment was in the Union cemetery.
In connection with this notice it may be remarked that there are but two continuous longer resident families living in Nunda than the family of which the deceased was a member.
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Obituary of Ida Philp in the Crystal Lake Herald- January,1932
Ida Philp was born in Crystal Lake May 27,1870, educated in our public schools, lived with her parents up,to the time of their death, and for a number of years continued to maintain her home in the old homestead on North Main St,
About five years ago she went to Woodstock to live and passed away in her home there on January 20 after being ill three days with pneumonia.She was the daughter of Robert Philp and Jane Philp, pioneers of Crystal Lake.She is survived by one brother, John R. Philp and three sisiters, Mrs. J.B. Covalt, Mrs. L.D. Lowell, and Mrs. H. Roberts.
More Replies:
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Re: St Tudy, Cornwall- Philp Family
James Metcalfe 8/20/08
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Re: St Tudy, Cornwall- Philp Family
David Lowell 8/20/08
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Re: St Tudy, Cornwall- Philp Family
James Metcalfe 8/20/08
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Re: St Tudy, Cornwall- Philp Family
David Lowell 8/28/08
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Re: St Tudy, Cornwall- Philp Family
David Lowell 8/20/08
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Re: St Tudy, Cornwall- Philp Family
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Re: St Tudy, Cornwall- Philp Family
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Re: St Tudy, Cornwall- Philp Family
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Re: St Tudy, Cornwall- Philp Family
jen brown 12/24/04
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Re: St Tudy, Cornwall- Philp Family 1770
Ian Philp 5/17/06
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Re: St Tudy, Cornwall- Philp Family
David Lowell 12/24/04
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Re: St Tudy, Cornwall- Philp Family 1770