Mrs. S. B. Phillips passed away at her home in this city at about 8:45 Monday evening from a general breakdown, she being 72 years of age last October. She had been in ill health for a year past, but had only been confined to her bed four days. The funeral will be held at the residence at 2:30 today, Rev. LeRoy Crocker, pastor of the Christian church, officiating. Mrs. Phillips had formerly been a member of the Baptist church but joined the Christian church when they came to Blair. Emily Miller was born in Indiana October 18, 1849 being the sixth child of John and Mahala Miller. While she was yet a girl the family moved to Mettle Bend, Iowa, coming to this county in 1868. She was married to Stephen B. Phillips in this city December 25, 1870, among the very first weddings to occur in the city, which was then but barely two years old. They took a homestead out in the Rose Hill Neighborhood and lived there until 1881 when they moved to Blair, and this had been her home ever since. The Children were John Leonard whose death occurred here February 1st, 1919; Laura Mahala, now Mrs. Charles Ireland of Fremont; Charlotte Edna who died May 12th, 1892; Daniel Allen of this city; and twin girls, Mary Alta who died July 21st, 1880 and Sarah Alma, later Mrs. Orval Brown who died October 19, 1907; Bertha Emma, now Mrs. Odem Osborn of Omaha; and Mabel E., now Mrs. D. E. McEvers of this city. She is also survived by three sisters, Mrs. Sarah Hammock of Oregon, Mrs. Lottie Palmer of Kansas and Mrs. Amanda McRaynolds of Ft. Worth, Colo.

#2-13 Apr., 1922 - The Enterprise - Emily Phillips

Emily Miller was born in Indiana in October of 1848, and died at her home in east Blair on April 10th, 1922.

With her parents she resided in Indiana until 1868 when they came to this county and took a homestead just west of Blair.

On Dec. 25, 1870 she was married to Stephen B. Phillips, and to them was born eight children, four of whom are still living: Mrs. May Ireland, Fremont; Mrs. Bertha Osborne, Omaha; Mrs. Dan Phillips and Mrs. Mabel McEvers, Blair.

Mrs. Phillips was a member of the Christian church, and a woman who always tried to live up to her convictions of right and wrong. She has always lived a model life and those who knew her held her in the highest esteem.

The funeral services are held yesterday, Wednesday, afternoon from the home at 2:30 o’clock, Rev. Crocker officiating, and interment was made in the Blair cemetery.

The Enterprise extends sincere sympathy to the bereaved in the loss of a devoted and Christian mother.

#3- 13 Apr. 1922 - The Tribune - Emily (Miller) Phillips

MRS. STEPHEN PHILLIPS PASSED AWAY ON APRIL 10

Emily Miller was born October 18, 1849 in the state of Indiana and passed from this life the 10th of April, 1922 at 6:45 p.m.

She was the sixth child of John and Mahala Miller. In her early girlhood the family journeyed westward settling at Nettle Bend, Iowa and in 1868 crossed the river into Blair. With this family came another, the parents of Stephen Phillips, and from the lifelong friendship of these two families sprung a romance which ended in the marriage of Stephen Phillips and Emily Miller on December 25, 1870 at Blair. The ceremony was solemnized by Rev. A. G. White, a presiding elder of the M.E. church.

Mr. Phillips was then homesteading near Rose Hill, and it was hither he took his bride and the new home was established. A decade or more of years rolled swiftly into the past and the family moved to Blair in 1881 where they have since resided. The husband preceded her in death two years ago, having died on May 1, 1920.

To bless this union were sent eight children, John Lenard, who died February 1, 1919; Laura Mahala, now Mrs. Charles Ireland of Fremont; Charlotte Edna who died May 12, 1892; Daniel Allen of this city; twin girls, May Alta, whose death occurred July 21, 1880, and Sarah Alma, who became Mrs. Orval Brown, and died October 19, 1907; Bertha Emma, now Mrs. Odem Osborn of Omaha; and Mable E., now Mrs. D. E. McEvers of Blair.

Mrs. Phillips gave her heart to God in her early life and became a member of the Baptist church, but after coming to Blair to live, she united with the Christian church of this place, remaining a faithful member until the Supreme call came to her Monday evening.

A useful life of untiring labor is ended, but beautiful lessons taught by her will live in the lives of all who were privileged to know her. Besides her son and three daughters, there are left to mourn her loss twenty grandchildren and one great grandson and three sisters, Mrs. Sarah Hamock of Oregon, Mrs. Lottie Palmer of Kansas and Mrs. Amanda McRenolds of Fort Worth, Colo.

The funeral services were Held from the family residence at 2:30 Wednesday. A wealth of beautiful floral tokens covered the casket, sent by her many friends to honor her memory. Rev. Crocker of the Christian church officiated, and the body was laid to rest beside her husband in the Blair cemetery, and the name of another of Washington county’s pioneers is written in its history.

~~~Obituaries courtesy of the Nebraska Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair, Nebraska Public Library~~~

Find a Grave Memorial #75992203