Hi List,
I am hoping that some kind sole might be able to help me out with this family. If any of
this rings any bells or if there might be some burial info in Clark County it would be
much appreciated. We have been looking for this family for years. We thought her son's
name was Orlando but never were able to find him even though we knew he was alive in 1920.
The Otto name was a new one on us but pretty sure it's the family we are looking for.
James B Phillips and Sara Abston were married 27 Dec 1870 in Coles County IL. They
appeared on 10 Jun 1880 census in Ashmore Twp, Coles County, IL. 157-162 PHILLIPS, James
B, m, w, 35, OH/PA/OH, Laborer, Sara, f, w, 27, KY, Orland H, m, w, 4, IL, John W, m, w,
2, IL, Lana, f, w, 3 mo, IL (46-17).
We have never been able to locate this family since. We had thought Sara died in 1898 but
recently found this on the 1900 census: 11 Jun 1900, Johnson Twp, (Clark), IL. 178-178
PHILLIPS, Sara, f, w, Oct 1849, 50, KY, widow, 7 kids 6 alive, farmer, Otto H, m, w, Sep
1875, 24, IL/OH/KY, single, farm labor, VALTONBIRG, John, boarder, m, w, May 1858, 42 MO,
widow, married at 22, (Page 87a).
I believe this is our Sara Abston. I looked on the 1910 census and found Otto. 15 Apr
1910, Casey Twp, Casey, (Clark), IL. 23-23 PHILLIPS, Otto, m, w, 35, IL/OH/KY, farm labor,
Elva, f, w, 25, Il, married 7 yrs, 4 kids 4 alive, Virgil, m, w, 5, IL, Harvey, m, w, 3,
IL, Raymond, m, w, 2, IL, Evert, m, w, 7 mo, IL (Page 28b). I was not able to find this
Phillips family on the 1920 or 1930 census. I did find a Luther family that had Phillips
step children in Vermilion County on the 1930 census but names were close but not
matching.
I am not sure but think this is the James B Phillips that married my Sara Abston. 22 Sep
1850, York Twp, (Morgan), OH. 392-404 PHILIPS, David, m, w, 35, PA, miller, Mary, f, w,
33, OH, Elizabeth, f, w, 10, OH, John A, m, w, 8, OH, James B, m, w, 6, OH, Hannah J, f,
w, 3, OH, William H, m, w, 1, OH (Page 17). 19 Jun 1860, Johnson Twp, (Clark), IL. 425-4
FORRESTER, John, m, w, 49, OH, farmer, Mary A, f, w, 44, OH, Samuel, m, w, 22, OH, Louis,
m, w, 20, OH, John B, m, w, 16, OH, Sarah E, f, w, 14, OH, Elijah J, m, w, 12, OH, Arilla,
f, w, 5, IL, PHILLIPS, James B, m, w, 16, OH, Hannah J, f, w, 13, OH (Page 133).
Any help will be much appreciated.
Take Care,
Jim Smith
Collinsville, IL