In every community there are men whose strong personality and forcefulness make them leaders. Such a one was the subject of this sketch. Tall in stature but well proportioned, he was a commanding figure in any assembly; his symmetrical head and high forehead betokened intelligence of a high order. He was one of the original Milford Colony, of which this history has had much to relate. Of this colony of rugged New England pioneers not one remains; all have been called from earthly activities and are sleeping the long, deep sleep called death. They have left a rich heritage to their descendants. Their story is one of activity, replete with self-sacrifice, of hardships endured; of thrilling adventure; of the overcoming of the wildness of nature and of still wilder men — the Indians. When one reviews the history of this little band of liberty-loving, home-longing people who left comfortable and, with a majority of them, cultured homes nearly three score years ago to secure the homes and independence for which they longed in the wilds of northwestern Iowa, who has followed them step by step as the writer of these pages has done in relating the story of this "Winning of the West" from the planting of the foundation stone by these hardy pioneers to this era of well cultivated farms, populous and prosperous towns and cities which forms the fairest rose in the garland of ninety and nine counties which constitute the state, "The Beautiful Land," and realizes the great benefits these conferred upon those who came after them and to extend forward as a benison to those yet unborn, the pen hesitates when the attempt is made to sketch the achievements of individuals of the heroic band.
The story of Albert Phipps is that of a leader and his name has been frequently mentioned in the pages of this history. A history of this county without the name of Albert Phipps would be like writing the play of Hamlet with Hamlet left out. Something of the great heartedness, the hospitality and public spiritedness of the subject of this sketch is gleaned from the reminiscences of his oldest son, Luther, which appears in these volumes. Much more is revealed in- the narrative of the "First Events" and the "Organization of the County" and "County Government." It remains only to briefly outline here his family connections and events not enumerated in the preceding pages.
Albert Phipps was born in the town of Milford, Worcester county, Massachusetts, October 7, 1820, two hundred years after the landing of the Pilgrim Fathers on the wild New England shores. Aaron Phipps, father of Albert, was also a native of Massachusetts and a descendant of English ancestors. Aaron's father was Samuel Phipps. The Phipps family was noted for the great number of blacksmiths it contained, the trade having been handed down from father to son for generations. Albert Phipps' mother was Polly H. Phipps, daughter of Jason Phipps of Revolutionary fame. She was born in Connecticut, and after her marriage to Aaron Phipps settled in Massachusetts, where she resided until her death, which occurred in October, 1826. Aaron Phipps was a stone worker and cutter by trade. He and his wife were the parents of eight children, six sons and two daughters, six of whom are living. He died in June, 1839.
Albert was the fifth child of the family and his mother died when he was six years of age. Thus left an orphan at so tender an age, he early began life's conflict for himself. His opportunities for gaining an education were very limited. He learned the shoemaker's trade, serving an apprenticeship of three years. After mastering this industry he engaged in the manufacture of goods which are now rapidly turned out by machinery. He followed this occupation at intervals for twenty years and in the spring of 1856 came to Iowa, with the Milford Emigration society when not a wheel track had flattened the native prairie grass. He preempted a quarter section of land, upon which he began making a home. He erected a small log cabin just north of the present town and afterward purchased other lands and improved them. All that was produced for market had to be hauled by ox teams a great distance and sold very low. The hardships endured were enough to have disheartened any man, but Mr. Phipps' courage never faltered, and he remained with his undertaking. Soon there were evidences of better days; emigration commenced to flow westward and the country began to develop. He was a careful farmer and with the help of his sterling sons placed his large farm under a high state of cultivation and soon was numbered among the wealthy farmers of the county.
In 1844 he was married to Miss Martha Littlefield, a most estimable young lady, a daughter of David Littlefield, Esq. She was born in Middlesex county, Massachusetts, in the same neighborhood in which Mr. Phipps was brought up. After coming to Iowa, during those long, dark pioneer days she not unfrequently longed for the once happy home in old New England, but sighs and heartaches would not take her back to her childhood home in the old Bay state. With the passing years, the coming of children and the forming of new friendships, this feeling was assuaged and in time she learned to love the prairie home, in the establishment of which she was no small factor, even more than the New England home for which she pined during the first years.
To Mr. and Mrs. Phipps were born the following children: Anna B. Wakefield; John A., deceased; Adaline H. Burroughs; Henry L.; Frank F.; Arthur I., deceased; Nathan A.; and Mattie Prescott. All still reside in Cherokee county except Mrs. Burroughs and Nathan who live in Chicago, but yet call Cherokee their home.
Mr. Phipps was a veteran of the Civil war, being a member of Company I, Fifteenth Iowa Infantry, which was assigned to the Army of the Tennessee, General McPherson commanding. He took part in the siege of Savannah and the battle of Bentonville, and was with General Sherman on his famous march to the sea, and back through the Carolinas to Goldsboro, to the final surrender of the Confederate General Jo. Johnston. On account of exposure Mr. Phipps contracted rheumatism and was sent north to Philadelphia, where he was honorably discharged. He at once returned to his home in Cherokee county.
Politically he adhered to the republican party, and held various county and township offices. He served the county ten years as supervisor, holding that office when the supervisor system first became law in 1861, and at a time when the whole county was in one great civil township. He himself composed the board of supervisors — was a sort of king. But he was elected to such position on account of his good sound judgment and his strict integrity of character, which he ever maintained. Had it not been for his sterling qualities at an early day the land sharks and contract swindlers would doubtless have ruined the finances of this county, as they did in adjoining counties. Many an overture was made to him to put up jobs to swindle Cherokee county tax-payers, all of which were rejected with disdain. Mr. Phipps was an active member of Custer Post, No. 25, G. A. R. Mr. Phipps retired from farming in 1890, he with the aid of his stalwart sons having amassed a comfortable fortune, and removed to the city of Cherokee, where he resided until his death, which occurred April 11, 1901. One week later he was followed to "that bourn whence no traveler returns" by his life companion of fifty-seven years. Thus short was the earthly separation of this worthy couple before being reunited in the home eternal. They were loved and honored in life and in death their memories are enshrined in the hearts of many who received kindnesses from this whole-souled couple during the formative period of the county.
SOURCE: Thomas McCulla, History of Cherokee County, Iowa, Volume 2, p. 252-6
