Phillips, William A. (William Addison), 1824-1893

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William Addison Phillips was born in Scotland on January 14, 1824. He was well educated before the age of 15. He came to a farm in Randolph County, Illinois with his parents. At the age of majority he became associated with B.J.F. Hannah, editor of the Chester Herald. From 1852 to 1855 William was a newspaperman who also studied law and was admitted to the bar. He came to Kansas in 1855. He was appointed by Horace Greeley to be a member of the editorial staff of the New York Tribune. As such, he traveled to the Kansas Territory and published the results of his investigations in 1856 under the title, "Conquest of Kansas". He also aided a Congressional committee with this same topic. His writings made him very unpopular with the Pro-Slavery people. After the Civil War started, William was commissioned a Major of the First Indian Regiment. He was promoted to Colonel of the Cherokee Regiment and commanded a division in the field under General Schofield. This division included Indians, cavalry, battery and regiments from different states. Phillips fought in the battles in the Southwest. He was wounded three times and had four horses shot out from under him. Phillips returned to Kansas at war's end and was an attorney for the Cherokee Indians. He tried to advance their interests with the Interior Department. In 1872 Phillips was elected to Congress representing the Salina area. He became a prominent member of the Public Lands Committee. He studied land system and land tenure, and became an authority on the subject. His book was entitled, "Labor, Land, and Law". He married Margaret Caraway Spilman. William died on Thanksgiving Day, November 30, 1893 at Fort Gibson in the home of W.P. Ross.

From the description of William Addison Phillips papers, 1857-1937. (Kansas State Historical Society). WorldCat record id: 52290326

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn United States American Freedmen's Inquiry Commission records, 1862-1864. Houghton Library
creatorOf Phillips, William A. (William Addison), 1824-1893. William Addison Phillips papers, 1857-1937. Kansas State Historical Society
referencedIn Cherokee Loyal League. Resolutions of Pin League to John Ross document 1864. Appalachian State University, ASU
referencedIn Papers, 1861-1922 University of Kansas Kenneth Spencer Research Library Kanas Collection
referencedIn Smithsonian Institution. Office of the Secretary. Correspondence, 1863-1879 Smithsonian Institution Archives
referencedIn Joel Grover papers, 1857-1888 University of Kansas Kenneth Spencer Research Library Kanas Collection
referencedIn Smithsonian Institution. Office of the Secretary. Correspondence, 1865-1891 Smithsonian Institution Archives
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
correspondedWith Baird, Spencer F. person
associatedWith Cherokee Loyal League. corporateBody
associatedWith Fink, L. M. (Rev.) person
associatedWith Grover, Joel person
correspondedWith Henry, Joseph, 1797-1878 person
associatedWith Kansas U.S. Representatives' Papers. corporateBody
associatedWith Spilman family. family
correspondedWith United States. American Freedmen's Inquiry Commission. corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Congress. corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
Kansas
United States
Subject
American letters
American letters
Cherokee Indians
Exchanges Of Publications
Lawyers
Legislators
Poetry
Reporters and reporting
Smithsonian Publications
Soldiers
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1824-01-14

Death 1893-11-30

Americans

English

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