Thomas Wharton Phillips | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania's25th district | |
| In office 1893–1897 | |
| Preceded by | Eugene P. Gillespie |
| Succeeded by | Joseph B. Showalter |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1835-02-23)February 23, 1835 |
| Died | July 12, 1912(1912-07-12) (aged 77) New Castle, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Spouses | |
| Children | Thomas Wharton Phillips Jr. |
Thomas Wharton Phillips (February 23, 1835 – July 21, 1912) was aRepublican member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromPennsylvania.
Phillips was born nearMount Jackson, Pennsylvania, in that section ofBeaver County, Pennsylvania, now included inLawrence County, Pennsylvania. He was the son of Ephram Phillips (1795–1835) and Ann Phillips (1796–1866).[1] Phillips is a descendant of the ReverendGeorge Phillips.
He attended the common schools and was also privately instructed.[2]
He engaged in the production ofoil, and served as president of the Producers’ Protective Association from 1887 to 1890. He was president of the Citizens’ National Bank ofNew Castle, Pennsylvania, and a member of the board of trustees ofBethany College,West Virginia, and ofHiram College,Ohio.[2]
Phillips was elected as a Republican to theFifty-third andFifty-fourth Congresses. He was the chairman of theUnited States House Committee on Labor during the Fifty-fourth Congress. He did not seek renomination in 1896. He resumed his former pursuits, and was appointed a member of theUnited States Industrial Commission by PresidentWilliam McKinley and served until its dissolution. He was a delegate to theRepublican National Convention in 1908.[2]
In 1906, Phillips was approached by his friend, Dr. Ely Zollars, for help in establishing a bible college in what was then theOklahoma Territory. Mr. Phillips agreed to pay Dr. Zollars' salary for one year while his friend sought to secure a location for the school. Phillips became a longtime benefactor of the school which was initially called Oklahoma Christian University.[3]
Phillips was twice married. His first marriage was in 1862 to Clarinda Hardman (1837–1866), the daughter of David Hardman and Nancy Rebecca (née Arter) Hardman. Together, they were the parents of:[1]
After the death of his first wife, he remarried in 1871 to his late wife's younger sister, Pamphila Hardman (1844–1933). Together, they were the parents of:[1]
Phillips died in New Castle on July 21, 1912.[9] He was buried in Oak Park Cemetery, New Castle, Pennsylvania.[2]
Upon Phillips' death the trustees voted to change the name of the school toPhillips University in his honor.[10] The university closed in 1998, butPhillips Theological Seminary which separated from the university in 1987, continues to exist as of 2016.[11]
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromPennsylvania's 25th congressional district 1893–1897 | Succeeded by |
| Education and Labor (1867–1883) |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Education (1883–1947) | ||
| Labor (1883–1947) | ||
| Education and Labor* (1947–) | ||
| Note | * Alternately namedEconomic and Educational Opportunities in 104th Congress andEducation and the Workforce in 105th through 109th and 112th through 115th Congresses. | |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
