Edward Philips

Edward Phillips was born 2 April 1813 in Oxenhall, Gloucestershire. He was the sixth child of 11 children, five brothers and 3 younger sisters living to adulthood. His father, William, was a farm superintendent and at the time Edward was born, he was renting a farm of 100 acres at Leigh, Worcestershire. Edward helped his brothers farm and learned blacksmithing to help support his mother. In the words of Edward Phillips, in telling of his baptism, he says, “I went to hear him preach (Wilford Woodruff) at Ridgeway cross on or about 15th March 1840. A day or two following I went to hear him speak at Hills Farm. When I started, my mother said, Edward, I should think you will not come back without being baptized, I obeyed this council and was baptised.”

Soon after his baptism, Edward was ordained a priest and placed in charge of two branches, Ashfield and Crocutt, with George Brooks as his assistant. Edward then laboured for 1 year as a missionary in the Forest of Dean. Shortly after he finished his mission in Gloucestershire, his mother and sister joined a company of 100 saints on the Ship "Carolina" which departed 8 August 1841. Edward arrived in Nauvoo in October of that year. In Nauvoo, he laboured in the rock quarry for the Temple. He married Hannah Simmons (also from Herefordshire) on 22 August 1842. Edward was a member of the Nauvoo Legion and present when the mantle of Joseph fell on Brigham Young. He said, "I was present at the meeting when this took place and heard with my own ears and saw with my own eyes. We all thought Joseph had come back to us although we knew he was in his grave.

Edward and his family arrived in Salt Lake City in October 1849. He settled his family on a ten-acre lot south of Salt Lake City for the winter, obtaining enough logs from Red Butte canyon to build a log cabin. In 1850, he settled in Kaysville, being the second man to establish himself there. He and his wife, Hannah, were always helpful in their community and to the church, and especially in trying to provide their children with a good education. At one time Edward contributed $500 toward the building of the Kaysville tabernacle as well as helping in its construction. In February 1859, Edward Phillips was called as President of the Kaysville High Priests, which position he held until his death, a period of 37 years.

His Obituary in the Desert News said of him:

“It is sufficient to say of him that he was a good husband and father, an honourable man, and a tried, true and consistent Latter-day Saint. He was the father of eighteen children.”

Edward Phillips died 1 December 1896 at Kaysville, Utah - Age 83.