The History of Hendricks County (Chicago: Interstate Publishing, 1885)--Brown Township, pages 478-479
James W. Phillips, one of the successful farmers of Brown Township, is a native of Jefferson County, Ind., born April 7, 1837, a son of Thomas and Susan Phillips. His father was a native of North Carolina, and immigrated to Indiana with his parents in an early day. Of ten children born to his parents six are living--Newton E., James W., Alexander W., Melville, Milton A. and Susan. James W. Phillips was reared in his native county, and made it his home till the fall of 1865, when he moved to Hendricks County, and in 1867 settled on the farm where he now lives, on section 22, Brown Township. His farm contains 105 acres of fine land, and his improvements are large and comfortable and in good repair. Mr. Phillips is an energetic, industrious man, and is one of the prosperous farmers of Hendricks County. He was married July 4, 1861, to Lydia M. Gray, of Jennings County, Ind. To them have been born four children--Charles H., Clarence, Iva J. and Roy. In politics Mr. Phillips is a Republican.