OBITUARY: Mit Phillips (1932)

from The Republican (Danville, Indiana) – issue of Thursday, March 10, 1932 – page 3, column 2:

Former Resident of County Dies at Santa Ana, Calif.
Mit Phillips, a native of Hendricks county, but for 43 years a prominent resident of Santa Ana, California, died at his home there February 13, at the age of eighty-three years.

The Santa Ana Daily Register of February 14 carried the following story relative to his passing:

Never a seeker after public office but always active in any move for the improvement and advancement for the city, Phillips probably was one of the best known and most popular men in the county.

He was born in Hendricks county, Indiana, and graduated from Oberlin College in Ohio. Upon graduation he entered business at Plainfield where he operated a drug store for many years until he came to Santa Ana.

In 1878 he was married to Miss Tennessee G. Tomlinson and in 1889 moved to Santa Ana where he purchased the old Fiddler drug store. He operated the store until his retirement approximately 20 years ago. After his retirement he devoted himself to lodge work and the affairs of the Sunset Club.

He was a charter member of the Santa Ana Lodge 794, B.P.O.E., the I.O.O.F. and the Sunset Club.

In addition to his widow, Mrs. Tennessee Phillips, he is survived by two cousins, Keller and Clyde Watson, both of Orange county, California.

Funeral services were held February 15 with burial at Santa Ana.

A columnist in the Santa Ana paper comments thus upon Mr. Phillips:

“In the evening twilight of life our friend wrapped the draperies of his couch about him to lie down to pleasant dreams. After a long voyage with his fellowmen, Mit Phillips entered the mystic hour of eleven, thankful for life and its golden memories. These were his companions on his way to his chamber in the silent halls of death. The sunny disposition of our friend, exceptional in its duration as it was in its encouragement – may it be the light that leads him until eternal rest. Upon the tablets of love and memory we record his virtues and mantle any human frailties with the garment of forgiveness. To this genial, kindly soul, from whose storehouse of sunlight and happiness we were so generously favored, we offer our hand in his long journey across the wide open spaces to the Elysian of Rest.”

Mr. Phillips is well known to the older residents of the community, and although he has been away from here many years, he kept in touch with a number of local people.