A. F. Phillips

Mr. Phillips, hotel proprietor in Walton, Grand Traverse County, was born in Randolph County, Ohio in 1833.  Later went on to Bronson, Branch County, Michigan in 1859, and worked for the railroad company eight years.  Maintained a livery business four years.  Again, went back to the employ of the railroad company until 1873, when he went to Walton Junction and had charge of a gang of men in the construction of the Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad, and after the road was completed was a section foreman three years.  

He built the first house in Walton and kept boarders for a while and then kept hotel.  Mr. Phillips was then proprietor of the Grand Rapids and Indiana House and went on to become the deputy sheriff from 1882 to 1884.  Jane Taylor, a native of Ohio, became the wife of A. F. Phillips in 1863 and they had one daughter.  Jane died in 1869 and Mr. Phillips remarried Celia G. Orr, a native of Michigan in 1873.

Source: The Traverse Region, published 1884.

@Created by Brenda K. Wolfgram Moore 18June2003