🏠 » Genealogy » Phillis and Thomas

Compiled and written by Kimberli Faulkner Hull
Grandniece of Charles Suitt “Charlie” Phillis
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© Kimberli Faulkner Hull

Charles Suitt “Charlie” Phillis was born on 25 October 1886 in Cambridge, Guernsey County, Ohio to John C. and Julia A. Thomas.¹

[Open Endnotes in separate tab]

Charlie spent his childhood with his parents and siblings on the family farm in Cambridge, graduating from high school in 1902.² In 1904, Charlie and his brother, William, headed west, with Charlie going to St. Louis, and Will going to Kansas.³

The family followed William to Caney, Montgomery County, Kansas the following year and Charlie joined them as well.⁴

Charlie and his brother, John Boyce, only stayed in Kansas for a year or two before moving to New York City where the two lived for three years. Charlie traveled extensively, visiting 30 states, Mexico, and Canada, and was in San Francisco during the fire in 1906. The brothers returned to Kansas in 1909 following a few months of traveling, arriving in time for a Thanksgiving family reunion.⁵

Charlie stayed in Oklahoma a few months, attending several parties with John Boyce, before moving to Chicago, where he worked as a hotel clerk.⁶

Charlie’s parents and brothers, with the exception of William and Fred, soon followed him to Chicago.⁷ Charles remained working in the hotel industry and in 1917, both Charlie and Howard were working a the Blackstone Hotel at 7th and Michigan.⁸

Charlie’s father, John, died in 1918 and is buried in Montrose Cemetery.⁹

Charlie married Minnette “Minnie” Bullock on 22 July 1918 in Chicago and the couple made their home at 2446 Clark Street near Lincoln Park.¹⁰

Charle’s mother, Julia, died in 1927 in Chicago and is also buried in Montrose Cemetery.¹¹

By 1930, Charlie and Minnie had moved to 2311 Gidding Street and had a boarder living with them, Harry Reid. All worked as clerks at the time.¹²

A decade later, Charlie and Minnie had moved again and had a different boarder in residence, Anthony Thompson.¹³ By 1942, Charlie and Minnie had relocated to 1302 Waveland near Wrigley Field, where they would live for the rest of their lives.¹⁴

“Your Mother’s Uncle Charlie”

A personal remembrance from the author as told to her by her father…

My father, Ernie Faulkner, grew up on the south side of Chicago and was fond of Charles, who he referred to as “your Mother’s Uncle Charlie.” My parents’ visits from Kansas would have been later in Charlie’s life, after Minnie died. Per my father, Charlie was humorous and eccentric, wearing smoking jackets and sporting a handlebar mustache. Charlie collected antiques – my father said Charlie’s home was packed with treasures. Their building had a rooftop that could be accessed and they would be go to the roof and watch the Cubs play a few blocks away.

– Kimberli Faulkner Hull, daughter of Evelyn Phillis Faulkner

Charlie’s wife, Minnette Bullock Phillis, died on 14 April 1946 at the age of 54.¹⁵ Minnie is buried in Rosehill Cemetery and Mausoleum in Chicago.¹⁶

After Minnie died, Charlie continued to travel, visiting Cuba in 1949 and Jamaica in 1955.¹⁷

Charles Suitt Phillis died on 21 October 1968 at the age of 82 in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois.¹⁸ Charles is also buried in Rosehill Cemetery and Mausoleum in Chicago.¹⁹

Endnotes

1. Guernsey County, Ohio, Birth Record Index Card, Charley S. Phillis, 25 July 1886. 
Parents: John C. Phillis and Julia A. Thomas. Birthplace: Cambridge Township.
Register: vol. 2, p. 44. Registered: 1887.

Guernsey County, Ohio, Probate court, Record of Births, p. 44, no. 149, S. Charley Phillis, 25 July 1886.
Place of birth: Cambridge. Father: John C. Phillis. Mother: Julia Thomas.
Residence of Parents: Cambridge Twp.

Cambridge, Guernsey County, Ohio, Precinct 3, Assessor’s Report Year Ending 31 Mar 1887, Report of Births, S. Charley Phillis, 25 July 1886.
Place of birth: Cambridge. Father: John C. Phillis. Mother: Julia A. Thomas.
Residence of Parents: 3^rd precinct, Cambridge Twp.

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2. 1900 U.S. census, Cambridge Township, Guernsey County, Ohio, population schedule, enumeration district (ED) 3, sheet 27-A, dwelling 223, family 223, John P. Philis.
– John P. Phillis, head, age 43, married 16 years, born Sept 1856 in Ohio
– Julia, wife, age 48, married 16 years, 6 children born and living, born Mar 1859 in Ohio
– Will, son, age 15, born Sep 1884 in Ohio
– Charlie S, son, age 14, born Jul 1886 in Ohio
– Fred, son, age 11, born Aug 1888 in Ohio
– Boyce, son, age 9, born June 1890 in Ohio
– Howard, son, age 6, born Aug 1893 in Ohio
– Ralph, son, age 3, born Aug 1896 in Ohio

Also, “Cambridge, Ohio 1902 Graduating Class,” newspaper article, Cambridge Jeffersonian (Cambridge, Ohio), 22 May 1902, p. 3, col. 3.

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3. “Willie and Charlie Phillis Head West to Kansas and Missouri,” news article, Cambridge Jeffersonian  (Pleasant Valley, Cambridge, Guernsey County, Ohio), 12 May 1904, p. 8, col. 3.

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4. 1905 Kansas state census, Caney, Montgomery County, Kansas, population schedule, p. 5, dwelling 43, family 43, J. C. Phillis; Kansas State Historical Society, Topeka, Kansas,
1905 Kansas Territory Census, roll: ks1905_104.
– J. C. Phillis, age 48
– J. A. Phillis, age 45
– W. W. Phillis, age 20
– C. S. Phillis, age 18
– Fred, age 16
– Boyce, age 14
– Howard, 11
– Ralph, age 9
– Clarance, age 3

Also, “Farewell Dinner Held for Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Phillis,” news article, Cambridge Jeffersonian, (Pleasant Valley, Cambridge, Guernsey County, Ohio), 23 Feb 1905, p. 1, col. 6.

Also, “Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Phillis and Family Begin Move to Kansas” news article, Cambridge Jeffersonian (Pleasant Valley, Cambridge, Guernsey County, Ohio), 9 Mar 1905, p. 1, col. 3.

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5. “A Family Reunion, Chas. S. and J. B. Phillis Return,” news article, The Dewey World (Dewey, Oklahoma), 2 Dec 1909, p. 8, col. 1.

Also, Nephews of P. T. Suitt,” newspaper article, Daily Jeffersonian (Cambridge, Ohio), 19 Apr 1906, p. 4, col. 3. Note: Charlie was in San Francisco at the time of the fire. it is unknown if Fred was (See 1909 Family reunion article). Philip T. Suitt was Charlie and Fred’s uncle by marriage, the spouse of Mary M. Thomas, sister of Julia A. Thomas.

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6. “A New Year’s Party, Charlie Phillis Attends,” news article, The Dewey Sentinel (Dewey, Oklahoma),
7 Jan 1910, p. 1, col. 4.

Also, A Valentine Evening, Charles and J. B. Phillis Attend,” news article, The Dewey Sentinel 
(Dewey, Oklahoma), 18 Feb 1910, p. 8, col. 4.

Also, A Birthday Surprise, Charles and Boyce Phillis Attend,” news article, The Dewey Sentinel (Dewey, Oklahoma), 4 Mar 1910, p. 1, col. 5.

Also, 1910 U.S. census, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, population schedule, enumeration district (ED) 933, ward 21, sheet 12B, dwelling 56, family 100, Charles A Phillis, lodger.
Address: 637-639 Dearborn Ave
– Charles A Phillis, age 23, single, born in Ohio, hotel clerk

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 7. “Mr. and Mrs. Phillis Move to Chicago,” newspaper article, Dewey Globe (Dewey, Oklahoma), 16 Feb 1912, p. 5, col. 3.

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8. United States World War I Draft Registration Card, Charles Suit Phillis, serial no. 2188, Precinct 58, 23^rd Ward, Chicago, Illinois, 4 June 1917.
Address: 508 Grant Place, Chicago. Born 25 July 1886, Cambridge, Ohio.
Occupation: Bellman, Blackstone Hotel, 7^th and Michigan. Single.

Also, “History of the Blackstone,” The Blackstone (https://www.theblackstonehotel.com/about/story).

Also, The Blackstone Hotel, Chicago, Illinois, 1917, postcard.

Also, United States World War I Draft Registration Card, Howard Thomas Phillis, serial no. 2182, Local Draft Board 23^rd ward, 58^th precinct, Chicago, Illinois, 5 June 1917. Birth: 16 Aug 1893, Cambridge, Ohio. Address: 508 Grant Pl, Chicago. Occupation: Operator, Drake Hotel, Michigan and Seventh.  Single. Supports father and mother.
Note: This was not the existing Drake Hotel at 140 East Walton Place. The current Drake was not built until 1920. This was the Blackstone at 636 South Michigan Avenue which adding an annex in 1917.

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9. State of Illinois, Standard Certificate of Death, Chicago, Cook County, no. 2867, John C. Phillis, 30 Jan 1918; privately held by Kimberli Faulkner Hull, Massachusetts.
Birth: 29 Sept 1856, Ohio. Age 61 years, 3 months, 1 day. Married. Occupation: Watchman. Cause of death: chronic interstitial nephritis arterial paralysis. Father: Joseph Phillis, born in Ohio.  Mother: Josephine Ewing, Ohio. Informant: Charles S Phillis. Burial: Montrose, 1 Feb 1918.

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10. Illinois, Cook County Marriages, Chicago, Cook County, no. 803360, Charles S. Phillis–Miss Minnie M. Bullock, 22 July 1918. Groom: Age 31. Bride: Age 23.

Also, 1920 U.S. census, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, population schedule, enumeration district (ED) 1312, sheet 4A, dwelling 74, family 90, Charles Phillis household.
Address: 2446 Clark st.
– Charles Phillis, age 32, married, born in Ohio, hotel clerk
– Minnie, wife, age 27, married, born in Ohio

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11. State of Illinois, Department of Public Health–Division of Vital Statistics, death certificate, registered no. 8278 (1921), Cook County, Julia A. Phillis, 20 Mar 1927; Faulkner-Hull Family Papers, privately held by Kimberli Faulkner Hull, Massachusetts.

Also, “Mrs. Julia Phillis,” obituary, Daily Jeffersonian (Cambridge, Ohio), 22 Mar 1927, p. 8, col. 3.

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12. 1930 U.S. census, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, population schedule, enumeration district (ED) 1974, sheet 3A, family 46, Charles Phillis household.
Address: 2311 Gidding St.
– Charles Phillis, age 43, married, born in Ohio, office clerk
– Minnette, wife, age 35, married, born in Ohio, clerk
– Homer Reid, roomer, age 28, born in Canada, office clerk

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13. 1940 U.S. census, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, population schedule, enumeration district (ED) 103-2862, sheet 62A, family 46, Charles Phillis household.
House number: 3541. Same address in 1935.
– Charles Phillis, age 53, married, born in Ohio, personnel manager, athletic club
– Minnette, wife, age 46, married, born in Ohio
– Anthony Thompson, age 45, born in Illinois, linen salesman, retail store

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14. United States World War II Draft Registration Card, Charles Suitt Phillis, serial no. U746, Local Draft Board 731, Chicago, Illinois, 27 Apr 1942. Birth: 25 July 1886, Cambridge, Ohio.
Address: 1302 Waveland, Chicago. Age: 55.
Employer: Chicago Athletic Association, 12 S. Michigan, Chicago.
Contact: Mrs. J. J. MacDonald, 266 Deshler, Columbus, Ohio.
Note: Mrs. J. J MacDonald was Minnie’s sister, Myrtle Bullock.

Also, Chicago, Illinois White Pages Telephone Directory 1946, p. 1341, Phillis listings, Charles and Ralph
Phillis, Chas S 1302 W. Waveland
Phillis, Ralph R confty 1014 W 19

Also, Chicago, Illinois White Pages Telephone Directory 1947, p. 1411, Phillis listings, Ralph and Charles and Ralph R.
Phillis, Chas S 1302 W. Waveland
Phillis, Ralph R confty 1014 W 19

Also, Chicago, Illinois White Pages Telephone Directory 1949,
p. 1497, Phillis listings, Charles S.
Phillis, Chas S 1302 W. Waveland

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15. Illinois, Cook County, Certificate of Death, Chicago, no. 11750, Minnette Phillis, 14 April 1946.  Married. Spouse: Charles. Birth: 22 July 1891, Corning, Ohio. Age: 54 years, 8 months, 22 days. Address: 1302 Waveland. Father: Paul Bullock. Mother: Unknown. Informant: Charles S. Phillis. Burial: 17 Apr 1896, Rosehill Cemetery, Chicago, Cook County.

Also, “Minnette Phillis,” obituary, Chicago Daily News (Chicago, Illinois), 16 Apr 1946, p. 24, col. 5.

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16. Find A Grave, memorial 197864527, Minnette Leota “Minnie” Bullock Phillis (1894–1946), Rosehill Cemetery and Mausoleum, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois; no headstone photo.

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17. The National Archives at Washington, D.C., NAI Number: 2774842, Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, Group Number 85, U.S. Citizen Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving at Miami, Florida, S. S. Florida, Havana, Cuba, departure 28 Dec 1947, to Miami, Florida, arrival 19 Dec 1949, p. 6, no. 7, Charles S. Phillis.
– Phillis, Charles S., age 61, born Cambridge, Ohio, 25 July 1886, Address: 1302 Weneland Ave, Chicago, Illinois.

Also, The National Archives at Washington, D.C., NAI Number: 2771998, Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, Group Number 85, Passenger and Crew Lists of Vessels and Airplanes Departing Miami, Florida, Pan American World Airways, San Juan, Puerto Rico to Kingston, Jamaica, Charles Phillis, 29 Jan 1955.

Also, The National Archives at Washington, D.C., NAI Number: 2771998, Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, Group Number 85, Passenger and Crew Lists of Vessels and Airplanes Arriving at Miami, Florida, Pan American World Airways, Montego Bay, Jamaica to Miami, Florida, Charles S. Phillis, 7 Feb 1955.

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18. Illinois, Cook County Deaths, Chicago, Charles Phillis, 21 Oct 1968. Birth: 25 July 1886, Ohio. Address: 1302 West Waveland Ave. Age: 82. Widowed. Funeral home: Beaumont Funeral Home. Burial: 25 Oct 1968, Rosehill Cemetery, Chicago.

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19. Find A Grave, memorial 175195491, Charles Suitt Phillis (1886–1968), Rosehill Cemetery and Mausoleum, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois; no headstone photo

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Citing this page: Kimberli Faulkner Hull, author, “Charles Suitt ‘Charlie’ Phillis,” Cool Adventures (https://cooladventures.com/genealogy/charles-suitt-charlie-phillis-1886-1968/ : posted 2022).

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