🏠 » Genealogy » Phillis and Thomas

Compiled and written by Kimberli Faulkner Hull
Niece of Eleanor Marie Phillis Baird
The contents of this website, including images and photos, may neither be copied nor otherwise used or posted elsewhere without explicit permission. Citing this page
© Kimberli Faulkner Hull

Eleanor Marie Phillis was born on 20 October 1913 in Caney, Montgomery County, Kansas to William Walker Phillis and Myrtle Ivy Hooper Phillis.¹

[Open Endnotes in separate tab]

Eleanor Marie and her parents remained in Caney for several years and then moved to Independence, which is about 20 miles north of Caney, by 1920.² Eleanor celebrated her 9th birthday, 13 October 1922, with a friend, with both of their mothers holding a party for the occasion.³

Eleanor was a talent with a thread and needle, winning first place for dish towel in 4 H Club when she was 11.⁴

Eleanor and her family moved to Altoona, Kansas in the late 1920s.⁵

Eleanor graduated from Altoona High School in 1931.⁶

By 1935, the family had moved back to Independence.⁷ Soon, Eleanor met Hanley Solease Baird and the two were united in marriage on 29 November 1929 in Independence.⁸

Eleanor and Hanley, her parents, W. W. and Myrtle Phillis, and Eleanor’s sister, Evelyn, were all living in the same household in 1940 in Independence, near the Professional Building where Eleanor worked as a clerk for the Draft Board.⁹

Eleanor Marie Phillis Baird, late 1930s-late 1940s

A few years later, Eleanor and Hanley purchased a home at 1020 W. Maple in Independence.¹⁰

Eleanor and Hanley were very close with Eleanor’s sister and husband, Evelyn and Ernie, and they spent much time together with Evelyn and Ernie’s children, Karen, Bob, and Kim.¹¹

About 1955, Eleanor and Hanley moved to Fairfield, California where they opened a shoe store, Baird’s Shoes, and established a home.¹²

Eleanor loved their time in California and would time and again tell stories about the years they spent there. She and Hanley frequently went into San Francisco to eat and shop, they toured Northern California extensively, and they spent much time driving down the coast.¹³

She adored their trips to Lake Tahoe, where they would fish, hike, and do a bit of gambling. She kept bags of silver dollars from the Lake Tahoe slot machines in her linen closet for decades after.¹⁴

Eleanor Marie Phillis Baird, 1950s

On 1 June 1963, Hanley suffered a heart attack and died in California.¹⁵ Eleanor sold the shoe store, handled the administrative tasks in California, then moved back to Kansas.¹⁶

Eleanor purchased a home at 1412 N 10th in Independence, Kansas and, with her mother, Myrtle, the two made their home there for the majority of the rest of their lives.¹⁷

Eleanor loved going to restaurants, working on jigsaw puzzles, gardening, and traveling. She adored her toy fox terriers, all named Muffin, and she always owned a Cadillac, which she called “the Caddie,” that she liked to drive at a high rate of speed to “get the cobwebs out.”¹⁸

Every week, Eleanor would load the mower in the trunk and go to the cemetery to mow Hanley’s grave because she didn’t think the cemetery did it well enough.¹⁹

Eleanor worked at the ammunition plant in Parsons, Kansas x-raying bombs until her retirement in 1978.²⁰

Eleanor Marie Phillis Baird, 1960s-2000s

On 1 April 2006, Eleanor and her sister and brother-in-law, Evelyn and Ernie, moved to Dallas, Texas to be near her niece and nephew, Kimberli and Greg Hull.²¹ Eleanor and Evelyn shared a room in a care facility in Dallas until Evelyn’s death in 2007.²² Eleanor then moved to a care home in Farmers Branch, Texas until her death on 14 January 2008.²³

Eleanor is buried in Mount Hope Cemetery with Hanley in Independence, Montgomery County, Kansas.²⁴

Endnotes

1. Kansas State Department of Health, Division of Vital Statistics, Topeka, Kansas (1965), delayed certificate of birth application, 2 Sep 1965, Eleanor Marie Phillis Baird; Faulkner-Hull Family Papers, privately held by Kimberli Faulkner Hull.

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2. 1915 Kansas state census, Caney, Montgomery County, Kansas, population schedule, p. 14, dwelling 312, W. W. Phillis household; Kansas State Historical Society, Topeka, Kansas, 1915 Kansas Territory Census, roll: ks1915_155.

Also, 1920 U.S. census, Independence, Montgomery County, Kansas, population schedule, enumeration district (ED) 195, sheet 5-B, dwelling 126, W. W. Phillis household.

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3. “Eleanor Phillis’ 9th Birthday Party,” news article, Independence Daily Reporter (Independence, Kansas), 21 Oct 1922, p. 3, col. 3.

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4. “Girl’s 4 H Club, Eleanor Phillis Wins First Place,” newspaper article, Dewey Globe (Dewey, Oklahoma), 26 Sep 1924, p. 2, col. 3.

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5. 1930 U.S. census, Cedar Township, Altoona, Wilson County, Kansas, population schedule, enumeration district (ED) 103-1, sheet 1-B, dwelling 24, family 20, William W. Phillis household.
– William W. Phillis, age 44, married, born in Ohio, both parents born in Ohio, occupation: Field Manager, City Services Gas, age at first marriage: 26
– Myrtle Phillis, age 42, married, born in Kansas, father born in Illinois, mother born in Indiana, age at first marriage: 24
– Eleanor Phillis, age 16, daughter, single, born in Kansas
– Evelyn Phillis, age 6, daughter, single, born in Oklahoma

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6. Eleanor M. Phillis, Altoona High School Diploma, 1931, Altoona, Kansas, privately held by Kimberli Faulkner Hull.

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7. 1940 U.S. census, Independence, Montgomery County, Kansas, population schedule, enumeration district (ED) 63-29, sheet 5-B, household 121, William Phillis household.
1935 residence: Same place.
Note: Census states residence was 308 N. 9th, however, they lived at 313 N. 9th [photos have house number visible; house has been torn down].
– William Phillis, head, age 55, laborer, born in Ohio
– Myrtle, wife, age 52, born in Kansas
– Evelyn Lee, daughter, age 16, born in Oklahoma
– Hanley Baird, son-in-law, clerk, retail shoe store, born in Kansas
– Eleanor M., daughter, bookkeeper, gas company, age 26, born in Kansas

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8. Marriage Records of Montgomery County, Kansas, no. H 13421, Baird-Phillis, 1939; Faulkner-Hull Family Papers, privately held by Kimberli Faulkner Hull.

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9. 1940 U.S. census, Independence, Montgomery County, Kansas, population schedule, enumeration district (ED) 63-29, sheet 5-B, household 121, William Phillis household.

Also, photo of Eleanor working, taken and caption written by Evelyn Phillis Faulkner, “Feb 1949, Up in Draft Board, Professional Building, Works with Mary Ann Regan.”

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10. As told to the author by her aunt, Eleanor Phillis Baird.

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11. Personal knowledge of the author.

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12. Polk’s Fairfield-Suisun, Solano County, Calif. City Directory, 1963 (Los Angeles, California : R. L. Polk, 1963), p. 56, Baird Shoe Store.

Polk’s Fairfield-Suisun, Solano County, Calif. City Directory, 1963 (Los Angeles, California : R. L. Polk, 1963), Fairfield, p. 11, Eleanor and Hanley Baird.

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13. As told to the author by her aunt, Eleanor Phillis Baird.

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14. Ibid. Also, personal knowledge of the author.

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15. “California Death Index, 1940-1997,” Hanley S. Baird, 1 June 1903; citing Department of Public Health Services, Sacramento, California.

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16. As told to the author by her aunt, Eleanor Phillis Baird.

Also, Solano County, California, Probate Records, vol. 41, p. 389, no. 15989, Hanley Baird deceased, Eleanor M. Baird administrator, 5 July 1963.

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17. Personal knowledge of the author.

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18. Ibid.

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19. Ibid.

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20. “Two Employees Retire at Ammunition Plant,” news article, Parsons Sun (Parsons, Kansas), 1 Nov 1978, p. 12, col. 1.

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21. Personal knowledge of the author.

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22. Ibid.

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23. Ibid. Also, State of Texas, Vital Statistics Division, Farmers Branch, Texas, death certificate, Eleanor Marie Baird, 14 Jan 2008; Faulkner-Hull Family Papers, privately held by Kimberli Faulkner Hull.

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24. Headstone reads: Baird / Eleanor M. / Oct. 20, 1913 / Jan 14, 2008 | Hanley S. / Oct. 13, 1903 / June 1, 1963 / Together Forever
Find A Grave, memorial 71388508, Eleanor Marie Phillis Baird (1913–2008), Mount Hope Cemetery, Independence, Montgomery County, Kansas.

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Photos

All privately held by Kimberli Faulkner Hull, Massachusetts.
Eleanor Marie Phillis, ca. 1921, Kansas.
Eleanor Phillis fishing ca. 1930s, Kansas.
Eleanor and Evelyn Phillis, ca. 1930, Altoona, Kansas. .
Eleanor Phillis and unknown person with dog, ca. 1930, Kansas. .
Eleanor Baird working at the Professional Building, 1949, Independence, Kansas.
Photo: Eleanor and Hanley Baird, ca. 1939, Independence, Kansas.

Eleanor Marie Phillis Baird, late 1930s-late 1940s photos
– Eleanor Phillis Baird and Harold Fred Phillis, ca. 1940, location unknown.
– Eleanor Marie Phillis, ca. 1930s.
– Eleanor Phillis Baird and Evelyn Phillis, ca. 1939, at house at 313 N. 9th in Independence, Kansas.
– Hanley Baird, Eleanor Phillis Baird, Evelyn Phillis, ca. 1940, at house at 313 N. 9th in Independence, Kansas.
– Eleanor Phillis Baird and Timmie the dog, Independence, Kansas. Photo caption written by Evelyn Faulkner, “Eleanor and Timmie.”
– Eleanor Baird working at the Professional Building, 1949, Independence, Kansas Taken by Evelyn Phillis.
– Eleanor Phillis Baird with brother-in-law, Ernest Faulkner, Oct 1944, Independence, Kansas.
– Eleanor Phillis Baird, ca. 1930s.
– Eleanor and Hanley Baird, ca. 1940, Independence, Kansas.
– Eleanor Phillis Baird, ca. 1939, Independence, Kansas.
– Eleanor Phillis Baird and Evelyn Phillis, ca. 1940s.
– Eleanor Baird working at the Professional Building, 1949, Independence, Kansas Taken by Evelyn Phillis.
– Eleanor Phillis Baird, Independence, Kansas, ca 1940s.
– Evelyn Phillis and Eleanor Phillis Baird, ca 1940s, Independence, Kansas.
– Photo caption written by Evelyn Faulkner: “Feb. 1949. Up in Draft Board, Professional Building. Works with Mary Ann Regan.”
– Eleanor Marie Phillis, ca. 1933, Kansas.
– Eleanor Phillis Baird and Evelyn Phillis Faulkner, Oct 1944, Independence, Kansas.
– Evelyn Phillis Faulkner and Eleanor Phillis Baird, Independence, Kansas. Back of reads, “Easter Sunday 1949.”

Eleanor Marie Phillis Baird and Hanley Solease Baird, ca. 1955.
Eleanor and Hanley Baird, Lake Tahoe, ca. 1955.

Eleanor Marie Phillis Baird, 1950s
Eleanor Baird and Bob and Karen Faulkner
Eleanor Baird working
Karen and Evelyn Faulkner, Eleanor Baird, Bob Faulkner
Eleanor Phillis Baird
Eleanor and Hanley Baird, 1950s
Eleanor Marie Phillis Baird
Hanley and Eleanor Baird, 1950s
Hanley and Eleanor Phillis Baird
Hanley and Eleanor Baird
Eleanor and Hanely Baird fishing
Eleanor Baird and friends, California

Kimberli Faulkner at home of Eleanor Baird, 1412 N. 10th, Independence, Kansas, ca. 1965.

Eleanor Marie Phillis Baird, 1960s-2008 photos; all privately held by Kimberli Faulkner Hull
– Kim Faulkner and Eleanor Baird in plaid dresses, taken at the home of Evelyn and Ernie Faulkner at 1010 North 4th Street, Independence, Kansas. Oct 1965
– Evelyn Faulkner, Eleanor Baird and Traveling Bowling Team, 1953, Back of photo reads, “Everly, Eleanor, Billie Crane, Lucille Grewell, Irene Graves. Traveling Bowling Team.” Dated 14 December 1953.
– Eleanor Baird and niece, Kimberli Faulkner, June 1963, taken at the home of Evelyn and Ernie Faulkner at 1010 North 4th Street, Independence, Kansas. 
– Kimberli Faulkner and her aunt, Eleanor Baird at the home of Evelyn and Ernie Faulkner in Kansas City, Missouri, ca. 1968
– Eleanor Baird at home, 1412 N. 10th, Independence, Kansas, ca. 1960s.
– Evelyn Faulkner and Eleanor Baird opening presents, Christmas 1976, taken at the home of Evelyn and Ernie Faulkner at 1028 N. 17th Place, Independence, Kansas
– Eleanor Baird in Hawaii with Kimberli and Greg Hull, 1981.
– Eleanor Baird and Kimberli Faulkner Hull at lūʻau in Hawaii, 1981. 
– Eleanor Baird and Kimberli Faulkner Hull in Hawaii, 1981.
– Eleanor Baird and Kimberli Faulkner Hull, arrival in Honolulu, 1981. 
– Eleanor Baird holding grand nephew, Ryan Hull, Christmas 1982, taken at the home of Evelyn and Ernie Faulkner at 1028 N. 17th Place, Independence, Kansas
– Eleanor Baird, Evelyn Faulkner, and Ryan Hull, Christmas 1983. 
– Eleanor Baird and Ryan Hull celebrating October birthdays, 1987. 
– Eleanor Baird and grand nephew, Ryan Hull, Christmas 1999, at Eleanor’s house, 1412 N. 10th, Independence, Kansas.
– Eleanor Baird and niece, Karen Faulkner Giddings, Christmas 1999, at Eleanor’s house, 1412 N. 10th, Independence, Kansas. 
– Eleanor Baird and niece, Karen Faulkner Giddings, Christmas 1999, at Eleanor’s house, 1412 N. 10th, Independence, Kansas. 
– Eleanor Phillis Baird by Christmas tree, 2006, Independence, Kansas.
– Eleanor Baird in festive wear, Dallas, Texas, 2007.

Citing this page: Kimberli Faulkner Hull, author, “Eleanor Marie Phillis Baird,” Cool Adventures
( https://cooladventures.com/genealogy/eleanor-marie-phillis-baird-1913-2008/ : posted 2022).

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