William Henry Phipps was one of the most influential and respected men in Hudson for half a century, before his death in 1924. The name of Phipps has assumed a near-legendary status in this community because of the philanthropic activities of Wil...
The Phipps mansion was built in 1884 at 1005 Third St. and is considered the "grande dame" of the Queen Anne-style houses in Hudson. This photo is from the 1940s or 1950s.
The Phipps mansion was built in 1884 at 1005 Third St. and is considered the "grande dame" of the Queen Anne-style houses in Hudson. This photo is from the 1940s or 1950s.
William Henry Phipps was one of the most influential and respected men in Hudson for half a century, before his death in 1924.
Born in Leamington, England, in 1846, William H. Phipps came to Manitowoc with his parents in 1855 and remained there until 1871, when he obtained a position with the state treasurer's office in Madison, a post he held for three years.
In 1875, he was placed in charge of the land grant and was subsequently appointed land commissioner of the North Wisconsin Railroad Company. In April of that year Phipps moved to Hudson.
When the North Wisconsin Railroad was later consolidated to become the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis and Omaha, Phipps was appointed land commissioner over the combined grants. He held that position until he resigned in 1894 to take the post of land commissioner for the Northern Pacific Railroad in St. Paul, where he remained for 10 years.
It was in 1904 that Phipps left the Northern Pacific and engaged in business for himself, dealing in land and the manufacture and sale of lumber.
His association with First National Bank of Hudson spanned more than three decades. He had been a director of the bank since 1890 and then, in 1907, he was elected president of the bank, holding that position for many years.
His wife, whom he married in Madison in 1873, was Frances E. Van Bergen, a woman of ability and background. Though they had a number of children, only one survived to adulthood -- Stephen, who was born in 1878.
Phipps was not a man to shy away from politics. He was supervisor from Hudson on the County Board in 1885 and 1886 and served three terms as mayor of the city of Hudson, starting in 1889. He was elected to the Wisconsin Senate in 1890 to fill a vacancy caused by the resignation of Horace A. Taylor (1837-1910) and then was re-elected in 1892.
One of Mr. Phipps' trademarks was his devotion to the Presbyterian church, where he had been a member for more than 30 years, holding offices of trust and being particularly interested in the Sunday school work, serving as superintendent for countless years.
Besides all that, Phipps found time to serve on the Hudson Park Board and the Hudson Public Library Board. In fact, it was William Phipps who went to New York in 1902 to personally contact agents of steel magnate Andrew Carnegie, who donated $10,000 to establish the Hudson Public Library.
Phipps' philanthropic donations were many and the extent of them was known to but a few. One of the most visible donations came in 1910-11, when he and his wife gave the money for the Sunday school addition to the church. Another of his generosities was the annual presentation of Bibles to members of the church's confirmation classes.
Their home at 1005 Third St., built in 1884-85 in the elegant Queen Anne style, was without question one of the showplaces in Hudson and continues to be one of the finest examples of that style of architecture to be found in the St. Croix Valley. The house was described as "commodious" in 1898, and more recently, a local historian stated the house was "the 'grand dame' of Queen Anne houses in Hudson."
Mr. Phipps died in his garden at his home at the sunset hour on Saturday, July 12, 1924, surrounded by his family.
Percy Ap Roberts, editor of the Star-Observer, memorialized Mr. Phipps when he wrote, "Mr. Phipps was a man of strong convictions fearlessly expressed. His interest was intense in governmental and legislative matters. His creed was home, church and nation, these loyally supported. Philanthropy was the keynote of his character. His life was an open book and the greatest heritage he leaves is the example of a true Christian gentleman."
The Phipps mansion was built in 1884 at 1005 Third St. and is considered the "grande dame" of the Queen Anne-style houses in Hudson. This photo is from the 1940s or 1950s.
The Phipps mansion was built in 1884 at 1005 Third St. and is considered the "grande dame" of the Queen Anne-style houses in Hudson. This photo is from the 1940s or 1950s.
William Henry Phipps was one of the most influential and respected men in Hudson for half a century, before his death in 1924.
Born in Leamington, England, in 1846, William H. Phipps came to Manitowoc with his parents in 1855 and remained there until 1871, when he obtained a position with the state treasurer's office in Madison, a post he held for three years.
In 1875, he was placed in charge of the land grant and was subsequently appointed land commissioner of the North Wisconsin Railroad Company. In April of that year Phipps moved to Hudson.
When the North Wisconsin Railroad was later consolidated to become the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis and Omaha, Phipps was appointed land commissioner over the combined grants. He held that position until he resigned in 1894 to take the post of land commissioner for the Northern Pacific Railroad in St. Paul, where he remained for 10 years.
It was in 1904 that Phipps left the Northern Pacific and engaged in business for himself, dealing in land and the manufacture and sale of lumber.
His association with First National Bank of Hudson spanned more than three decades. He had been a director of the bank since 1890 and then, in 1907, he was elected president of the bank, holding that position for many years.
His wife, whom he married in Madison in 1873, was Frances E. Van Bergen, a woman of ability and background. Though they had a number of children, only one survived to adulthood -- Stephen, who was born in 1878.
Phipps was not a man to shy away from politics. He was supervisor from Hudson on the County Board in 1885 and 1886 and served three terms as mayor of the city of Hudson, starting in 1889. He was elected to the Wisconsin Senate in 1890 to fill a vacancy caused by the resignation of Horace A. Taylor (1837-1910) and then was re-elected in 1892.
One of Mr. Phipps' trademarks was his devotion to the Presbyterian church, where he had been a member for more than 30 years, holding offices of trust and being particularly interested in the Sunday school work, serving as superintendent for countless years.
Besides all that, Phipps found time to serve on the Hudson Park Board and the Hudson Public Library Board. In fact, it was William Phipps who went to New York in 1902 to personally contact agents of steel magnate Andrew Carnegie, who donated $10,000 to establish the Hudson Public Library.
Phipps' philanthropic donations were many and the extent of them was known to but a few. One of the most visible donations came in 1910-11, when he and his wife gave the money for the Sunday school addition to the church. Another of his generosities was the annual presentation of Bibles to members of the church's confirmation classes.
Their home at 1005 Third St., built in 1884-85 in the elegant Queen Anne style, was without question one of the showplaces in Hudson and continues to be one of the finest examples of that style of architecture to be found in the St. Croix Valley. The house was described as "commodious" in 1898, and more recently, a local historian stated the house was "the 'grand dame' of Queen Anne houses in Hudson."
Mr. Phipps died in his garden at his home at the sunset hour on Saturday, July 12, 1924, surrounded by his family.
Percy Ap Roberts, editor of the Star-Observer, memorialized Mr. Phipps when he wrote, "Mr. Phipps was a man of strong convictions fearlessly expressed. His interest was intense in governmental and legislative matters. His creed was home, church and nation, these loyally supported. Philanthropy was the keynote of his character. His life was an open book and the greatest heritage he leaves is the example of a true Christian gentleman."
William Henry Phipps was one of the most influential and respected men in Hudson for half a century, before his death in 1924. The name of Phipps has assumed a near-legendary status in this community because of the philanthropic activities of Wil...
The Phipps mansion was built in 1884 at 1005 Third St. and is considered the "grande dame" of the Queen Anne-style houses in Hudson. This photo is from the 1940s or 1950s.
The Phipps mansion was built in 1884 at 1005 Third St. and is considered the "grande dame" of the Queen Anne-style houses in Hudson. This photo is from the 1940s or 1950s.
William Henry Phipps was one of the most influential and respected men in Hudson for half a century, before his death in 1924.
Born in Leamington, England, in 1846, William H. Phipps came to Manitowoc with his parents in 1855 and remained there until 1871, when he obtained a position with the state treasurer's office in Madison, a post he held for three years.
In 1875, he was placed in charge of the land grant and was subsequently appointed land commissioner of the North Wisconsin Railroad Company. In April of that year Phipps moved to Hudson.
When the North Wisconsin Railroad was later consolidated to become the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis and Omaha, Phipps was appointed land commissioner over the combined grants. He held that position until he resigned in 1894 to take the post of land commissioner for the Northern Pacific Railroad in St. Paul, where he remained for 10 years.
It was in 1904 that Phipps left the Northern Pacific and engaged in business for himself, dealing in land and the manufacture and sale of lumber.
His association with First National Bank of Hudson spanned more than three decades. He had been a director of the bank since 1890 and then, in 1907, he was elected president of the bank, holding that position for many years.
His wife, whom he married in Madison in 1873, was Frances E. Van Bergen, a woman of ability and background. Though they had a number of children, only one survived to adulthood -- Stephen, who was born in 1878.
Phipps was not a man to shy away from politics. He was supervisor from Hudson on the County Board in 1885 and 1886 and served three terms as mayor of the city of Hudson, starting in 1889. He was elected to the Wisconsin Senate in 1890 to fill a vacancy caused by the resignation of Horace A. Taylor (1837-1910) and then was re-elected in 1892.
One of Mr. Phipps' trademarks was his devotion to the Presbyterian church, where he had been a member for more than 30 years, holding offices of trust and being particularly interested in the Sunday school work, serving as superintendent for countless years.
Besides all that, Phipps found time to serve on the Hudson Park Board and the Hudson Public Library Board. In fact, it was William Phipps who went to New York in 1902 to personally contact agents of steel magnate Andrew Carnegie, who donated $10,000 to establish the Hudson Public Library.
Phipps' philanthropic donations were many and the extent of them was known to but a few. One of the most visible donations came in 1910-11, when he and his wife gave the money for the Sunday school addition to the church. Another of his generosities was the annual presentation of Bibles to members of the church's confirmation classes.
Their home at 1005 Third St., built in 1884-85 in the elegant Queen Anne style, was without question one of the showplaces in Hudson and continues to be one of the finest examples of that style of architecture to be found in the St. Croix Valley. The house was described as "commodious" in 1898, and more recently, a local historian stated the house was "the 'grand dame' of Queen Anne houses in Hudson."
Mr. Phipps died in his garden at his home at the sunset hour on Saturday, July 12, 1924, surrounded by his family.
Percy Ap Roberts, editor of the Star-Observer, memorialized Mr. Phipps when he wrote, "Mr. Phipps was a man of strong convictions fearlessly expressed. His interest was intense in governmental and legislative matters. His creed was home, church and nation, these loyally supported. Philanthropy was the keynote of his character. His life was an open book and the greatest heritage he leaves is the example of a true Christian gentleman."
The Phipps mansion was built in 1884 at 1005 Third St. and is considered the "grande dame" of the Queen Anne-style houses in Hudson. This photo is from the 1940s or 1950s.
The Phipps mansion was built in 1884 at 1005 Third St. and is considered the "grande dame" of the Queen Anne-style houses in Hudson. This photo is from the 1940s or 1950s.
William Henry Phipps was one of the most influential and respected men in Hudson for half a century, before his death in 1924.
Born in Leamington, England, in 1846, William H. Phipps came to Manitowoc with his parents in 1855 and remained there until 1871, when he obtained a position with the state treasurer's office in Madison, a post he held for three years.
In 1875, he was placed in charge of the land grant and was subsequently appointed land commissioner of the North Wisconsin Railroad Company. In April of that year Phipps moved to Hudson.
When the North Wisconsin Railroad was later consolidated to become the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis and Omaha, Phipps was appointed land commissioner over the combined grants. He held that position until he resigned in 1894 to take the post of land commissioner for the Northern Pacific Railroad in St. Paul, where he remained for 10 years.
It was in 1904 that Phipps left the Northern Pacific and engaged in business for himself, dealing in land and the manufacture and sale of lumber.
His association with First National Bank of Hudson spanned more than three decades. He had been a director of the bank since 1890 and then, in 1907, he was elected president of the bank, holding that position for many years.
His wife, whom he married in Madison in 1873, was Frances E. Van Bergen, a woman of ability and background. Though they had a number of children, only one survived to adulthood -- Stephen, who was born in 1878.
Phipps was not a man to shy away from politics. He was supervisor from Hudson on the County Board in 1885 and 1886 and served three terms as mayor of the city of Hudson, starting in 1889. He was elected to the Wisconsin Senate in 1890 to fill a vacancy caused by the resignation of Horace A. Taylor (1837-1910) and then was re-elected in 1892.
One of Mr. Phipps' trademarks was his devotion to the Presbyterian church, where he had been a member for more than 30 years, holding offices of trust and being particularly interested in the Sunday school work, serving as superintendent for countless years.
Besides all that, Phipps found time to serve on the Hudson Park Board and the Hudson Public Library Board. In fact, it was William Phipps who went to New York in 1902 to personally contact agents of steel magnate Andrew Carnegie, who donated $10,000 to establish the Hudson Public Library.
Phipps' philanthropic donations were many and the extent of them was known to but a few. One of the most visible donations came in 1910-11, when he and his wife gave the money for the Sunday school addition to the church. Another of his generosities was the annual presentation of Bibles to members of the church's confirmation classes.
Their home at 1005 Third St., built in 1884-85 in the elegant Queen Anne style, was without question one of the showplaces in Hudson and continues to be one of the finest examples of that style of architecture to be found in the St. Croix Valley. The house was described as "commodious" in 1898, and more recently, a local historian stated the house was "the 'grand dame' of Queen Anne houses in Hudson."
Mr. Phipps died in his garden at his home at the sunset hour on Saturday, July 12, 1924, surrounded by his family.
Percy Ap Roberts, editor of the Star-Observer, memorialized Mr. Phipps when he wrote, "Mr. Phipps was a man of strong convictions fearlessly expressed. His interest was intense in governmental and legislative matters. His creed was home, church and nation, these loyally supported. Philanthropy was the keynote of his character. His life was an open book and the greatest heritage he leaves is the example of a true Christian gentleman."
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