"Uncle Phil," as he was often called, was hearing impaired. He was one of three brothers born with the disability. The death certificate recorded that Phil was born in Knoxville County, Tennessee which is incorrect. He was born in Cannon County. In 1868 Phil began attending the Tennessee School for the Deaf in Knoxville, Tennessee. It is not known how many years he attended but James Howard Paty, great grandson to Uncle Phil's brother, John Odom, remembered this Great Uncle well from his early years in Tennessee. As a small boy he and his brother were fascinated and loved being around this man that couldn't speak but always carried a small pad of paper and tiny pencil in his shirt pocket. The two boys stood on the porch and Uncle Phil stood on the ground making the three of them at the same height. Phil was also very adept at sign language.
"Uncle Phil," as he was often called, was hearing impaired. He was one of three brothers born with the disability. The death certificate recorded that Phil was born in Knoxville County, Tennessee which is incorrect. He was born in Cannon County. In 1868 Phil began attending the Tennessee School for the Deaf in Knoxville, Tennessee. It is not known how many years he attended but James Howard Paty, great grandson to Uncle Phil's brother, John Odom, remembered this Great Uncle well from his early years in Tennessee. As a small boy he and his brother were fascinated and loved being around this man that couldn't speak but always carried a small pad of paper and tiny pencil in his shirt pocket. The two boys stood on the porch and Uncle Phil stood on the ground making the three of them at the same height. Phil was also very adept at sign language.
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