Ira Cornwall Phillips (1889 - 1943)

Born 1889 in Coles Island

Ancestors

Husband of Euphemia May (Jeffrey) Phillips — married 9 Jul 1913 in St. John, New Brunswick, Canada

Died 1943 at about age 54 in Coldbrook, Saint John, NB

Biography

Most of this information was found recorded in NB Govt Archives by Peter McLeod. Peter is the son of Ethel Jane nee Jeffrey, a sister of Euphemia Phillips nee Jeffrey who married Ira C Phillips..

Ira was born in 1889, Ira Cornwall Phillips, the son of a blacksmith named Robert John Phillips, who worked in Coles Island & Youngs Cove area, and his mother named Mathilda Jane Herrington. Euphemia Jeffrey also was born and raised in that area. They were both living in Saint John in 1912. They were married in Saint John on July 9, 1913. They had three children - two daughters and one son. Their daughter Helen was born July 11, 1913. Their son James Ira was born in 1918 and died 1993 Their third child Anne Matilda was born 1928 and died in Fredericton 2010. Ira was employed by the White Rose Gasolne Company as a salesman. He and his wife owned and operated a store, in the front of their house, on Rothesay Avenue in Coldbrook near the famous Three Mile House east of the city of Saint John. The store sold gasoline and oil, White Rose, of course, and canned goods and bakery products, such as date squares. One time when my mother and I were visiting she let me pump the gasoline from the underground tank to the big glass tanks with the gallons all marked onlines on the glass, on the top of the stand. The pump handle was a cast iron lever about 3 feet long pivoting at ground level that you rocked back and forth. You measured the amount served by the lines on the glass. No computers then. I think gas was 15 cents per gallon. Not sure on that. Ira drove a White Rose Tank ruck, when I knew him. It was a brilliant yellow with white roses on it. He was a salesman for that company and drove to Sussex from Saint John on his trips. I, got a ride in that truck all the way from my Aunt Martha's (Jeffrey) farm west of Norton, Kings County, NB, all the way to Norton, we always said three miles, to Patriquen's Gas Station by the railroad tracks that took Old Molly, a train, from Norton to Minto or Chipman. ?? One time Mr. Patriquen patched a leak in my brother's bike that I was using when he was away in the RCAF. Ira drove all the way to Sussex from Saint John, stopping at all of the White Rose Stations on the Way, dropping off products to be sold. I think he did this every day unless every other day he went wst to St. Stephen. Reasonable?? Ira let my wife stable her horse Lady Clair in a small barn behind their house. Their daughter Anne loved to look after the horse for Florence McLeod. Their son. Jim Phillips, a mechanic, operated a fixit shop, 2 door garage with a grease pit, at the rear of their yard next to the railroad tracks. About 1940 the Air Force built a small radar building across the road from their store. Staff of 6 to 8 members. There is not a trace of it now. Ira passed away in 1943, heart problem. Buried in Fernhill Cemetery. Euphemia ran the store for many years alone. Then she died and was buried by her husband in Ferhill cemetery in Saint John, NB.

Sources

NB Govt Archives Birth Marriage Death Canada Census 1911 1921

Biography

Sources

• NB Govt ArchiveCanada

Census 1911 and 1921