Fred Phillips was a respected figure in his community and lived a remarkable life spanning nearly a century. Settling in Washington Territory in 1887 with his father and siblings, Fred took on family responsibilities when his father died a year later. Despite hardships, including food scarcity, Phillips and his siblings managed to survive through their own efforts and occasional assistance from local Native Americans. Phillips later became co-founder of the Oregon Cattleman’s Association.
Fluent in Yakima and Umatilla languages, Fred initially traded cattle with Native Americans and later ran a chain of butcher shops across Eastern Oregon and Washington before transitioning into ranching. He moved to Baker, Oregon, around 1900, where he faced personal challenges, including the loss of his first wife, Minnie, to tuberculosis. Fred remarried Lula, who managed the household and sent the children to boarding school.
In his later years, Fred remained active in agricultural circles, serving as president of the Baker Production Credit Association, a government-supported lending institution for farmers during the Great Depression. His influence extended to helping establish the PCA nationwide.
