338 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



In 1892 he was appointed by Governor Winans chairman of the board 

 of highway commissioners to formulate a plan of legislation looking to 

 the improvement of the state highways, resulting in the present county 

 road system. He was instrumental in organizing the Michigan League 

 for good roads and was elected its president. 



Mr. Webber was elected a member of the executive committee of this 

 society in 1876 and continued a member to 1878 when he was elected 

 president. He was a strong advocate of the educational value of well 

 conducted fairs. 



Mr. Webber was a man of the highest character as a citizen and public 

 man and his example is worthy of emulation. 



Hon. Geo. W. Phillips was born in Livingston county, New York, July 

 17, 1829. He was the son of Ira Phillips and Martha Day Phillips, who 

 came with their family to Michigan in 1831 and settled on section 19, 

 Armada. Macomb county. Ira Phillips died in 1855 and the son Geo. W. 

 came into possession of the farm which he retained till his death. Febru- 

 ary 10, 1856, he married Lydia E. Sterling, daughter of Azariah W. 

 Sterling of Romeo, Michigan. Eight children were born to them, six of 

 whom are still living. 



Mr. Phillips while yet a young man became interested in improved 

 live stock and with his father purchased the first pure bred Shorthorn 

 bull brought into Macomb county, and showed him at the first State Fair 

 in 1849. 



He was elected to the executive committee of the State Agricultural 

 Society in 1868 and 'its president in 1880. In 1871 he was appointed 

 member of the State Board of Agriculture and held that office for twelve 

 years. He was active on the board as member of the farm committee 

 and largely instrumental in the organization of farmers' institutes, the 

 first institute being held in his home township, Armada, in 1876. As a 

 member and president of the State Agricultural Society, he was active 

 and prominent in all its work. 



He was active also in the county and district agricultural societies 

 of Macomb county, the state and county Shorthorn cattle breeders' asso- 

 ciations, and the Armada Farmers' Club, which was one of the first 

 farmers' clubs organized in the state. 



He was active in all social and religious movements in his section, and 

 his neighbors relied on him and his family for counsel and aid in all 

 emergencies and he never failed them even to his own inconvenience. 



Generous to a fault, patriotic and public spirited, always eager to help 

 the needy, were characteristics which endeared him to a large circle of 

 friends who mourn his loss. He leaves a memory of which his children 

 may be proud, and which a large circle of friends and neighbors will 

 cherish as of one who has done his best to make the world blessed. 



Hon. William Ball was born in Niles, Cayuga county New York April 

 7, 1830. When he was six years of age his parents came to Michigan, 

 settling in the township of Webster, Washtenaw county. His early life 

 was similar to that of the average farmer's son, although the indomitable 

 will that has made him a prominent figure, not only in the line of his 

 specialties in rural life, but in politics as well, were manifest in him 

 throughout his youth. 



At the age of nineteen .young Ball began earning money by teaching, 

 following the profession most of the time for ten years, during which 

 period he took a preparatory course at Albion college. He entered the 



