"Author of Limited Edition & The Philson Family Christmas Letter collection"
Craig S. Philson
ABOUT ME
He failed in high school, college, sports, work, marriage, raising a family and life in general and now has taken a shot at writing. An ex-con, Craig Philson learned the hard knocks of prison writing before carving a name for himself in his cellmate's face. "See You in Hell." was all he had written before "Limited Edition" and without his cellmate's forehead, it was a true challenge.
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1959: Born in Greenville, MS, Craig was an "Air Force Brat" living in multiple states during his father's 26 years of service. He graduate from Knob Noster High School in Knob Noster, MO (Whiteman AFB) and then attended the University of Central Missouri. He was a "walk on" to the track team and was awarded a scholarship running the 400m, 200m and 4x400 meter relay events.
A Risk Management professional, he has written multiple articles for professional journals and received an award for his article on the aging workforce ("Graying Workforce: Safety concerns of the aging employee"). After achieving success with professional writing, he self-published "Limited Edition" in 2011. The book is his first public fiction release.
ABOUT MY ANCESTORS
1791: Philsons can only be traced back as far as Robert Philson who was a troublemaker for new president, George Washington. Robert Phlson was a leading rebel in the Whiskey Rebellion that took place in 1791 in Pennsylvania. He was pardoned by President George Washington and later served in Congress and as a Brigadier General in the War of 1812.
Uriah Philson and later his son, Jebadiah Philson are more widely understood for defining what it is to be a Philson...they set the legacy bar low for the rest of us.
1839: Born April 2, 1839, Jebediah Zachariah Philson was the third child of Uriah & Gertrude Philson, preceeded by Victoria Louree Philson (1834) and Syphilia Gonoria Philson (1838). Syphilia was lost shortly after birth from an attack of the "Vapors".
Uriah's first five wives were unable to bear him any children and each met with mysterious deaths. His fortunes turned when he met Gertrude Kinnebrew at a local whorehouse. Kitty O'Kelly, his regular whore was out with a case of Syphilis she contracted from Uriah at the close of his last cattle drive.
1857: Jebediah Zackariah Philson was photographed here (Right) at the rail station in Dodge City, Kansas. Looking for steady work, Jebediah sought an apprenticeship with the Sears & Roebuck Catalog Company as their first Male Model. After three successful months, he was released as sales of Sears underwear began to drop when it was learned that Jebediah started to button his fly for the catalog photographs.
Jebediah Philson in Dodge City, KS
1857
1859: The photo below was believed to be taken in Tombstone, AZ. This early photo shows Jebediah's father, Uriah Philson, Uriah's 6th wife Gertrude, Jebediah's sister Victoria Philson-Roberts and Jebediah.
1861: Jebediah, much like Uriah, appreciated "sporting women" and thus frequented the local houses of ill repute. He took ahankering to one Abigail Kropolopolis, a Greek immigrant whore. Abigail was just what all the men wanted...a woman with looks, disease free, with all her teeth and who was not able to speak a lick of english except for "You want me?" & "You pay for seconds?" It was a match made in heaven and once Jebediah's money ran out, he proposed. This photograph was taken during their courtship in Dallas, Texas.
Abigail Kropolopolis (showing all of her teeth) and Jebediah Philson in Dallas, TX.
1861
1862: In late 1862, Jebediah & Abigail were married at Belo's General Store and Dry Goods in downtown Dallas, TX. The bride wore white as she was considered a virgin by Greek terms. After a night of free passion, they journeyed to the fabled San Marcos Springs for their honeymoon where the couple spent many a passion-filled night. Legend has it that the ceiling below the Philson's Honeymoon Suite had to be re-plastered due to the "goings on" that occurred in their coupling. They did leave their room as evidenced in this photo (Left) taken in town outside Hargo's Saloon.
Shortly after their honeymoon, Jebediah joined up with the Confederate forces to do battle in America's Civil War. Abigail "entertained" the troops the only way she knew how; keeping money in her purse to save for her and Jebediah's future.
1865: On April 9, 1865, General Lee surrendered to Union troops and the war was over. The Civil War was an event that pitted brother against brother and father against son. Although Jebediah was a Confederate officer, he found himself fighting his own father, Uriah in the Battle of Broken Arrow. Uriah was a colonel in the Union's 5th Army. The two actually met on the battlefield where both army's had run out of ammunition and were fighting hand-to-hand. The bayonet was Jebediah's weapon of choice and he used it on his father's backside. Although they never spoke of the incident, Uriah was scarcely able to sit for long periods of time after that encounter.
1866: With Abigail's fortune she made during the war, the Jebediah and Abigail were able to buy a saloon in Kansas City. By this time, they had their first child, Elijah Judson Philson. Born, oddly enough, while Jebediah was off at war, Elijah was speaking Greek and English by the time he was two. The saloon, which they named, "Abby's Trick", was adventurous, but hard work. The exposure to gambling, drinking, smoking, spitting and whores were not the environment to raise a family. They sold the establishment, but kept the painting that hung over the bar. Abigail had posed for it and it is was to be a family heirloom.
Pictured here in the gambling area are from left to right: Milicent Schubert, Elias Ryon, Josephine Ryon, Almira Ryon, Harrison Schubert, Josia Schubert, Jebediah Philson, Abigail Philson, Minnie Schubert & Elijah Philson.
1866
1867-1869: The money they made from the sale of "Abby's Trick Saloon" brought the Philson's some money and made them a respectable couple in the community. Jebediah dabbled in finances and stock investments but the family missed the open range of the West and sold their stocks, found a place in the plains of Colorado and raised cattle, corn and youngins! The family had grown to four as Abigail had birthed Amelia Zella Philson the prior year. Elijah now had a little sister to use for target practice. The Philsons found country living right up their alley with Abigail free to cook skunk, squirrel, rabbit or beaver as she had in the old country. Elijah was able to raise pigs and goats which he unfortunately had named. "Porky" and "'Billy" were quite tender and helped Jebediah win the Hogg County Fair's Chili Cook Contest. Life was good.
1874: Thought to be one of the first Western Territory Christmas Cards and one of the earliest ever. Jebediah used the long, cold Fall and Winter nights to draft long, detailed Christmas Letters for his family and friends. This is a Philson tradition that is maintained today.
This is the first known photograph of Margaret Milicent Philson who was born in 1870. This Philson photograph shows from left to right: Amelia, Margaret Milicent, Abigail, Jebediah & Elijah Philson. The family is pictured in their homestead in southeast Kansas.
1885: Taken at the Elk Horn Saloon in Eureka Springs, AR, the photo below is one of the last known photos of the Philson Clan. It is also the only color tint of Jebediah and his family.
The photographer, Olan Mills, was shot by all nine members of the group in celebration of Thanksgiving and to save five bucks on the sitting fee. This was the last photograph taken by Mr. Mills.
The Philsons in their Kansas cabin.
1874
Pictured from left to right are: Ebenezer Meeks, Amelia Philson, Victoria Roberts, Elijah Philson, Jebediah Philson,
Abigail Philson, Uriah Philson, Maimee Philson & Margaret Philson.
Well now you know a bit about the Philson family history, our folklore and hopefully this information sheds a little light on why our family is the way it is. To this day Olan Mills will not photograph any member of the Philson family. Oh well...thank you Glamour Shots!