**Phillip was my maternal grandfather.**

Phillip Kailing was born in Aufenau, near Frankfort, Germany, on May 26, 1870 to Valentine and Margaretha Nix Kailing. Valentine and Margaretha were married on May 26, 1868 in the Catholic Church in Aufenau, Germany, by Father Andreas B. The witnesses were Adam Korn and Michell Kailing. They had seven children.

Phillip was the second oldest of the seven children. In 1879, when Phillip was nine years old, the family came to America. There were five children at the time. The family settled in Ohio for two years and then moved north to Reed City, Michigan, where the rolling hills and land to farm reminded the family of their birthplace in Germany. Two more children were born in Reed City.

After the kids grew up, Theodore, the oldest, and John married Fitzharris sisters. Philip was planning to marry a third sister, but changed his mind after meeting, Anna, a first cousin of the sisters. Phillip and Anna Costello were married in Reed City, Michigan on October 3, 1899. Theodore and Philip bought land next to each other, across and up the road from their parents. John bought farmland in the Big Rapids area.

The three brothers farmed the land and raised large families. Theodore had nine children, five boys and four girls. Philip, my grandfather, had 12 children, five boys and seven girls. John had eight children, three boys and five girls.

Phillip and Anna lived on their large farm and had twelve children, five boys and seven girls. A daughter, Philomena, passed away at age 4 of blood poisoning, and a son, Sylvester, passed away from head injuries after being kicked by a horse. The other ten children are in the picture to the right taken in August 1945. My Mom, Ann Kailing Erbes, is on the left in the back row. She said she had to stand in the back row because she was pregnant with twins who were born in October that year. The twins, Barbara and Frances, are pictured a year later on their first birthday with both sets of Grandparents: Phillip & Anna Kailing and Louis & Minnie Franke Erbes.

Farm life was often very difficult, yet there was much joy and happiness in the household. My grandparents never had indoor plumbing, and all cooking was done on a wood burning stove. My family always enjoyed visits there and helped out in many ways.

Obituary:

Richmond Farmer Dies Tuesday

Services Saturday Morning for Philip Kailing, 78, Local Resident 65 Years

Philip Kailing, 78, resident of Richmond township for 65 years, passed away at his farm home at 3:40 p.m. Tuesday, August 24, 1948, after a three week illness following a stroke.

Born May 26, 1870, at Augsburg, Germany, he came with his parents, Valentine and Margaret Nix Kailing, to Richmond township in 1881. Except for two years spent in Ohio as a boy he had resided here since.

He married at Big Rapids on October 3, 1899, to Miss Anna Costello.

Surviving are the wife; four sons, Alphonsus, Philip A. (Valda), Bernard and William of Reed City; six daughters, Mrs. Fred Haslen of Grand Rapids, Mrs. Elkins Pratt of Paw Paw, Mrs. Claude Page of Paris, Mrs. Russell Erbes of Reed City, Mrs. Norman Cannon of Greenwood, Del., and Mrs. Kenneth Loomis of Cadillac; 27 grandchildren; a brother, John of Big Rapids and a sister, Mrs. Mary Steffes of Detroit. Two children preceded him in death; Philomena on November 14, 1920, at the age of four years; and John Sylvester on July 12, 1923, at 12 years.

Rosary will be said at the farm home at 8 p.m. Friday and services will be held there at 9:30 a.m. Saturday and at St. Philip's Catholic church at 10 a.m. with Rev. Fr. Henry Neidzwiecki officiating. Interment will take place in Mt. Olivet cemetery.

Phillip and Anna's children were:

Alphonsus Kailing
Philip Valda Kailing
Mary Kailing Haslem
Rose Kailing Pratt
Helen Kailing Page
Bernard Kailing
Sylvester Kailing
Ann Kailing Erbes
William Kailing
Philomena Kailing
Veronica Kailing Cannon
Katherin Kailing Loomis

*A work in progress...to be continued*