BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES 225
GEORGE T. PHIPPS (1883- ), born on a farm near ;
Waverly, is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Hiram Phipps. He is
one of the several Union County men who were honored in the
World War for conspicuous bravery, being a first lieutenant
of the 16th Infantry, First Division. On July 18, 1918, near
Soissons, France, he remained on duty after his right elbow
had been shattered by a machine gun bullet. He personally led 4
a company of the left and front, covering a flank that was en-
tirely exposed. He was then placed in command of a battalion
with which he led a successful attack upon a strong enemy
position, showing marked ability as a leader and inspiring his
men by his bravery.
SYLVESTER PIKE (1830-1906) , the son of Joseph and Sarah
Howard Pike, was born in Meade County, where he received his ·
education. When twenty years old he left his native county to
make his fortune by burning lime and flatboating it on the Ohio
· River. One of his ports of call was Uniontown which he liked
so well that at the age of twenty-three he settled here. He took
an active part not only in agriculture but also in the business
life of the community. His first venture was a farm of approxi- ,.
mately 1,000 acres which he developed into a high state of pro- I
ductivity. At the same time he embarked on his business career,
establishing one of the largest mercantile establishments in the
county. In company with several other prominent citizens he
organized the Bank of Uniontown in 1883 and was elected its
president, an office he held for many years.
During the War between the States, Mr. Pike invested all
his wealth in the currency of the North. In other words, he
gambled that the North would be the victor in the struggle and
bought all the "greenbacks" he possibly could, some of them at
big reductions from their face value. After Appomattox, when ~
the South finally gave up the struggle, he realized a handsome
fortune.
Mr. Pike married Sarah Newton of Nelson County and was
the father of eleven children. In his religious life he was a
devout Catholic, a sturdy supporter of St. Agnes Church of
Uniontown. He contributed liberally toward the present edifice.
' When he learned that an old debt of $8,000 had to be liquidated
before building operations could begin he promptly put up that
sum in cash. Upon his death he was buried in St. Agnes
Cemetery.
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