John Phillips House
Historic house in Oregon, United States
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John Phillips House is a historic 1853 vernacular Greek Revival[3] house in the Spring Valley area of Polk County, Oregon, United States. It was built for pioneer John Phillips,[3] who came to Oregon via the Oregon Trail in 1845.[4] He finished his journey to Oregon on the Meek Cutoff as part of Stephen Meek's "lost wagon train".[4][5]
Salem, Oregon
John Phillips House | |
| |
  Location within Oregon  Location within the United States | |
| Location | 6565 Spring Valley Rd. NW Salem, Oregon |
|---|---|
| Nearest city | Salem, Oregon |
| Built | 1853 |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival[1]/Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 76001588[2] |
| Added to NRHP | March 15, 1976 |
John Phillips, born in 1814, was a native of Wiltshire England who came to the U.S. in 1834 and settled in Florida.[5][6] After living in New Orleans—where he met and married Elizabeth Hibbard in 1839—and St. Louis, he came to Oregon and bought the Turner donation land claim in Polk County for $100.[5][6] The locale was once known as Spring Valley Ranch.[5] John Phillips hired carpenter Samuel Coad to build a house for him there.[7]
Samuel Coad served during the Cayuse War in 1855, and helped construct buildings at Fort Hoskins, including one commissioned by then-Lieutenant Philip Sheridan, which was moved near the community of Pedee.[7][8][9] Also known as the Condron House, the Philip Sheridan House has been returned to the Fort Hoskins site and is being restored.[8] Samuel Coad married the daughter of General Cornelius Gilliam, Henrietta, in 1853.[7] Coad also constructed the woolen mill at Ellendale.[7]
As of 1980, the John Phillips House was the oldest residence in Polk County and was still in the Phillips family.[5] The 1+1⁄2-story house has horizontal wood siding.[10]
The house has a Salem mailing address, but the closest settlement is the unincorporated community of Zena about a mile to the southwest.[5] John Phillips is buried in the Zena Cemetery at Spring Valley Presbyterian Church.[5]