Very little is known of the early life of William. There’s a family tradition that Bill Phillips, as he was called, thought highly of Mary McNeese, so it is reasonable to assume that he lived with Frank and Mary until Bill’s marriage to Margaret McNeese on December 26, 1887. Margaret was the sister of Mary. Mary was thesecond wife of Bill's father Benjamin or Frank. Bill and Margaret had two children. Zora Ellen, b: June 1888 and Willie Eacel, b: August 18, 1893. They were both born probably at Maynard, Arkansas. Margaret died at Eacel’s birth and Eacel was taken into the home of "Aunt" Rice Ulmer, who was the sister of Mary and Margaret McNeese. Eacel apparently stayed there until Bill Phillips married again.

On August 23, 1895 Bill married Tiney Milam. Tiney was the only daughter of Hugh Benjamin Milam and Laura Robinson. Laura was the sister of Mary I. Robinson, the third wife of Bill Phillips father. Laura died at the time of Tiney’s birth. Bill Phillips and Tiney had six children. The first was Ben F. Phillips, according to some records born in October 1895. Then came James W., b: December 1897, Lucy Alice (Frank Kizer's mother) b: May 23, 1900; Minnie Etta, b: June 23, 1902; John Henry, b: January 5, 1908, and Beulah Mae , b: April 15, 1912. Tiney died on July 11, 1931.

The question naturally arises as to where the Bill Phillips family lived. Frank Phillips, Bill Phillips father, died without a will, and the property that he had bought was divided among his children. It may be that Bill lived on his share of the property until he later bought more land from the other heirs. Records indicate Missouri (Phillips) Stokes sold her share of the land to Bill Phillips in 1901 and that Armstrong later sold his share of the land to Bill Phillips. Catherine "Kate" is listed as an heir of Frank Phillips, but the possibility has been raised that perhaps she died before taking possession of her share of the property. The property is described in the sale as follows: " the South half of the north east quarter sec. 26, T. 20, N.R. 1 east, 80 acres."

After Tiney’s death, Bill Phillips eventually sold the old Phillips home place and spent some time with his various married children including Lucy, Henry and Beulah. He remained in the Maynard area and died at the home of his second child, Eacel who was married to Estel Harris. Bill Phillips died December 23, 1950. Bill and Tiney are buried in the Brockett Cemetery. (The years of their births listed on their tombstones are too late by one year.)