David Nelson Phillips was the son of Thomas Phillips and Jane Peak. He was born 4 December 1856 in Tennessee and died 28 January 1928 in Putnam County, Tennessee. He is buried at the Carr Graveyard in Putnam County, Tennessee.
He married Ida Elzira Herron, the daughter of Willaim "Billie" Herron and Mary Vickers. She was born in December 1867 and died 2 August 1913. She is buried at the Carr Graveyard in Putnam County, Tennessee.
He married Sarah Jane Hancock. She was born 25 December 1897. She died 7 July 1958. She is the daughter of Rubin Hancock and Alice Whitehead.