Walter S. Phillips

Walter Shelley Phillips, also known by then name "El Comancho", was a self-educated and self-trained naturalist, geologist, artist, newspaper reporter and freelance writer of numerous articles and books. Born on March 3, 1867 in Fairbury, Ill., his parents were Oregon Harry and Eliza Jennie (nee McDowell) Phillips. The Phillips family traveled by covered wagon to Beatrice, Nebraska in 1869. There Phillips became familiar with a number of Native American tribes, including the Sioux, Otoes, Pawnees, Kiowa, Kansas, and Omahas, among others. He spent much of his time as a child with the Otoes. He sometimes lived for weeks with the tribe’s chief and the his family accompanying them on buffalo hunts. Phillips was by Chief High Horse of the Sioux Tribe gave Phillips the name "Comanche" but this was later changed to "El Comancho" as a nom de plume.