Arthur Martin Phillips Sr. (abt. 1783 - 1869)

Born about 1783 in Carlisle, Cumberland, Pennsylvania

Ancestors

Husband of Hannah (Maholm) Phillips — married 24 Jun 1810 in Jefferson, Ohio, United States

Descendants

Died 23 Feb 1869 at about age 86 in Wheeling, Ohio Co., WV

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Arthur M. Phillips & Co. - from "History of the Pan-Handle," Newton, J. H., 1879, p. 198-199

THE NAME OF PHILLIPS AS RELATED TO BOAT BUILDING — THE PIONEER MARINE STEAM ENGINE WORKS IN WHEELING AND REFERENCE TO THE "UNION LINE" OF STEAMERS. Arthur M. Phillips, one of the first steam engine builders in the West, immigrated from Carlisle, Pa., to Steubenville, Ohio, in 1807. He was a blacksmith by trade, and soon after his arrival there located on the site where Means & Bro.'s foundry and machine shop is now conducted. Here he ran a foundry and blacksmith ship between 1815 and 1820, turning out marine and land engines, mill work, &c., also hollow ware and grates. He at first used horse-power for turning, boring and the conduct of other departments of his business. The machinery, boilers, &c. for the steamers "Bezaleel Wells," "Congress," "Aurora," "Mechanic," "Steubenville" and many others were built at his works, and were among the first steamboats to navigate the Ohio and Mississippi rivers. Steamers, in those days, were small — averaging from 60 to 90 feet keel ; 14 to 16 feet beam; 3 to 4 feet open hold; single engines; side wheels, boilers placed in the hold, and cabin on the first floor. About this time Elijah Murry, an excellent carpenter, also opened a boat yard at Steubenville, in which he built the hulls, cabins, &c., the machinery and boilers being also put in there. Marine steam engines were also shipped from there and put up at Wheeling, Marietta, Portsmouth and Cincinnati. A. M. Phillips was however, induced by Messrs. McLure, Shriver, List and others, to remove to Wheeling, where he established a works in the north part of the city during the summer of 1832. Nor was he alone, for Elijah Murry and one Thompson, another skilled carpenter, also from Steubenville, further established in Wheeling, a boat yard. it was now that a number of the finest steamers on the river were built here, noticeably the "A. M. Phillips," in the year 1836. She proved to be one of the fastest steamers on the Ohio, making the trip from Pittsburgh to Wheeling in four hours.

Sources

• * Census Place: District 44, Ohio, Virginia; Roll: M432_966; Page: 80A; Image: 165. 1850 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009

Newspapers.com - Carlisle Weekly Herald - 16 November 1815 - Page 3