CAPTAIN ROBERT PHILLIPS is the son of William Phillips, who was born and reared in Pennsylvania, and was united in marriage with a widow lady, Mrs. Elizabeth (Matthews) Paden. She was the mother of four children by her first marriage, namely: Samuel, Mary, Margaret, and Martha. After the death of Mr. Paden she became the wife of William Phillips, and bore him the following children: John, Rezin, David, Jane (wife of Abraham Van Voorhis), Nancy (married to William Wickerham), and Robert. The father, who was a miller by trade, died in Fayette County, Penn., when Robert was eight months old. After the death of her husband Mrs. Phillips was married to William Jones, of Monongahela. Captain Robert Philllps was born March 31,1817, near Bradford, Fayette County, Penn. When about ten years of age he came to Monongahela, and there received a public-school education. At the age of fifteen years he began life for himself, working on a farm for several years, then went on the Monongahela, Ohio, and Mississippi rivers. He was promoted from a deck-hand to the position of mate, and in 1866 became captain of a vessel, having run on both freight and passenger service. On March 26, 1839, he married Olivia, daughter of Benjamin Parkison. She died July 10, 1886, and on January 1888, he was united in marriage with Anna, daughter of John Longwell. Mr. Phillips has won success by earnest, unremitting efforts, and though the struggle was a hard one many amusing incidents occurred to brighten his early life. In politics he affiliates with the Democratic party, and in religion he is a member of the Presbyterian Church.

Text taken from page 1146 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed January 1997 by Judy & Lee Schaeffer of Pittsburgh, PA as part of the Beers Project. Published January 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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