The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1876-12-21
BIOGRAPHICAL.
Events tn the life of q Prom, en-
Cairo Business Man.

AIRY and Portrait Gallery of Eminent and Self
Made Men.l
Capt. Joe Maxwell Phillips, commits
zion and forwarding merchant, of Cairo,
was born In Washington county, Ken
lucky. November 10, 1928. Ills father
was Thomas Phillips, wealthy farmer
OF that state, and his mothers maiden
name was Julia Maxwell. Both the
grandfathers of our subject were natives
of the North of Ireland. They immigra-
ted to America in youth, and fought on
the side OF the colonies In the war for In
dependence. His father was very pious
man, member of the Baptist commu-
Mon, very active and earnest worker,
and one Of the corner-stones of the
church Of his day; liberal with
his means to church and benevolent oh.
jects, and a very prince in hospitality.
He took great pains in the moral train
ing of his children, endeavoring to i'm
press upon them the highest Christian
principles in regard to their duty to both
God and man. while his life was sliv-
ing epistle, known and read Of all
men" with whom he came In contact.
He died in January, 1874, in the fifty
seventh year of his age, leaving behind
him memory fragrant with good deeds
and holy precepts. His mother was like
minded with her husband, pious, benevo-
lent and amiable. She left the impress
sion of her pure womanly character on
| her family, and the circle in which she
moved. She was, moreover, highly in
tellcctual and cultivated lady. Her dis
position was identical with that of her
husband. Their incinations were nicely
toned unison, and all their conversation
harmony. Their yoke was easy, and
every nuptial blessing was twisted with
their bands. She died in August, 1871.
leaving nine surviving children, seven of
whom are still residents of Kentucky, and
all occupying prominent and honorable
stations in life.
Our subject was educated at st. Mary s
College and Jefferson Seminary, in his
native state, studying English, Latin,
astronomy and the higher mathematics,
the intention of his parents being to pre-
pare him for the legal profession. His own
inclination, however, was for CONNER
cial pursuits, and, on the death of his
father, feeling free to follow the bent OF
his own desires, he made trip to New
Orleans on flatboat underline command
OF Capt. Bentley. After this he engaged
in partnership with large firm in the
produce trade, he being the manager and
salesman of the company. Dissolving
his partnership with his partners, he con-
tinued the business ON his own account
tor five or six years more, during which
period he accumulated the then fabulous
sum of forty-five thousand dollars.
About this time the war broke out,
and for several years laid an embargo
upon the western river trade. In this
emergency he turned his attention to the
packing OF provisions with reasonable
success. He also operated wholesale
grocery and retail dry goods store in
Brandenburg, Kentucky, and was fire.
quently robbed by the guerrillas, and es-
pecially by Morgan's raid over the river
in 1862.
In 1865 the magnificent steamboat
Louisiana was built, and our subject be.
came her part owner and commander,
trafficking upon the Ohio and Mis-
Ell ;
Louis and New Orleans, for period OF
three years. In 1865 he resigned his cap.
taincy and settled in Cairo in the com.
mission business, in which he has been
eminently successful. He is owner OF
half the stock and president of the Halli-
day & Phillips wharf-boat company, the
buildings of which were erected at a cost
of seventy-fve thousand dollars. He is
also the proprietor Of large warehouse
located on the Ohio levee, built at an
original cost Of $2S 900 in 1865, and also
considerable real estate. He is likewise
owner Of bank stocks in kentucky and
insurance stocks in st. Louis to large
extent, and is one of the most substan-
tial men of the Ohio Valley. He
ships several million dollars worth
of produce to New Orleans
annually. besides large consignments of
Leaf tobacco to New York. He COM
menced life with very small capital,
and had made considerable progress be-
tore his proportion OF his fathers estate
came into his hands, which made but a
small accession to his possessions. AL
though his career as business man has
been eminently successful as a whole,
yet he has several times sustained con-
siderable losses-his heaviest drawbacks
resulting from the large and sudden de-
cline in the price OF tobacco which iol-
lowed closely upon the termination of
the late war.
In politics he was raised an old line
Wing, and in his native state voted the
Republican ticket. Inls72 he supported
the aspirations OF the late Mr. Greeley to
the presidency, and is now independent
in politics.
In religion he followed in the footsteps
of his father, aud is worthy and gen.
erous member OF the Baptist church,
while as a merchant and citizen he enjoys
the fullest confidence and most cordial
esteem of all who know him. He is hos
ptable, benevolent, and charitable to all
objects for the amelOration of the condi-