Obituary.
Eugene F. Phillips, general manager and founder of the American Electrical Works and president of the Washburn Wire Company, died at his home in Providence on February 22. Mr. Phillips was born in Providence on November 10, 1843, and has always been a resident of that city. In 1870 Mr. Phillips first began the manufacture of insulated wire in a very small way in a barn which stood in the rear of his home.
From this small beginning Mr. Phillips built up one of the largest wire manufacturing establishments in the world. His business was started under then name of Eugene F. Phillips, and in the year 1882, The American Electric Works was incorporated and Mr. Phillips was elected president of the company. This position he continuously occupied until 1897, when the officers of the company were reorganinzed in order to include his sons, Mr. Frank N. Phillips, who was then elected president, Mr. E. A. Phillips, vice-president and general superintendent, and Mr. Eugene F. Phillips, general manager.
Mr. Phillips continued in this latter capacity until his death.
There are few names connected with the development of electrical work more widely known than that of Mr. Phillips.
He possessed a personal acquaintance with practically all the leading electricians in the earlier days of the science, being intimately associated with the experimental work of the promoters of the telephone as well as of the electric light and street railway field.
The death of Mr. Phillips is sincerely felt by all of his many friends in the electrical field, and especially by his employees, a large proportion of whom have been continuously in his employ since 1878.
Source: The Central Station, Volume 4, Devoted Exclusively To The Interests Of Electric Lighting And Power Stations, New York, July, 1904; Pg. 544
