Phillips, Capt Richard, Vicksburg, Miss., Aug. 17, age about 50. For many years Capt. Phillips was the proprietor of the St Louis Union, a paper published on the very post where this last tribute was paid to his memory. He was a native of New York, but was brought up In Pennsylvania. Early in life he was apprenticed to the printing business in Pittsburg, and after becoming a journeyman, he worked in several printing offices of the eastern cities. He was at one time foreman in the office of the Philadelphia Saturday Evening News, where his ability and energy in his vocation were duly appreciated; and somewhere about 1830, m company with Wm. H. Conway, Esq., afterwards secretary of state in Iowa, he established the Pittsburg American Manufacturer, at that time regarded as one of the most able and vigorous democratic journals in the west. In 1836 Capt P. came to the west, and purchased one fifth of the town of Peru, Ill., which interest still belongs to his estate. He subsequently became connected with our vast river marine, in which he took a great and special pride. He built the steamer H. L. Kinney, and arrived with her at St Louis May 1, 1837. Since that period he built and commanded more than 20 steamboats, and surrendering himself to the uncertain fortunes of the river in that day, lost by calamity one or two fortunes, which his unconquerable energy and enterprise enabled him to regain with a large interest He died in the possession of a handsome fortune, amassed by a strict and honorable course of devotion to the various enterprises in which he was engaged.
No man, during his eventful life, ever breathed a suspicion of his integrity; none ever questioned his intrinsic goodness of heart; and many are the once destitute and hopeless that have reason to bless his generosity in their time of sore and eventful trial. However keen and energetic a man of business, his ear was ever sensitive to the cry of distress or appeal, come from what quarter it might.
The St Louis Daily Union, under the charge of Capt P., was a journal remarkably characterized by energy and talent On relinquishing this trust , he again returned to the river, and shortly afterwards became proprietor of the Flying Cloud, a favorite boat in the New Orleans trade, which he had relinquished to the command of his brother-in-law, Capt. Robinson, himself taking charge of the Alleghany, purchased by him, and reputed to be the fastest boat on the Lower Mississippi.
It was while on the last return trip of this boat from New Orleans that Capt. P. was attacked by the fatal complaint which put a period to his valuable life, and which rendered it prudent that he should land at Vicksburg, where he breathed his last. The deep sorrow of a large circle of sincere mourners attested his value as a friend and his worth as a man.
Source: Annual Obituary Notices Of Eminent Persons, Who Have Died In The United States, for 1857, by Hon. Nathan Crosby, published by Phillips, Sampson & Company, Boston, 1858; Pg. 274
