Elihu Lyman Phillips (February 16, 1800 – January 10, 1884) was an American businessman, politician, and Wisconsin pioneer. He was a member of the Wisconsin Senate, representing Fond du Lac County during the 1860 and 1861 sessions, and earlier represented Onondaga County, New York, in the New York State Assembly during the 1846 session. His name was often abbreviated as E. L. Phillips.

Elihu Phillips
Member of the Wisconsin Senate
from the 20th district
In office
January 2, 1860 – January 6, 1862
Preceded byEdward Pier
Succeeded byGeorge W. Mitchell
Member of the New York State Assembly
from the Onondaga County district
In office
January 1, 1846 – January 1, 1847
Serving with Lake I. Teft, Julius C. Kinne, & Alonzo Wood
Preceded byJulius C. Kinne, Dennis McCarthy, David Preston, & Lake I. Teft
Succeeded byWilliam Henderson, John Lakin, Manoah Pratt, & Joseph Prindle
Sheriff of Onondaga County, New York
In office
January 1, 1838 – January 1, 1841
Preceded byDorastus Lawrence
Succeeded byFrederick Benson
Personal details
Born(1800-02-16)February 16, 1800
Manlius, New York, U.S.
DiedJanuary 10, 1884(1884-01-10) (aged 83)
Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, U.S.
Resting placeOakwood Cemetery, Syracuse, New York
Political party
Spouses
  • Harriet Tousley
    (m. 1825; died 1825)
  • Eleanor Dashiell (Jones)
    (m. 1828; died 1838)
Children
  • Charles J. Phillips
  • (b. 1829; died 1832)
  • William E. Phillips
  • (b. 1830; died 1831)
  • Ellen E. A. Phillips
  • (b. 1833; died 1855)
RelativesLyman Phillips (brother)
OccupationMerchant

Biography

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New York career

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Elihu Phillips was born in Manlius, Onondaga County, New York, in February 1800. He was raised and educated in that area, and at age 16 went to work in a store of owned by Amos P. Granger in Syracuse, New York. After a few years, he returned to Manlius and worked in his brother's store for several years until he was ready to begin his own mercantile business.[1]

He also became active in local politics as a member of the Whig Party. In 1836, he was designated a commissioner for the establishment of the Syracuse and Utica Railroad. In 1837, he was elected sheriff of Onondaga County. Finally, he was elected to the New York State Assembly in 1845, to serve in the 1846 session.[2] While living in New York, he was also involved in the state militia and held the rank of colonel.[1]

Through the 1840s, Phillips was active in contracting. He was contracted to build a 60 mile stretch of railroad in western New York. In the year after his election to the New York Assembly, he was appointed canal appraiser and served two years in that role. Afterward he took another railroad contract, building a stretch of the Ohio and Mississippi Railway in Ohio.[1]

Wisconsin career

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In 1852, he and his brother moved west to Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, and settled on farms in the town of Empire. Phillips tended to his farms for about 15 years, then moved his main residence into the city of Fond du Lac, and left his farms in the hands of tenants for the rest of his life.[1]

He quickly became involved in politics with the Republican Party, after it was created in 1854, and was elected president of the Fond du Lac County Republican convention in 1855.[3] In 1859, he was nearly nominated for Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin at the Republican state convention. He led in the first two rounds of balloting, falling 8 votes short of a majority in both votes. In the third round, Butler Noble overtook Phillips and secured the nomination.[4] Phillips subsequently received the Republican nomination for Wisconsin Senate in the 20th Senate district, which then comprised just his home county of Fond du Lac. He defeated Democrat D. E. Hoskins in the general election and went on to serve in the 1860 and 1861 legislative sessions.[5]

He did not run for re-election in 1861, and was subsequently appointed provost marshal of the Fond du Lac district under the Enrollment Act, in the midst of the American Civil War. Among Wisconsin districts, Phillips had an outstanding record at enrolling volunteers and conscripts for the Union Army.[1]

In the later part of the decade, Phillips secured a charter for the Fond du Lac Savings Bank and served two years as president of the bank.[1]

He died at his home in Fond du Lac on January 10, 1884. He was in poor health and withdrawn from society for several years before his death.[6]

Personal life and family

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Phillips worked closely with his brother, Lyman, for much of his life.[1]

Elihu Phillips was married twice. He married Harriet Tousley in 1825, but she died just six months later. In 1828, he married Eleanor Jones, who died in 1838. With his second wife, he had three children, but none survived him: two died in childhood and the third at age 22.[1]

His closest remaining relative at his death was his niece, Susan, a daughter of Lyman Phillips, who was then the wife of Edward Colman. Susan and her husband escorted his body back to Syracuse, New York, for burial.[6]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h The History of Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin. Western Historical Company. 1880. pp. 845. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  2. ^ Clayton, W. W. (1878). History of Onondaga County, New York. D. Mason & Co. pp. 76, 78, 150. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  3. ^ "Senatorial Convention". The Western Freeman. September 5, 1855. p. 1. Retrieved May 20, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "The Republican State Convention". Wisconsin State Journal. September 3, 1859. p. 2. Retrieved May 20, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ Heg, J. E., ed. (1882). "Annals of the Legislature". The Blue Book of the State of Wisconsin 1882 (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 199, 201. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  6. ^ a b "Hon. Elihu L. Phillips". Wisconsin State Journal. January 12, 1884. p. 1. Retrieved May 20, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
New York State Assembly
Preceded by
Julius C. Kinne, Dennis McCarthy, David Preston, & Lake I. Teft
Member of the New York State Assembly from the Onondaga County district
January 1, 1846 – January 1, 1847
Served alongside: Lake I. Teft, Julius C. Kinne, & Alonzo Wood
Succeeded by
William Henderson, John Lakin, Manoah Pratt, & Joseph Prindle
Wisconsin Senate
Preceded by Member of the Wisconsin Senate from the 20th district
January 2, 1860 – January 6, 1862
Succeeded by
Legal offices
Preceded by
Dorastus Lawrence
Sheriff of Onondaga County, New York
January 1, 1838 – January 1, 1841
Succeeded by
Frederick Benson