1899: Capt. Morton Levy Phillips Dies; adopted PHILLIPS surname when a lad.
CAPTAIN PHILLIPS DIES OF THE GRIP.
Passing of the Commander of the American Revenue Cutter Boutwell.
NEW YORK, March 12. - Captain Morton Levy Phillips, commander of the United States revenue cutter Boutwell, died to-day at Newberne, N.C., of the grip, aged 61 years. He was a son of Morton Phillips Levy, one of eleven brothers, all of whom served in the Union army or navy from 1812 on. One of these brothers, Commodore Uriah P. Levy, abolished whipping in the navy.
Captain Phillips was born in New Orleans in 1838. When a lad he ran away from home and secretly joined one of the ships under command of his uncle, Commodore Levy. To conceal his identity he took the name Phillips. When his uncle discovered him he had him appointed to the revenue marine service, and as the navy rolls had his name Phillips he found it necessary to retain it.
He served with distinction during the Civil War in the patrol of the Potomac River, when revenue cutters acted as gunboats. More recently he commanded the Dexter at Newport for three years, then was assigned to the North Pacific, watching sealers. He leaves a widow, two daughters and a son. His family live in Portland, Me.
Source: The San Francisco Call, San Francisco, California, Monday, March 13, 1899; Pg. 4