An
incorporated village in Marion County, twelve miles west
of Palmyra, -which is its shipping and banking point. It
was laid out in December, 1835, by William Muldrow. It has
two churches, a public school and fourteen business
houses, including stores and shops.. Population in 1899
(estimated), 240. In 1861 Philadelphia proved to be the
only place in the county in any wise equipped for the
Civil War. A company of about thirty men was armed with
muskets and bayonets. Under Captain Robert E. Dunn they
started for Boonville, but when they reached Paris,
Missouri, June .17, 1861, the Boonville engagement was
over. The greater part of the company returned home, but
Captain Dunn, with a half dozen of his men, kept on to
Cowskin Prairie, and at Wilson's Creek Dunn fought as a
private with conspicuous gallantry. One of the six
pounders made by Cleaver & Mitchell, at Hannibal,
Missouri, had been placed in a wagon bed and hauled to
Philadelphia, where the piece was mounted. It did good
service in General Green's command and on the Missouri
River. This cannon, with its companion nine-pounder,
rounded up the steamer "Sunshine" so as to
enable Green's brigade to cross to the investment of
Lexington, Missouri.
Thomas
H. Bacon
Source:
1901 Encyclopedia of the History of Missouri