Sacramento County
Biographies
SIDNEY
M. PHILLIPS
To business men of Sacramento
and San Francisco the name of Sidney
M. Phillips is known as that of an influential citizen, progressive in his
association with commercial enterprises, devoted to the development of Northern
California and engaged in important business pursuits that give
employment to his trained mental energies.
Honesty of character and earnestness of purpose have stamped the impress
of his individuality upon associates. In
view of the fact that scarcely yet has he reached the prime of mature manhood
his success is particularly noteworthy and indicates the possession of
originality of mind as well as high aspirations of soul. Metropolitan advantages in San
Francisco, where he was born in February of 1879,
offered abundant opportunities for the development of a mind unusually
keen. It was his good fortune not only
to attend the public schools, but also to enjoy collegiate instruction, and thus
he entered upon business activities fully prepared to cope with every
difficulty and master every intricate problem.
The house of Mr. Phillips & Co., wholesale dealers in
rice, gave to Sidney M. Phillips his initial training in the fundamental
elements of all business, and he remained in San Francisco
with this firm for some years. During
1904 he established in Sacramento
the wholesale rice and cracker firm of S. M. Phillips & Co.,
and at the same time became a resident of the capital city. As the Sacramento
representative of a number of leading automobile companies he established an agency
at No. 1224 M street, but in 1908 he built a modern garage at No. 1609-11 M
street and removed his agency to that address.
In addition, he established the Phillips Drayage and Warehouse Company on
Front and P streets. Upon leaving Sacramento
August 1, 1911, to resume
residence in San Francisco, he
retired from the automobile business, but the warehouse is still conducted
under competent and trustworthy management.
In San Francisco he is a
member of the firm of M. Phillips & Co., located at No.
9 Main street, wholesale rice
and bean importers and exporters, with branches in Sacramento,
Honolulu, H. T., Seattle,
Wash., Los Angeles,
Cal., and Portland,
Ore.
With all the heavy responsibilities of a business so extensive he has not
allowed his Sacramento interests to
be lessened or neglected, but by occasional visits he keeps in close touch with
every department of the work at this point, where he has built and now occupies
a ware-house 120 x 150 feet in dimensions.
During June of 1910 occurred the marriage of Sidney M.
Phillips to Miss Blanche Lewis, daughter of a retired business man and influential
citizen of San Francisco. In addition to enjoying the usual classical
educational advantages, Mrs. Phillips was also afforded exceptional
opportunities in music. Possessing
talent in this art, she has become an accomplished pianist. Her skill has become recognized in the
musical circles of San Francisco
and Sacramento, where her standing
is that of an artist unusually gifted by nature and thoroughly equipped by
education for the highest successes offered by the profession. Grace and hospitality mingle with the other
elements that endow her mind and character.
A love of the most refined in literature adds its influence to the
cultivation of her mind and gives her prominence in the Tuesday and Saturday
clubs of Sacramento, as well as a
number of clubs in San Francisco.
Transcribed by Sally Kaleta.
Source: Willis,
William L., History of Sacramento
County, California, Pages 494-497. Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, CA. 1913.
© 2005 Sally Kaleta.