The Valley of Heart's Delight
DR. LA FOREST E. PHILLIPS
Palo Alto Surgeon
Office Address 172 University Ave
1922
SURNAMES: GASPAR, DAVENPORT, PAGE, PIERCE, JENKS,
A scholarly, expert surgeon of high scientific attainments, whose
distinguished services in the cause of suffering and imperiled
humanity-particularly during the recent crisis incidental to the
epidemic of the influenza have conferred an enviable lustre upon Palo
Alto, the scene of his conscientious labors is Dr. La Forest E.
Phillips, the widely-known physician and surgeon whose
splendidly-equipped offices are at 172 University Avenue, while his
handsome residence is at 337 Hamilton Street. He was born at
Surry, Hancock County, Maine, on March 7, 1876, the son of R. F.
Phillips, who is happily still living, retired, at 2526 Hilligas
Avenue, Berkeley. He was long a lumberman, actively and extensively
engaged in that industry in both Maine and California, and he married
Miss Mary Frances Gaspar of the same place, both Mr. and Mrs.
Phillips coming from very old New England families, long established in
Maine. The Phillips family is of Welsh origin, and their
hardinhood is attested by the fact that there has not been a death in
the circle for the past fifty years. Dr. Phillips has two
brothers and two sisters. Agnes has become the wife of J. O.
Davenport, a pioneer of Monterey and a member of the Davenport family
hailing from Massachusetts, where for generations they were prominent
whalers. They sailed around the Horn and came to California and
Monterey in early days; and settling in California identified
themselves with important industries. Mr. Davenport is at present
in the lumber trade at San Francisco. A. R. Phillips is in the
automobile business at Oakland. La Forest Ethelbert Phillips is
the subject of this review. Rodney Forseth Phillips, Jr., is also
in the automobile trade, in San Francisco. Julia Josephine is the
wife of Dr. Clearance Page of Berkeley.
In 1878, La Forest Phillips came out to California with his parents and
settled in Mendocino County, where his father entered upon what was to
prove an engagement of forty years as a very trusted employee with the L. E. White Lumber Company;
and our subject grew up in Mendocino County, at Fort Bragg, later
removing with the rest of his folks to Point Arenas. He attended
the local schools, and in 1895 was graduated from the Mendocino high
school. Then he took up serious study at the Cooper Pre-Medical
School and prepared to enter the regular department, and having
matriculated at the Cooper Medical College,
of San Francisco, he was graduated with the class of '99, and is now an
alumnus of the Medical Department of Stanford University.
Upon graduating, he accepted an internship as a house physician and
surgeon in the San Francisco Hospital in 1901, and he then went to
Jackson, Amador County, and hung out his shingle. During the
World War, he volunteered to give his medical services, and he
was in line for appointment to a responsible post; but the armistice
interfered before the Government could call upon him. Now, having
settled at this important center of scientific investigation and
practice, Dr. Phillips does a general surgical and medical service, and
gives his whole time and attention to the best and lasting interests of
those entrusting their difficulties to him. During the awful
epidemic of influenza, Dr. Phillips had no less than 125 cases under
his immediate charge, and he won the enviable distinction, as one of
the most successful doctors in California, of brining almost all of his
patients safely through. He has a beautiful suite of
offices and there, with every facility that could be desired, treats
minor surgical cases. For major operations, however, he takes
patients to the Palo Alto Hospital. Naturally, on the account of
his high standing, Dr. Phillips is frequently called upon to consult
with other physicians of eminent standing.
At San Francisco, on July 25, 1901, Dr. Phillips was married to Miss
Bella Pierce, a native of San Francisco, and the daughter of the late
Samuel J. Pierce, well-known San Francisco contractor and builder; and
their home-life has been brightened through the gift of four children,
each already speaking for itself in the world, Frances took a
course in the Pre-Medical School at Stanford and is married to C. M.
Jenks, a Stanford graduate, and resides at Merced; and La Forest, Jr.,
who is a student at Stanford University in the Pre-Medical
Department. Alberta I. is in the Castilleja School at
Palo Alto, and Rodney Pierce is a pupil in the William Warren Military
Academy at the same place. Of exceptionally bright mind, and
kind, considerate and helpful disposition, imbued with high ideas as to
the conscientious performance of professional duty, Dr. Phillips has
won the high regard of his fellow-citizens, while his accomplished wife
and wide-awake children are justly popular and real favorites in Palo
Alto and in Stanford University.
Transcribed by Carolyn Feroben, from Eugene T. Sawyers' History of Santa Clara County, California, published by Historic Record Co. , 1922. page 990
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