Joseph Phillips

Joseph Phillips (November 6, 1825 – September 13, 1906) was an Alsatian American immigrant, businessman, and Wisconsin pioneer. He was the 19th mayor of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, serving from April 1870 to April 1871, and also represented the city for three terms in the Wisconsin State Assembly (1866, 1867, 1869).

Early life

Joseph Phillips was born in the Alsace region of France. As a child, he emigrated with his parents to the United States, settling first in Lancaster, New York, and later moving to Buffalo. In 1842, he moved west to Milwaukee, Wisconsin Territory, where he was employed as a clerk in a general merchandise store.

Business career

After some time, Phillips purchased the business in partnership with George End and operated it for several years as "Phillips & End". He also married Mary Anne End, the sister of his business partner.

In the 1870 spring election, he was elected mayor of Milwaukee, running on the Democratic ticket. His term as mayor was dominated by a controversy over his attempt to enforce a Sunday law—requiring saloons and bars to close on Sundays. He ran for re-election in 1871 and lost in a landslide to Republican Harrison Ludington. Their daughter, Elizabeth, married August Rebhan of Racine, Wisconsin, and had three children.

Electoral history