California Genealogy and History Archives
Biographies
of
Sacramento County
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VACTOR
T. CHAMBERS A
comparatively brief period has been sufficient to prove that in placing
a branch of the Gorham-Revere Rubber Company, No. 917 Sixth street, in
Sacramento it has met a decided need in the material progress of the
capital city. As a general rubber store, carrying almost anything that
is made of rubber, it is the first of its kind. While it is essentially
a factory branch and dealing almost entirely with dealers and jobbers,
it yet has a retail end which includes auto tires and auto sundries. This
branch of the Gorham-Revere Rubber Company keeps a comparatively large
stock of rubber hose, belting, both rubber and leather, and packings for
factories, railroad shops and agricultural purposes, in fact, anything
in the mechanical line of rubber goods for which there is a common call.
It carries also drug sundries, oil clothing, rainproof overcoats and
cravenettes, rubber boots and shoes. A complete vulcanizing and tire
repair plant is also maintained and operated by William M. Rigdon, an
expert in this line who has had a large experience in tire factories. The
manager of this branch, Vactor T. Chambers, of whom a slight biography
will follow, is a descendant from an old Southern family and himself the
inheritor of qualities that gave the race prominence in the original
development of Kentucky. He was born at Covington, that state, April 1,
1886, and had the good fortune to enjoy the excellent educational
advantages offered by that cultured southern city. The information thus
acquired was supplemented by study in the Cincinnati University. The
educational training gained in that institution has been broadened
through habits of careful reading and close observation, so that he is
the possessor of a comprehensive knowledge valuable in business, in
society and in public affairs. Upon leaving the university he was
connected with a brokerage business, but after eighteen months he turned
his attention to other activities. For one year as manager and for a
similar period as receiver, he was connected with the Harrison Water and
Light Company, of Harrison, Ohio, from which city in 1907 he came to
California. A connection of several months with the advertising
department of the Sacramento Bee formed the first business associations
of Mr. Chambers in the west and later for one year he served as
assistant secretary of the Sacramento Chamber of Commerce under the
secretary, A. L. Crane. After severing his connections with that
department he became identified with the growth of the Sacramento
Builders' Supply Company, a recent but valuable acquisition to the
important industries of the city, of which he was assistant manager
until April, 1912, when he resigned to establish the Sacramento branch
of the Gorham-Revere Rubber Company. While giving his attention to the business with intelligent and unflagging devotion Mr. Chambers has not held aloof from the social opportunities which the capital city affords. On the other hand he is both prominent and popular in the most select social circles and occupies a leading place in the activities of the University, Sutter and Sacramento Country Clubs, while his skill in tennis has brought him into leadership among the members of the East Side and the McKinley Park Tennis Clubs. In addition he retains membership with the Sigma Chi Fraternity of the Cincinnati University. |
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Source: Transcribed by Peggy Hooper 2011 |