The history and genealogies of ancient Windsor, Connecticut, Vol. II, Part 107

Author: Stiles, Henry Reed, 1832-1909
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Hartford, Conn., Press of the Case, Lockwood & Brainard company
Number of Pages: 1012

USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Windsor > The history and genealogies of ancient Windsor, Connecticut, Vol. II > Part 107

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

1. Amelia. b. Austerlitz. N. Y .. 6 Aug . 1800; d. same day

2. Corne in. b. 25 .Jan . 1-01 : 1. same day.

3 Cynthia. b. Cazenovia. N. Y . 7 July. 1502; mm. (1) Lewis Tooker, ; Nov . 1816: (22. Det. 1. rin- Winchester, " Catharines, Ont.

1 C'athari we. b. C'az . 10 Der , 1803; d. same day.

5. Will imn, h. F. bin-, N 1 . 28 Nov., 1804: d. Name alay.

6. Or-un. b. Fabius, \ \ . 17 De .. 1555. m. (1 . 21 Mich . 13: 0 Calista Maria Fisk uf Cleveland. 0 .; was in business with his

father: rem. to Buffalo, N. Y .. 1-1. where he buin the hotel known as " the Phelps House, ** afterwards the Clarendon Hotel; was one of the projector- of B. water-works: d. B 15 Mch .. 15;0. 7. Almira, b. Fabius, N. Y .. . Jan., 150%. m. 22 Det., 1837, Alpha H. Shaw; she d. Merritton. Ont .. 13 Det., 1429

8. Orrin Stone. b. 3 daly, 1809: d 21 ,July. jspg.

9. Charlotte, b. L. 20 June, 1810; m. 30 Sept., 193 , at Merriton, Ont., Alphen, St. John.

10. Orrin Stone. b.ºs May. 1812; m. 27 Nov . 1-32. Alme- das. Dyer. Ile d. St. C'ntherines, 15 Mch., 1-3%.

583

THE PHELPS FAMILY.

11 Lucinda. b. L. 25 Apl., 1811; In. 5 Sept., 1833, W'm. (. Yale, at St. C.

12. Oliver seymour. b. L. 12 JJan., 1816; m. 0} lester Amı Dexter, al Lockport, N Y., 6 May. 1838; (2) Eliza Layton: has done much of this (revised) Phelps G/n .; res. (1800) Portland, Ore.

13. C'alvin, b. L. 12 Mch., 1818; m. JJulia S. Beach, Lewiston. N. Y., 22 Sept., 1541; owned extensive

flouring mills at St. Catharines, Ont., Port Dalhou- sie, Buffalo, and Lockport. N. Y .; res. (1990) Lkpt.

14. Mary Ann, h. 1. 24 May, 1820; m. 10 May, 1817, W'm. Morehouse, at St. C.

15. Samuel, h. 1. 20 Oct., 1822: d same day.

16. Maria Lonisa, b. L. 3 May. 1823; d. 1 Feb., 12%.

17. Elijah Hollister. b. Merritton, Ont., 3 Apl., 1997: d Buffalo, N. Y .. 9 July. 154G.

Fav. 101. Alexander Cotton (Her.," Cupt. David, Liout. David Jox. Jos,? Mr. Win.1), m. 20 Jan., 1830, Harriet Eliza Wood, b. 21 Mch., 1806. He went to Penn. about 1827; sett. in Dundaff, then moved to Waverly, where he practiced medicine. Children :

1. Harriet Elizabeth. b. 1 Feh .. 1833.

2. Norman Alexander. b. 14 Nov., 1834.

3. Mary Hodge, b. 25 Dec .. 1838. 4. Sarah Amelia. b. 22 Sept .. 1942.

FAM. 102. Horace Griswold : (.Wer., 6 Capt. Darid, Lieut. Darid, A Jos.º Jos.,? Mr. Win.1). m. 19 July. 1819, Hannah Cartwright, b. 9 June, 1801; he went to Don- daff with his brother John Jay, and engaged in the manufacture of glass: d. 1871, in Corning, N. Y. Ch. :

1. John Cartwright, b. 8 May, 1822; mcht. in Scran- ton. Pa ; m. 6 June. 1853, Sura C. Stevens.

2. Mary Phelps, b. 22 Sept., 1824; m. 12 Oct., 1836, clarins 1; Pratt of Scranton, Pa. Issue : 1. Mary Comstock (Pratt), b. 8 Dec., 1843. 2. Loni-a B. (Pratt), b. 23 Nov., 1851.

3. Vernon Phelps (Pratt), b. F Feb., d. 28 June, 1859. 3 Elisha, b. 12 Apl.,, 1527.

4. Draper LeGrand. b. 9 Jan .. 1822; in. 14 Ang., 1855.

Mary Hendrick ; he was an oil producer in Titusville, Pa. Jesite : 1. Mary Allen, b. 14 Apl., 1858.

2. A son, b. 21 Dec., 1860.

5. Martha, b. 3 Apl., 1934; m. 6 Dec .. 1859, Alonzo D. Terwilliger : res. Corning, N. Y. (1892).

6. Horace B .. b. 11 May, 1843: was interested in rail- roads and banking: d. in 1881.

Fav. 103. Jaman Hart (ller, 6 Cupt. Durid, Lient, David, Jos. " Jos," Mr. I'm.'), m. 1 Jan., 1823, Abigail (dau. Asa and Abigail Cux) Hoskins, b. 25 Feb., 1798; d. 1879; he foll. his bros, to Dundaff and went into the tannery business; after living nearly forty years in Dundaff, moved to Scranton, where he was largely interested in real estate; afterwards went to Wilkesbarre, and d. there 11 Ang., 1881. Ch .: 1. John C'ase, b. 20 Apl., 1825. FAM. 118.

FAM. 104. Edward (Iler, 6 Capt. Durid, Lient. David, Jos," Jos," Mr. Win.'), m. 25 Nov., 1432, Lamittia Hubbard, b. 2 May, 1803. Children:

I. Emily Latnittia, b. 11 Sept .. 1823: m. 1 Nov .. 1$19. George Field. Jr. Laste : 1. (.vo. Lyman ( Field), h. 31 Ang .. 1>50.

2. C'has. Phelp- (Field), D. Sept . 1852

2. Sarah Amelia, b. 20 Mch .. 1526; m. 2- June. 1849. Algernon Mckinney. b. 11 July. 1-22. Issue : 1. Allen Phelps ( MeKinney,, b. 9 July. 1-51.

2. Chas. Algernon (Mckinney), b. 10 Apl., 1855.

3. Ella Scarz ( Me Kinney). b. 13 JJone. 185%.

FAM. 105. Norman? (.\h.r.,6 Capt. Darid,5 Lient. Dacid,4 Jox.," Jox. 2 Mr. Win.1). m. 21 Feb., 1839, Sarah Wright, b. 4 Jan., 1813; went to Dundaff about the same time as his bros .; rem. to Waverly, where he engaged in farming. Child : 1. Sarah Celestine, b. 30 Nov., 1:48.

FAM. 106. John Jay (. Her, 6 Capt. David, Lient. David, Joseph, Joseph, Mr. Win.' ), 10. 29 June, 1835, at Dundaff, Pa., Rachel Badgeley (dau. of Col. Gould) Phin- ney, b. 12 Dec., 1812. Leaving his father's home at the age of 13, he owned and elited (before his majority) in partnership with Geo. D. Prentice (afterwards of the Louiseille Courier), the New England Weekly Berier at Iltfd .; in 1897 he began the manuf. of glass in Dundaff, Pa., and became acquainted with the coal fields of Lack- awanna Valley, with which he was afterwards to be so closely and profitably con- nected: he became, with his cousin Amos R. Eno, a large wholesale merchant in N. Y. city; the firm (Eno & Phelps) dissolved after ten years, and each member com- meneed a new firm and cach also operated in real estate with great boldness. Before he was J0 years old, he had built a splendid block on the site of okl Grace Church, and another on that of the Park Theater. He also initiated that march of trade toward the northward which has continued ever since. And these opera- tions were equaled by that of his partner, Mr. Eno, who finished by building the Fifth Ave. Hotel. As a Director of the Eric Railroad, he received the thanks of the city legislature, hy a joint resolution of both its branches; was, for a long while, prominently identified with the Del., Lack. & West. Railroad Co. (of which,

584

GENEALOGIES AND BIOGRAPHIES OF ANCIENT WINDSOR,

in its original forms of the Legett's Gap and the Lack. & W. Railroad Cos., he was President), resigning in 1853, remaining in the Board until Nov .. 1863. He was one of the first to use freestone in the architecture of N. Y. city; and his long connection with the direction of the Mercantile, Second National, and City Banks, the Camden & AAmboy Railroad Co., the Manhattan Gas Light Co., and Bleecker Street Savings Institution, as well as other public and private trusts, are evidences of the high esteem in which he was held by his fellow citizens. He d. in N. Y., 12 May, 1869; bu. in Simsbury, Conn. His will contained bequests to educational and charitable institutions. Children :

1. Ellen Ada, b. 28 Mch., 1838; m. 20.Fune, 1860, at 4 N. Y., Rev. David Stuart Dodge. b. 22 Sept .. 1436: d. 22 June, 1850; res. Wratogue, Sims- bury, Conn. Issue :

1. Ellen Ada Phelps (Dodge), b. 24 Feb .. 1962; m. london, Eng., 5 June, 1850, Anson Greene Phop- Dodge, Jr : d. 20 Nov., 1883; x. I.

2. Walter Phelps (Dodge), b. 13 June, 1869; m. 21 July, 1888, Edinburgh, Scot., Ida Rose Lena

(dan. Alfred Godolphin and Helena Nelson) Cooke, b. 11 Dec. 1971; har: (0) Ellen .lda Phelps (Dodge), b. 2; det. 1899: (b) Stuur! Phelps (Dodge), b. 19 Feb .. 1591.

3. Frank Phelps (Dodge), b. 20 Sept .. 1-71.

4. Guy Phelps , Denlge). h. 22 Feb .. 1574.

5. Vlarenee Phelps (Dottge), b. 20 ,July. 1877.

2. William Walter (Hon ), b. 21 Ang .. 1-39. FAM. 119.

3. Francis Alexander, b. Apl., 1811; d. 5 May, 1548. Fax. 107. Sherman David (Mler.," Cupt. David," Livet. David, Jos, Jos. 2 Mr. Www.'), m. (1) Susan Electa Porter ; (2) 1853, Ann Elizabeth Sweet. lle went to Pa. in 1829 and worked for his brothers; moved in 1836 from Dundaff in N. Y. city, and soon after to Tunkhannock, Pa., where he engaged in the mercantile busi- ness and in railway contracting; in 1854 he moved to Binghamton, N. Y., where he was unusually successful; he d. 1878. Ch. : Robert; Arthur. Fam. now extinct. [A correspondent writes: " We of the Pa. branch (of the Phelps family) are very proud of the six sons of Alexander Phelps, who emigrated to Pa. They were all men of ability and force, and leaders in the different communities. Their dese. inherit these traits in a large measure."]

FAM. 108. Charles E.6 (Rev.) (Chas. S., Bethuel, Timo, Liant. Timo., Mr. I'm.'), m. Sarah Eayres Davis, 27 May, 1817; was ordained 20 July, 1815; pastorates in Moravia, Homer, Whitehall. N. Y., in N. Y. city, and for past 20 years sett. at New Brunswick, N. J. Children :

1. Charles Edward Davis. b. 25 Mch., 1551; m. Elizabeth s. Nott of Philadelphia, Pa., 12 Sept .. 1888.

2. Arthur Santford (Rev.). b. 12 June, 1853; ord.

5 June, 147; m. Gertrude Lindall Tappan of Washington, D. C., 30 Oct., 1\\. He has held an assistant pastorship in Washington, D.('., and now in Shelburne Full -. Mas -.

FAM. 109. Samuel Shethart (Ion.) (Educ.,5 .Jux., Timo.,3 Lient. Timo., Mr. I'm."), was " grad. from Yale Coll. in 1811, and, while studying law, in 1812, he ent. the Amer. army, and before the close of his military career was app. paymaster. llc sett. in Middlebury and practised law. In 1827 he was memb, of the Council of Consors, and wrote the address issued by that body. In 1831 he was chosen a member of the Legis. Council of Vt., and was soon afterwards app. Judge of the Supreme Court of the State, in which position he remained until 1838; he was a Senator in Congress from 1839 to 1854, in which body he displayed abilities of a high order."- Lanman's Dict. of Congress. lle d. 25 Mch., 1855; he m. (1) Frances Shurtleff, 21 Nov., 1821; (2) Electa Satterlee, 23 Oct., 1995, 0%. (by 1x trin : b. Middlebury, 17.) :

1. Edward John (fon.), h. 11 July. 1822: 1. 8. Minister to England: m. Mary J. Haight. 2. James Shuthar, b. 23 Ang., d. 22 Nov .. 1523.

3. Charles Hervey, b. OF May, 1-25; mm. Munice Webb.

Dyer, Burlington, Iowa. 5. Samuel Shetbar, b. 6 Apl., 1825. 6. Daniel Webster, b. 19 Feb., 1. 7. Theodore Willis, b. 31 Der., J 31; d. 21 AAug .. 1532. 8. Prank. h. 2 May. 1 31; m .; -. p.

@ Eplart. b. 8 Dec .. 1833; m. twice.

(By ' wifi):

1. James Satterlee, b. 11 Oct., 1826; m. Harriet

10. Harriet K., m. a Lyman.

FAM. 110. Willis : (Cupt. Horace," Ebenezer," Eben. W.,' Lieut. Time," Mr. I'm.'). res, Westfield, Mass. (except from 1531-1812), at age of 19; bought a grocery busi- ness in Springfield, Mass. ; in 1838, began his railroad enterprises by building a ser- tion of the Western (now Boston & Albany) railroad near Dalton, Mass. In 1841. was elected County Commissioner of Hampden County, Mas; member of the first Common Council of Springfield, Mass .; next year Alderman; member of Massa-

585

THE PHELPS FAMILY.

chusetts Senate, 1848, and of the House of Representatives, 1846; first President of Five Cent Savings Bank; director and one of the founders of Fire and Marine Ins. Co., and of the Pynchon Bank; built a portion of the New London Northern Railroad in Conn .; of the Rome, Watertown & Ogdensburgh Railroad in New York : Terre Haute, Alton & St. Louis Railroad, Springfield & Athol Railroad, and the ('onn. Central Railroad, in nearly all of which he was a large owner and manager - in all, some 2,000 miles of railroad. He married, 1 Mch., 1828, Maria Bartlett of Springfield, Mass., who d. 10 June, 1871. Mr. P. d. 25 Nov., 1883. CZ : 1. Henry Willis, m .; res. Minneapolis, Minn .; issue. | 2. John Wesley, m .; issue.

FAM. 111. Ellsworth Newberry (Col.) (Sam't,6 Geo.5 Capt. Caleb, Wm.3 Lieut. Timo.,? Mr. Wm.1), farmer and prominent tobacco grower in W .; m. 25 Nov., 1850, Lucy Ann (dan. Warren and Elizabeth Wolcott) Marshall, b. W. 14 Nov., 1827; Colonel of 22d Conn. Regt. in Civil War. Ch. (b. H.) :

1. Samuel Ellsworth, b. 30 June. 1852; educated at Cheshire Epis. cad. ; elected Town Clerk of W., 5 Oct .. 18-5: m. 28 Mch., 1871, Adelia Filley, b. 9 May, 1853. Issue :

1. Addie Emina, b. 16 July. 1872.

2. Annie Marshall, b. 6 Jan., 1858; m. Hugh Har- bison of Hartford, Conn., 29 Oct .. 1887.

FAM. 112. William Henry ? (Dr. Launcelot, 6 Launcclot,5 Timo.,4 Cornelius,3 Lieut. Timothy2 Mr. I'm.1), m. 28 May, 1840, Lucy C. (dan. Dr. Luman) Wakefield. Ile commenced life as a clerk with Alpha Sage in his native town; soon after ent'd business for himself at Riverton; rem. to Winsted, Conn., and (1846 to 1848) carried on business with Norman Adams. In 1848 he went to Chicago and was a partner in the firm of Cooley, Wadsworth & Phelps; in 1851 returned to Winsted, and in 1854 became connected with the Hurlburt Bank, in wh. he remained until his death, Aug. 22, 1864. It was mainly by his instrumentality that that bank was founded, and under his management secured the full confidence of the community.

The beautiful park in the East Village is a monument to his energy and liber- ality, and in educational matters he was ever foremost. Socially, a varied reading. the cultivation of travel, a happy faculty at quotation and ready wit, engrafted upon an exceedingly genial nature, rendered him the choicest of companions. He d. 22 Aug., 1864. Children : 2. Elizabeth, b. Winsted, Conn .. 22 Jan .. 1856. 1842. FAM. 120.

1. George Wakefield, b. Riverton, Conn., 25 .July,

FAM. 113. (James (Judge) (Dr. Lancelot,6 Launcelot, 5 Timo. Cornel., 3 Lient. Timo.,2 Mr. W'in.1), b. Colebrook, Litchfield Co., 12 Jan., 1822; received his early educa- tion in the common schools of his native town, in Winsted Academy, and the Epis- copal Academy at Cheshire. He entered Washington (now Trinity) College, but owing to a very severe illness in the first year of his course, was obliged to discon- tinue his studies for a considerable period. When he was able to resume them he was entered as a law student in the office of Hon. Isaac Toncey of Hartford, and subsequently in the office of Hon. Samuel Ingham of Essex, and was also for a time a student in the Law Department of Yale Coll .; was admitted to the bar in Middle- sex County, October, 1845, and has since resided in Essex in that County.

Besides holding the office of Judge of Probate and other local positions, he was a member of the House of Representatives in the State Legislatures in 1853, 1851. and 1856, and of the State Senate in 1858 and 1859. In 1863 he was elected by the Gen'l Assembly a Judge of the Superior Court for the regular term of eight years. lle was re-elected in 1871, and in 1873 he was elected a Judge of the Supreme Court of Errors. He resigned in 1875, on his election to the 14th Congress from the Sec- ond Congressional district, composed of the Counties of New Haven and Middlesex. He was re-elected to the 45th, 46th, and 47th Congress, and declined farther Con- gressional service. He was again elected a Judge of the Superior Court in January, 1885, which position he held until disqualified by age, in 1892.

While in Congress he was placed on the Committees of Ways and Means, For- eign Affairs, Reform in the Civil Service, and other important standing committees, VOL. II .- 74

586

GENEALOGIES AND BIOGRAPHIES OF ANCIENT WINDSOR.

and on several special committees, among which was that to investigate alleged frauds in the State of Louisiana in the Presidential election of 1876. In the contest in the special session of the 46th Congress, between the Executive and Legislative departments of the government, with regard to the appointment and service of U. S. Deputy Marshals, and the employment of U. S. soldiers at the polls while elections were being held, he was selected as one of the joint committee of Democratie Senators and Representatives to consider and recommend suitable legis- lation on that exciting subject. He procured the establishment of the breakwater at the entrance of New Haven harbor, and the extensive permanent work for the improvement of the Connecticut River below Hartford and at its mouth, and secured liberal appropriations for those and other needed improvements in this district. Sept. 30, 1845, he m. Lydia Ann (dan. of Hon. Samuel) Ingham. Children (b. Saybrook, Conn.) :

1. Samuel Ingham. h. 15 July, 187; m. 25 Dec., 1871, Josephine dan. Bezalel & Mary Smith, who d. 15 Oct .. 15 5; he d. 10 Jan., 1891, at Chat- tanooga. Tenn., where he was in business; bu. E-sex, L'onn. Issue :

1. Harrison Fisk, b. 11 May, 1823.

2. James Lancelot, b. 5 May, 1856: m. 13 JJan., 1×90. Harriet Weed (dan. Judge James E.) Coulter of New York city; he is a practising physician at Essex, Conn., and for several years has held the offices of judge of probate court and of town clerk.

FAM. 11. Martin Luther? (Capt. Luther,6 Dan't,5 Timo.,4 Cornel.,3 Licut. Timo.,? Mr. W'in.1), m. (1) Charlotte Sage ; (2) Susan Munson ; he d. 12 Mch., 1887, a. 67, at Colebrook, Conn. Children :

1 Luther (., b. 1455: m. Cora E. (dan. of John P'.) wh. he d. 23 Jan., 1890, m. 35: bu. Colebr'k. lasue : 1. A dau., b. Hamden, 3 June. 1848.

Phelps of Millbrook, CL .; res. Hamden, ('t.,

FAM. 115. D. Ellsworth 8 (Dan't B.,7 Rog., 6 Rog.,5 Lieut. Dan'l,4 Wm. , 3 Sam't,? Mr. I'm.1), mn. Mary L. McCormick of W., 17 June, 1884; res. W. Ch. (b. )".) :

1. James M., b. ] Ang .. 185.

1 2. Alma G., b. 21 Sept., 1887.

FAM. 116. Daniel W.s (Dan'l,7 Dea. Roger, 6 Roger.6 Licut. Dan't,4 Win., 3 Sam'l,2 Mr. I'm.1), m. Mary J. Loomis of W., 28 Feb., 1872; she d. 11 Mch., 1890, at Omaha, Neb .; bn. in W. Children :

1. Ella L., b. 24 Der., 1874.

2. Mary E., b. 6 Oct., 1876. 1 4. Daniel W., b. 30 Apl., 1881.

3. Catharine W., b. 28 Oct .. 1878.

FAM. IN. Austin ? (Prof.) (Rer. Dr. Eliak., 6 Dea. Eliak. ,' W'm. , 4 Wm. 3 Nath'l,? Mfr. Win.1). m. (1) Elizabeth Stuart, 28 Sept., 1841; (2) Mary Stuart; (3) Mary Johnson. Children (b. tudorer, Muss.) :

1. Elizabeth Smart, b. 31 Aug., 1844: m. 22'Oct., 3. Laurence (Rev.), b. 22 Ang., 1832.

1548. Mr. Herbert Dickinson Ward; res. (By 21 wife) : (1892) Newton Highlands, Mass. 4. Frances J., b. 5 Dec., 1860.

2. Moses, b. 16 Mcb., 1819.

3. Elward. b. 18 Apl., 1963.

FAM. 118. John Case ' (Jurman 11., Alex.,6 Capt. Darid,5 Lieut. Darid, 4 Jos., 3 .108.,? Mr. I'mn.1), m. 20 Sept., 1854, Martha Wheeler (dau. Ziba and Hanna Slocum) Ben- nett, h. Wilkesbarre, Pa., 2 Aug., 1833; moved to Dundaff with his father. IFe went to New York when a boy, and, first as a clerk and afterwards as principal, was in business there until 1862. At that time he moved to Wilkesbarre, Pa., wh. he engaged in the banking business and the purchase of anthracite coal lands. He was largely interested in the development of the anthracite coal fields, and his ability and integrity were universally recognized; he d. in W., 14 July, 1892. Ilis family live in Wilkesbarre. Ch. :

1. Anna Bennett, b. 1 Jan., 185%. Harry Birstow (son. of ex-Senator Thomas (.)

2. William George, b. 17 Aux , 1857. FAM. 121. Platt. [xgH) ;

3. Francis Alevinder, b. 4 Miv, 1859. FAM. 122. 1. Shermin Phelps (Platt), b. 6 June, 159).

I. Grace Lee. b. 31 Mch., 1853; in. 8 Nov., 1837, 5. Ziba Bennett, b. 7 Dec., 1870.

FAM. 119 William Walter " (!Ion.) (John J., Her.,6 Capt. David,5 Licut. Darid,s Jox., 3 Jox. º Mr. Win.1), b. N. Y. city, 21 Aug., 1839; educ. at Mt. Washington Coll. Institute of N. Y. city, and at private school in Bridgeport, Conn .; ent. Yale Coll. before he had completed his 16th year, and, although youngest in his class, stood among the first when the condition of his eyes forced him to abandon his studies. After a year's foreign travel he ret. to Yale, and, by employing a fellow-student to

587

THE PHELPS FAMILY.

read to him, was enabled to graduate 1860, taking a high place in the distribution of graduation honors, also taking the Townsend Prize, the Bishop Berkeley Prize for batin Composition, and the first prizes in Debate and English Composition. On the evening of the day of his graduation he was in. to Ellen Sheffield, dau. of Joseph E. Shetfield, founder of the Sheffield Scientific School of Yale Univ., and, after a year or two spent abroad, principally in Germany, ret. to N. Y. and ent. Columbia ('oll. Law Seh., where he secured the valedictory honors of his class, upon his grad. in 1863. Before reaching his 25th yr. he had gained a large practice, and was counsel for some of New York's leading merchants and several important cor- porations, in which he afterward became interested. Ilis conduct of the criminal ease connected with the failure of Morris Ketchum & Co., government bankers, and also the famous congressional contested election case of Dodge es. Brooks, won him great credit; and, soon after, Gov. Fenton offered him a judicial position, which he declined. The death of his father, however, in 1869, obliged him to relinquish his general practice to assume the management of the family estates and certain private trusts which he held.

Mr. Phelps's change of residence to New Jersey brought him soon into politics. In 1872, by an overwhelming majority he was elected to the Forty-third Congress as a Republican. His first speeches in the House (on the "Salary Grab " and upon a banking bill), quickly enlisted the attention of members by their simple, conver- sational, and witty style; and his third speech, on the Franking Privilege, fully es- tablished his reputation throughout the country as a speaker whose humor was blended with judgment and a rare skill in the presentation of political truths. He was offered by Prest. Grant the position of Ass't Sec'y of the Treas. of the U. S., which he declined, as he also did a strong movement among his political friends to make him the successor of the Secretary of the Department, whose removal was already decreed. In the great discussion upon the Civil Rights Bill, however, Mr. Phelps found his courage sorely tested, for he was then the only one of his party who dared to oppose and denounce the measure as improper and unconstitutional. It took years for him to regain the position which he lost among his political friends by the rebellion to party discipline involved in this speech. He opposed the bill on the ground that no one would ever enforce it, and if it was attempted the courts would refuse their aid on account of its unconstitutionality. For fifteen years it remained a dead letter as he had predicted, and when, at last, as a test question, it was brought before the Supreme Court, that body verified and vindicated Mr. Phelps's opinion and prediction in almost the very words used by him on the floor of Congress.

Mr. Phelps's personal service as member of the special congressional committee app. to inquire into the Southern " White League," and the " Ku Klux Klans, " and his share in the report of that committee, proved to be a powerful factor in the abolition of the "Carpet-baggers'" rule which had so long terrorized the South. The city of New Orleans tendered Mr. P. a public dinner in recognition of their ap- preciation of his services in this matter. In 1881 he was app. by Prest. Garfield as American Minister at the Austrian Court, where, during his short term, he won high commendation for his diplomatie ability. I'pon Mr. Arthur's accession, however, he resigned office and returned to America, to become, two years later, a Member of Congress for the second time, and was re-elected for several terms, until he de- clined to serve longer. At this time he acted as one of the regents of the Smith- sonian Institution. In 1889 he was app. by Prest. Harrison one of the members of the Samoan Commission, and, by his masterly management of the treaty negotia- tions and the rare diplomatic tact displayed in dealing with the English and German Commissioners, secured the appointment to the Amer. Legation at Berlin, the P'res- ident himself handing him his commission upon his return to Washington with the Samoan treaty. His brilliant success as Amer. Minister at Berlin has added to his

GENEALOGIES AND BIOGRAPHIES OF ANCIENT WINDSOR.

reputation, and his success in inducing the German Chancellor to raise the embargo so long imposed upon Amer. pork (whereby the French and Italian governments were induced to do likewise), ranks among the achievements of the Harrison admin- istration. Hlis services in the cause of International Copyright have also been of vahic. The hospitality shown by Mr. Phelps to traveling Americans passing through Berlin is proverbial; and the position he has made for himself in Berlin is an enviable one, socially, diplomatically, and politically.

The old family estate of the Phelpses in Simsbury, Conn., is now owned by children of Mr. P.'s only sister (Mrs. Dodge, who d. 1880). It is a charming place, and Mr. P. can trace back his line of seven generations, who have resided on ok " Bushy Hill." His own estate in New Jersey is known as " Teaneck Grange," and embraces 1,000 acres, extending from the Hackensack river to the shores of the Hudson, and is justly famed for its extensive and varied arboriculture. The orig. house, a most picturesque collection of buildings, was destroyed by fire in 1888, and Mr. P. now occupies a large house near its site. Within this estate are several miles of drives, and in one stretch alone a five- mile drive of tree-lined avenue.

Mr. Phelps was at one time a director of and was interested in a number of the most important banking, trust, and railway corporations of N. Y. city: but of late years, in view of the fact that his career must be that of a public man, he has gradually withdrawn from all official connection with these bodies and institutions, in order that he might more fully and entirely devote himself to these higher public duties. For the same reason, though with regret, he resigned his connection with the corporation of Yale College after a long and honorable course of service to bis Alma Mater. Children :

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The history and genealogies of ancient Windsor, Connecticut, Vol. II, Part 107

Author: Stiles, Henry Reed, 1832-1909 Publication date: 1891 Publisher: Hartford, Conn., Press of the Case, Lockwood & Brainard company Number of Pages: 1012

Author: Stiles, Henry Reed, 1832-1909
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Hartford, Conn., Press of the Case, Lockwood & Brainard company
Number of Pages: 1012