Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 08.djvu/320

 PHELPS

PHELPS

from Sunnyside. with a memoir by her husband (1853). The last book was published posthu- mously, and Sunnyside, a story of life in a country parsonage, readied a sale of 100,000 copies in a year. She died in Boston, Miiss., Nov. 30. 1852.

PHELPS, Elizabeth Stuart. See Ward, Eliza- beth Stuart Phelps.

PHELPS, James, representative, was born in Colebrook, Conn., Jan. 12, 1822; son of Dr. Lan- celot and Elizabeth (Sage) Phelps; grandson of Lancelot Phelps, a volunteer in the Revolutionary war, and a descendant of William Plielps, Wind- sor, Conn., 1635. His father was a representative from Connecticut in the 24th and 25th congresses, 1835-39, He was educated in the Episcopal aca- demy at Cheshire, Conn., and in Wasliington college, and was admitted to the bar in 1844. He settled in practice in Essex, Conn.; was married, Sept. 30, 1845, to Lydia A., daughter of Samuel and Lydia (Wilson) Ingham, and served as judge of probate. He was a representative in the Con- necticut legislature, 1853-54, and in 1856; a state senator, 1858-59; judge of the state superior court 1863-73; judge of the supreme court of errors, 1873-75; a Democratic representative from the second district in the 44th-47th congresses, 1875- 83. and judge of the state superior court, 1885-92. He died in Essex, Conn., Jan. 16, 1900.

PHELPS, John Smith, governor of Missouri, was born in Simsbury, Conn., Dec. 22, 1814; son of Elisha Phelps (q.v.). He was graduated from Trinity college in 1832; studied law with his father, and practised in Connecticut until 1837, when he moved to Spring- field, Mo. He was a member of the Missouri legislature in 1840; brigade-inspector of militia in 1841, and Demo- cratic representative to the 29th-36th congresses, 1845- 1861. During the 35th and 36th congresses respectively, he was chairman of the committee on ways and means and one of the select committee of thirty-three on the rebellious states. He declined election to the 37th congress; joined the Federal forces as colonel of U.S. volun- teers in 1861; was made brigadier-general in July, 1862; was military governor of Arkansas, 1862- 63; delegate to the National Union convention at Philadelphia, 1866; commissioner to settle war claims in Indiana, 1867; unsuccessful Democratic candidate for governor of Missouri, 1868, and governor, 1876-82. He died in St. Louis, Mo., Nov. 20, 1886.

PHELPS, John Wolcott, soldier, was born in Guilford, Vt., Nov. 13.1813; son of Judge John and Lucy (Lovell) Phelps; grandson of Timothy Phelps, sheriff of Cumberland county under the jurisdiction of New York, and a descendant of

William Phelps, Windsor, Conn., 1635. He was graduated at the U.S. Military academy and bre vetted 2d lieutenant in the 4th artillery, July 1, 1836; was promoted 2d lieutenant, July 28, 1836, and served in the Florida war, 1836-39, and in the Cherokee nation while removing tiie In- dians to the West. He was promoted 1st lieu- tenant, July 7, 1838; served on the northern frontier during the Canada border disturbances, 1839-40, and at various forts in Michigan, 1840- 41; at Fort Monroe, Va., and Carlisle barracks, Pa., 1841-45. In the war with Mexico, 1846-48, he served in the engagements leading up to the capture of the city of Mexico, and declined the brevet rank of captain, Aug. 20, 1847, for gal- lantry at Contreras and Churubusco. He was a member of the board that devised a complete system of instruction for siege, garrison, seacoast and mountain artillery, 1849-50; was promoted captain, March 31, 1850, and served in Texas, 1851-56, where he broke up a filibustering expe- dition. He was a member of the artillery board at Fort Monroe, Va., 1856-57; served on frontier duty in Kansas and on the Utah expedition, 1857-59, and resigned from the service, Nov. 2, 1859. Until the beginning of the civil war he resided in Brattleboro, Vt., where he wrote force- ful articles pointing out the danger of the con- stantly increasing political influence of the slave states. He enlisted for the volunteer service and was appointed colonel of the 1st Vermont volun- teers, May 2, 1861; took possession of and held Newport News for the defense of Hampton Roads, Va., May to November, 1861, and was engaged in several skirmishes. He was promoted brigadier- general of volunteers. May 17, 1861; served on the expedition to the Gulf of Mexico, late in 1861, when he took military possession of Ship Island, Miss., and with Commodore Farragut's fleet forced the opening of the lower Mississippi in April and May, 1862. While in garrison at Camp Parapet, La., in 1862, he organized the first Negro troops. He was, however, ordered by the government commander to cease such organization, and for that reason resigned, Aug. 21, 1862, but not before being declared an outlaw by the Confederate government. He declined the commission of major-general when the negroes were armed, and retired to Brattleboro, Vt., where he resided until 1883, when he was married to Mrs. Anna B. Davis, and removed to Guilford. He devoted himself to literary work; was the candidate for the American party for president of the United States in 1880; was vice-president of the Vermont Historical society, 1863-85, and of the Vermont Teacher's association, 1865-85. He contributed to current literature; translated Lucien de la Hodde's "Cradle of Rebellions" (1864) from the French, and is the author of: Good Behavior,