Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 08.djvu/321

 PHELPS

PHELPS

text books for schools, adopted in the west (1880); History of Madagascar 1884), and Tlie Fables of Florian (1888). See " Memoir " by C.H. C. Howard (1887). He died in Guilford, Vt., Feb. 2, 1885.

PHELPS, Philip, clergyman and educator, was born in Albany, N.Y., July 12, 1826 ; son of Philip and Hannah (Mascraft) Phelps ; grandson of John and Catherine (Conine) Phelps and of John and Jane (Wilson) Mascraft, and a descend- ant of William Phelps, who emigrated from Tewkesbury, England, and settled in Dorchester, Mass. His father was for fifty years deputy comp- troller of the state of New York. Philip Phelps, Jr., attended the Boys' Academy of Albany, N.Y., and was graduated with honor from Union college, Schenectady, N.Y., A.B., 1844, and from the New Brunswick, N.J., Theological seminary in 1849. He was the organizer of the Reformed church of Hastings-on-the-Hudson, and its pastor, 1850-59 ; principal of Holland academy, Mich., 1859-66 ; organizer and first president of Hope college, Holland, Mich., 1866-78 ; founder of Hope church, and lector in the Theological sem- inary at Holland. He engaged in literary work, 1879-86, and was pastor of the Reformed churches of North Blenheim and Breakabeen, Classis of Schoharie, N.Y., 1886-96. He was married in 1853 to Margaret Anna Jordan, and of his four children, Frances Few Chrystie married Dr. J. A. Otte, missionary to Amoy, China, and the Rev. Philip T. Phelps became pastor of the first Re- formed Church of Ghent, N.Y. Philip Phelps, Sr., received the honorary degree of D.D. from New York university in 1864, and that of LL.D. from Hope college, Mich., in 1894. He was elected to the presidency of the general synod of the Reformed Church of America in 1864, and to that of the particular synod of 1893. He died in Albany, N.Y., Sept. 4, 1896.

PHELPS, Samuel Shethar, jurist, was born in Litchfield, Conn., May 13, 1793; son of Capt. John and Sally (Shethar) Phelps ; grandson of Edward and Hannah (Marsh) Phelps, and a descendant of William Phelps, the immigrant, Windsor, Conn., 1635. He was graduated at Yale, A.B., 1811, A.M., 1814, and served in the war of 1812, in the ranks at Burlington and Plattsburg, and afterward as a paymaster ; was admitted to the bar in 1815, and settled in prac- tice in Middlebury, Vt. He was a member of the Vermont legislature, 1821-32 ; of the council of censors in 1827, and of the governors' council in 1831. He was judge of the supreme court of Vermont, 1832-38, a member of the state senate, 1838-51, and was appointed to the U.S. senate in 1853, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of William Upham. He served until March 4, 1854, but was refused admission at the next session on account of his intemperate habits. He was a

member of the committees on claims and Indian affairs, made several notable speeches in condem- nation of slaverj^ and was a member of the select committee of thirteen. When the gun exploded on the frigate Princeton in 1844, Mr. Phelps was a visitor on board, and narrowly escaped death. Li 1854 he retired to private life, although he still continued to practise law. He published an Address on the Council of Censors (1827) ; Speech on the Tariff Bill (1844) ; Speech on the Oregon Question (1848). He died in Middlebury, Vt., March 25, 1855.

PHELPS, Stephen, pastor and educator, was born in Lewistown, 111., Feb. 6, 1839; son of Myron and Adaline (Rice) Phelps, and grandson of Stephen and Lois Phelps and of Asaph and Abigail Rice. He was graduated from Jefferson college. Pa., in 1859 and from the Western Theo- logical seminary, Allegheny, Pa., in 1862. He was licensed to preach by the Presbytery of Ohio in 1861 ; ordained by the Presbytery of Missom'i River in 1863 ; was in Iowa as pastor at Sioux City, 1862-64 ; Waterloo, 1864-69 ; Janesville, 1869-70 ; Cedar Valley, 1870-71 ; Vinton, 1871-81 ; president of Coe college. Cedar Rapids, 1881-87, and pastor at Council Bluffs, 1887-96. He was also professor of homiletics, pastoral theology and. church government at the Presbyterian Theological seminary, Omaha, Neb., 1891-1902, and on June 1, 1902, became pastor of the Pres- byterian church, Essex, Iowa. He was married first, June 20, 1862, to Amelia, daughter of Wil- liam McComb of Lewistown, lU., and secondly, Dec. 25, 1882, to Sarah Frances, daughter of William Thompson Miller of Vinton, Iowa. He received the degree D.D. from Lenox college and from Washington and Jefferson college in 1882.

PHELPS, Thomas Stowell, naval officer, was born in Buckfield, Maine, Nov. 2, 1822 ; son of Stephen and Elizabeth Nixon (Stowell) Phelps ; grandson of Henry and Lucy (Putnam) Phelps, and a descendant of George, who came to America with his brother, William Phelps, in 1630, and settled in Windsor, Conn., in 1635. Thomas S. Phelps was graduated from the U.S. Naval academy, passed midshipman, July 11, 1846, and was wrecked in the sloop Boston on the Island of Eleuthera, West Indies, Nov. 16, 1846. He was attached to the Folk in Mexico waters, February to April, 1847 ; was mar- ried, Jan. 25, 1848. to Margaret R., daughter of Capt. John B. Levy of Virginia ; served on the U.S. coast survey, and in the Mediterranean squadron and on the Pacific coast. 1855-56, parti- cipating in the battle of Seattle, Oregon, Jan. 26, 1856. He was promoted master, March 1. 1855 ; lieutenant, Sept. 14, 1855 ; served on the Brazil squadron and took part in the Paraguay expedi-