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ALANSON HOSMER PHEIvPS in 1897

GENEALOGY

and a ShortHistorical Narrativeof one Branchof me

Family of George Phelps

Since therounding of the Family

inAmerica by

William and George Phelps

in 1630

EDITED BY

Alanson Hosmer PhelpsSAM TORNCISCO, CHL

1597

Utf fVy

"they only deserve to be rememberedby posterity who treasure up a history of

their ancestors."Burke.

THE PHELPS COAT OF ARMS.

THE vSEAL OF THE FAMILY.

(VERY ANTIQUE.)

9

INTRODUCTION.

In assuming the task of compiling andediting a book relating to the Genealogy of thePhelps Family of our line inAmerica, since thearrival of our ancestors in 1630 to the presentdate, the editor enters upon the duty withsomediffidence.

His chief purpose indoing this has been tocollate and transcribe in regular order thematerial he has accumulated, and in this man-ner to aid inpreserving an authentic history ofthe family, not alone for his- own immediatedescendants, but for all others of the name inCalifornia, whether they belong to our line ornot.

To many this may seem a trivial and un-important thing to do, but he believes that sucha history and genealogy, imperfect and incom-plete as it must necessarily be, willprove ofgreat value inmany ways in the coming yearsof the family on the Pacific Coast.

Up to the autumn of 1888, the editor hadno positive knowledge whatever of the historyof his paternal ancestors any further back thanthebirth of his grandfather, the second EliphaletPhelps, and in fact knew but little about him;

10

lie did not even know his great grandfather'sname, and only knew ina general way that thelatter died when his son, Bliphalet, was a yonnglad.

In the year above mentioned the editoropened a correspondence with A. T. Servin,Esq., of Lenox, Mass., with the happy resultthat Mr. Servin was able to furnish him withanauthentic and well-written account of thegenealogy of his family from the year 1630.The information in this book, covering thegenealogy of the family from the coming of thethree brothers, William, George and RichardPhelps to America in 1630, down to the birth ofthe second Eliphalet Phelps, was obtainedthrough the researches of Mr. Servin in oldchurch records in Connecticut and Massachu-setts, and from numerous old family records aswell.

For a great many years Mr. Servin hasbeen very much interested in the historyof the Phelps family, his wife having beena Miss Phelps"} and there is no doubt thathe has a greater fund of information touchingthe early history of the family than any otherperson in the United States.

In addition to the information furnished byMr. Servin, the editor is under obligation toMiss Mary Bronson Phelps, the third daughterof Rev. Alanson Phelps, for many historicalfacts which are incorporated in Chapters 11, 111,IV,V, VIand VII.

11

The history here recorded since the birth ofGrandfather Bliphalet Phelps, has been obtainedby the editor from old family records which havebeen preserved by the children of GrandfatherKliphalet Phelps, to which have been addedsome legends of the family, which have comedown from generation to generation.

With this statement the editor submits thework to his' descendants, and to the care of allthe descendants of the eight generation, whosenames are recorded here, with the request forthem sacredly to preserve it,and add to it theirown family histories as the years go on.

Alanson Hosmer Phelps.

San Francisco, California, 1897.

NoTB.—

To any genealogist of the future whomay become pos-sessed witha desire to make deeper researches into the history ofthe general family of Phelps in the United States than the editorhas done, he would recommend the followingworks whichmay beconsulted withadvantage, viz.: Stiles' History of Windsor, Conn.;Brown's West Simsbury Connecticut Settlers ; Marshall's GrantAncestry; Strong Genealogy, two volumes; Porter Genealogy;Stiles' Genealogy, and Hinman's Connecticut Settlers, in twovolumes, first edition.

~*

12

CONTENTS.

INTRODUCTION.

OUR LINEAGE.

Chapter I The Line of the FamilyChapter II William Phelps the PilgrimChapter 111 George Phelps the Pilgrim

The First Generation.

Chapter IV Jacob PhelpsThe Second Generation.

Chapter V Jedediah PhelpsThe Third Generation.

Chapter VI Silas PhelpsThe Fourth Generation.

Chapter VII Eliphalet PhelpsThe Fifth Generation.

Chapter VIII Eliphalet PhelpsThe Sixth Generation.

Chapter IX The Daughters of Eliphalet PhelpsChapter X Asahel Phelps

The Seventh Generation.

Chapter XI Harvey Phelps,The Seventh Generation.

13

Contents—

Continued.

Chapter XII Asa Hosmer Phelps.The Seventh Generation.

Chapter XIII Reuben Phelps.The Seventh Generation.

Chapter XIV Alanson Phelps.The Seventh Generation.

Chapter XV The Family of Asa Hosmer Phelps.William Sydney Phelps.The Eighth Generation 1.

Chapter XIV EmmaAurelia Phelps.The Eighth Generation.

Chapter XVII Sarah Sophia Phelps.The Eighth Generation.

Chapter XVIII Augustus Eliphalet Phelps.The Eighth Generation.

Chapter XIX Alanson Hosmer Phelps.The Eighth Generation.

Chapter XX Daniel Townsend Phelps.The Eighth Generation.

Chapter XXI A Tradition of the Family.Chapter XXII....Some Reminiscenses of the Family in

England and America.

Chapter XXIII Conclusion.

14

OUR LINEAGE.

Turn back for us, relentless Time,The records of thy hoary age,

For us unroll thy leaves of scroll:Tellus our lineage.

Who was our great progenitor ?Was he a man of brawn and might ?

Beneath what clime, O Sage of Time,Did he first see the light.

Was itbeneath Italian skies,Where liquid vowels outward flow?

Where softly shines amid her vinesThe silv'ry river Po ?

Hidin the tomes of obscure lore—

Dimin the mystery of years,—

Tho' humbly born, yet nobly wornThe name of WELPHS appears.

Turn back, turn back, O Father Time,The revolutions of thy wheel,

The secrets tell which inthee dwell,—Thyhistory reveal.

The centuries e'er rolland roll."Beyond those peaks which limn the skies

Doth Nature's Art—her subtle ArtConceal a Paradise?"Beyond those hills what wonders lie?

'

. So spake Italian men of old;"We willarise, o'er yonder liesA land for us foretold."

15

O'er fen and field, o'er snowy rangeTo the richhills of purple wine,

—To German's land, whose castles stand

Along the flowing Rhine,

They came with songs and trump of hornsAnd often, down descending years,

Inmanly pride beside a brideA noble GUELPH appears.

Turn back thy book for us, O Time,And light on allits pages cast,

—Inevery line help us divine

The mysteries of the past.

The centuries sweep on and roll.Across a surging, spiteful sea

Which rears and roars along the shores

Of Britain's destiny,

Appeared a man of martial form,To bring that land enduring fame ;

With fierce desire, and eye of fireWilliam, the Conqueror, came."Iyield thee homage true," spake one,"

And when thy flag on Britain stands,

Bold Prince and great, Iplace my fateWithin thy kinglyhands."

The Kingwas gracious, and he smiled."Fetch me the book," unto a page,''Inletters clear, inscribe ithere,The PHYIXYPPS lineage."

Go forward now with us, O Time,

As we go on our pilgrimageThro' ocean gates, where grandly waits,

A richer heritage.

The centuries roll onand rollUntil the Pope's most holy eyes,

See in the air of Britain fairThe Puritans arise.

16

Dire persecutions on them fall;"We must depart —

our homes forsake—

AnEmpire found, on nobler ground,For our Redeemer's sake."

"MARY&JOHN" the good ship, spreadsHer sails tomeet the luringbreeze,

Her fabric bears both hope and fearsAcross tempestuous seas.

Atmorn they rise and bend inprayer,Atevening sing

"We seek a home,'

While on the decks, the ocean flecks,Its lace-like fringe of foam.

The irksome sea-life wearies all;They peer and watch, they yearn for land

Withpsalms and praise they grace the daysWhile sailing inGod's hand.

Atlast, at last, frommasthead comesA voice resounding shrill and clear ;

"I^and! land! Isee upon our lee!The land! the land is near!

"Allnight the ship wears slowly on,

Until the breaking of the day.They warp and weave, her anchors heave,

InMassachusetts Bay.They view a land inert, untried,

Of richness unsurpassed by Ind;Veiled indeep veins, were golden grains

Ere Eve with Satan sinned.Insolitude and loneliness

The forest comes to meet the sea ;No homes are there

—the forest air

Waits for the homes tobe.The Puritans at once debark,

While gladly every seaman helps,When to that shore, the pinnace bore,

The Pilgrim WIIJJAM PHEI.PS.

17

His faltering pen the bard resigns,And leaves the records he has found

Of WBLPHS, of GUE&PHS, PHYI^YPPS andPHBI.PS.

Oflineage renowned.Roll on, rollon, O ceaseless Time

Thy centuries from age to age,While every PHKI/PS, with ardor helps

Preserve his lineage.—AI,ANSON HOSMER PHEI.PS.

TO 'SCAPE THE TYRANNY OF HATE

OUR PILGRIM FATHERS CAME,

AND THROUGH THE WILDERNESS THEY STEPTTO EVERLASTING FAME.

I

19

GENEALOGY OF THE PHELPS FAMILY.

CHAPTER I.

THE LINE OF THE FAMILY.

Three brothers named William,George andRichard Phelps, emigrated from England andlanded at Dorchester, near Boston, Massachu-setts, in 1630, coming on the ship "Mary &John."

Of these three brothers only two were thefounders of the family in America, as Richardsoon after arriving in Dorchester went on avoyage to the West Indies, from which he neverreturned, and there is no knowledge as to hisfate.

Of the two brothers who remained in Dor-chester, the youngest, George Phelps, was ourancestor, and is called the First Generation inthis Record.

First Generation—

George Phelps, thePilgrim.

Second Generation—

-Jacob Phelps, the 6thchild of George Phelps.

"~~~"

Third Generation—

Jedediah Phelps, the7th child of Jacob Phelps.

Fourth Generation—

Silas Phelps, the sth

20

child of Jedediah Phelps.Fifth Generation

—Eliphalet Phelps, the

ist child of Silas Phelps.Sixth Generation

—Eliphalet Phelps, the

ist child of Eliphalet Phelps.Seventh Generation

—Asa Hosmer Phelps,

the 4th child of Eliphalet Phelps.Eighth Generation

—Alanson Hosmer

Phelps, the sth child of Asa Hosmer Phelps.Ninth Generation

—Albert Alanson Phelps,

the ist child of Alanson Hosmer Phelps.Ninth Generation

—Roger Sherman Phelps,

the 3d child of Alanson Hosmer Phelps.

21

CHAPTER 11.

WILLIAMPHELPS THE PILGRIM.

William, George and Richard Phelps,brothers, were born in Tewksbury, Glouces-tershire, England, where descendants of thefamily still reside.

William Phelps was born August 19th,1599. He removed from Tewksbury, (date un-known,) to Somerset or Dorsetshire, where hemarried Elizabeth

—— ,by whom he hadfive children.

Their children were :First. WilliamPhelps, born in1620, mar-

ried Isabel Wilson, June 4th, 1645.Married second time Sarah Phinney.Second. Sarah Phelps, born in 1623,

married William Wade, June 9th, 1658.Third. Samuel Phelps, born in 1625, mar-

ried Sarah Griswold, November 10, 1650.. Fourth. Nathaniel Phelps, born in 1627,

married Elizabeth Copley, September 17th, 1650.Fifth. Joseph Phelps, born in 1629, mar-

ried Hannah Newton, September 20, 1660.These were the children of WilliamPhelps

the Pilgrim, all born in England by his wifeElizabeth. After her death, of which we can

/fc>

1

22

findno record, he married for his second wifeMary Dover, by whom he had two children.They were married at Windsor, Conn., (no date).She is said to have been a fellow passenger inthe "Mary &John."

Their children were :First. Timothy Phelps, born in Windsor,

Conn., August 1639, married Mary Griswold.Second. Mary Phelps, born in Windsor,

Conn., March 1644, married Thomas Barber.The following is taken from old family

records and letters :"AuldWilliamPhyllypps came to America

in the ship'Mary & John,' Captain John

Squeb, which sailed from Plymouth, England,on March 20th, 1630 (Old Style). Itwas a shipof 400 tons burthen and brought over 140 pas-sengers from the Southern Counties of England,who landed at Dorchester, on the Coast ofMassachusetts on the 30th day of May, 1630."

They were Pilgrims and were driven fromtheir fatherland, not by earthly want, not bylove of adventure, but they came to seek a landwhere they could worship God in accordancewith the dictates of their own consciences. Theyhad been organized into a church at Plymouth,and made choice of the Rev. John Warham aspastor, and the Rev. Mr.Maverick as teacher.Mr.Clapp, one of the passengers, writes: "Wecame by the good hand of the Lord through thedeep comfortably, having preaching and ex-pounding of the Word every day for seventy

23

days by our ministers—

a ten-weeks' protractedmeeting."

The following is taken from "Stiles' His-tory of Windsor, Conn.:"

'

"Auld William Phyllypps was one of thefirst settlers and grantees of land at Dorchester.He applied for Freemanship October 30th, 1634,and came to Windsor in the spring of 1636,whither his brother George is understood tohave preceded him. He came to Dorchester(near Boston) in 1630, with the Rev. Mr.War-ham, of whose' church he, with his wife Eliza-beth, were members. The superfluous letters inthe name were dropped during the reign ofEdward the VI." He was a gentleman of opu-lence, leaving a large estate in Staffordshire,England, which, of course, reverted to theBritish Crown.

Williamand George Phelps resided inDor-chester up to 1635.

During these five years their names wereoften referred to in the vDocumentary Historyof Massachusetts Colony" as "RepresentativeMen."

In the fall of 1635, with others, theyremoved to the founding of the town of Wind-sor, in the beautiful valley of the Connecticut.

Here William became one of the mostprominent and highly respected men of thecolony. He was a member of the first courtheld inConnecticut in 1636 ;also of the courtof 1637, which declared war with the Pequots;

24

a Magistrate (Senator) from 1638 until theclose of1642.

In1643 he was Foreman of the first GrandJury; Deputy in 1645, '46, '47, '48, '49, '51 and'52. In 1658 he was again made Magistrate,which office he held for four years after. In1661, in company with Mr. Wells of Hartford,they were appointed a committee on Lying.He was an excellent, pious and upright man inpublic and private life, and was a pillar of bothChurch and State. In those days the title of"

Mister"

was given to only a few, and was con-sidered a mark of respect and honor; it wasalways given to him.

He served twenty sessions inall as a Mag-istrate. He was married twice and had seven

children. His second wife, Mary Dover, diedNovember 27th, 1675.

He lived about thirty-seven years in Wind-sor, and died there on July 14th, 1672, aged 73years.

With many other pilgrim fathers he helpedto lay broad and deep the foundations of thisnow ocean-bound Republic; and his grave,although searched for, is unknown to this day.

Extract from an old letter, the writer ofwhich is unknown :

"I saw the place where 'Auld William'lived. The house was standing until a fewyears ago. Another dwelling, not far off, isoccupied by one of his descendants on the sameground. It is still called 'Phelps' Hill.' The

25

view is fine and extensive. An old elm treestands on the opposite side of the public road,whose branches extend across, touching thegrass, and forms a complete bower."

From a letter of William Calvin Phelps ofthe seventh generation, written to Oliver Sey-mour Phelps of Portland, Oregon, dated at Win-terset, lowa, July ist, 1881, the followingextract is made :"

You made inquiry about the piece of anancient bedstead whichIhad obtained. Accord-ing to the tradition, to which Iam indebted forall my information respecting it,it was broughtto Massachusetts from old England in1630, andthen to Windsor, Conn., by William Phelps,in1635.

"He purchased a large tract of land threemiles in length (of

"Sehat

"a Pauquanick

Sachem, for four "trucking coats," in 1635,though this Indian deed bears date March 31st,1665) inWindsor, in what is now PoquonnuckSociety, and built a house on a littleknollabouthalf way from the Farmington river to thepresent road to Rainbow."

The cellar of his house is stillpointed outby those of his descendants that remain, one ormore branches of whom settled near him, andthrough them have come down in unbrokenline, the bedstead, a large chest, a pair of tongsand a coat of arms."

The coat of arms was given to LauncelotManfield and came into his family by marriage.

26

Hiram Phelps, a cousin of my father, has hadthem inhis possession, tillhis death, eight orten years ago, since about 1800."

The coat of arms and the tongs are now inthe possession of his daughter, Mrs. ElizaKinney, of Winsted, who prizes them highly asrelics. The foot railof the bedstead was all Icould find of it. The old chest, though in arickety condition, is nearly whole, and remainsin the old home, where it has been from timelong ago."

It can be truthfully said of these Phelpsbrothers and their descendants that they are aroyal family

—producing statesmen, princely

merchants, famous inventors, literary andpoetical men, and men of liberal and phil-thropic ideas, comparing favorably with anyof the first families of America. PresidentHayes, on his maternal side, was a Phelpsj andthe United States Minister to the Court of St.James under President Cleveland's first term,the Hon. E. J. Phelps of Vermont, is adescendant of William.

Many other men of both branches haveserved as senators, governors, and representa-tives, withhonor and distinction.

Of princely merchants of the line of GeorgePhelps, we have Anson G. Phelps, RoyalPhelps, John Jay Phelps and many others of thisline. The history of the family shows that itcan be traced as a liberal family, and always forfreedom, from the Welphs of Italy from the 6th

27

to the 9th century. Later in the Guelphs ofGermany from the 9th to the nth century, andfrom there to England from the nth to the 12thcentury, probably with William the Con-queror, where we identify them as respectableland-holders, as Phellepps, Philips, Phyllypps,Phelpes and finally as now Phelps.

William Phelps of this record was born inTewksbury, August 19th, 1599.

He was the son of WilliamPhelps, born inTewksbury, August 14th, 1560. He wasBailiff (Mayor) there in1697..

Parish Register Entry: "Lent, 1599. Igraunted a license to William Phelpes, beingextremely sicke, to eafneshe, which license toendure no longer tyme than during his sick-nes."'

RiCurteiS, Curate of Tewksburie.

For the benefit of all who may desire tolearn something of the ancestry of the family inEngland, before the emigration of WilliamPhelps the Pilgrim and his two brothers toAmerica, the editor inserts here the record of thefamily of WilliamPhelps, the father of WilliamPhelps the Pilgrim.

William Phelps, born in Tewksbury,August 14th, 1560. Married. Name of wifeand date of marriage unknown.

Their children were:First. Mary Phelps, born September 4th,

1587.

28

Second. Dorothy Phelps, born February28th, 1595.

Third. WilliamPhelps, born August 19th,1599.

Fourth. James Phelps, born July 14th,1601.

Fifth. Elizabeth Phelps, born May 9th,1603.

Sixth. George Phelps, born 1605.Seventh. Richard Phelps, born December

26th, 1619.William Phelps, the father of William

Phelps the Pilgrim, was. the son of JamesPhelps, born inTewksbujry'Sbout the year 1520,where, beneath the shadow of the venerableAbbey Church, built by Fitz Hamon, A. D.1105, many of the Phelps family lieinterred.

Matthew Grant, the founder of the familyof General **U. S. Grant, in America, came to

j.

America in the ship"

Mary&John"

and landedat Dorchester, Massachusetts, in May, 1630.With many others he went to Connecticut andassisted in founding the town of Windsor in1635, probably withour ancestors, William andGeorge Phelps.*

*Personal Memoirs of U.S. Grant, vol.I,pages 17 and 18.

29

CHAPTER 111.

GEORGE PHELPS THE PILGRIM.

George Phelps, the sixth child of WilliamPhelps, of Tewksbury, England, was born inTewksbury in1605. With his brothers, Williamand Richard, he came to America and landedat Dorchester, Mass., inMay, 1630.

In the fallof163 5- he removed to the found-ing of the town of Windsor, Conn. He marriedtwice, his first wife being Philura Randall,daughter of Philip Randall (date of marriagegiven as 1637).

By her he had five children. She was borninEngland, and died April20th, 1648.

The children were :First. Isaac Phelps, born in Windsor,

Conn., August 20th, 1638.Second. Abraham Phelps, born in Wind-

sor, Conn., January 22d, 1642. He was adoptedby his cousin, Abraham Randall.

Third. , born in Windsor,Conn., 1647

Fourth , born in Windsor,Conn., 1647

Fifth. Joseph Phelps, born in Windsor,

30

Conn., June 24th, 1647. Married Mary, daughterofJohn and Mary Porter.

The second wife of George Phelps was awidow when he espoused her, a Mrs. FrancesDewey

—her maiden name unknown. By her

he had three children.First. Jacob Phelps (his sixth child), born

in Windsor, Conn., February 7th, 1650.Second. John Phelps (his seventh child),

born in Windsor, Conn., February 15th, 165 1."

Third. Nathaniel Phelps (eighth child),born in Windsor, Conn., December 9th, 1653.

By the Colonial Records it appears thatGeorge Phelps was a representative man in thecolony from 1658 to 1663; Says "Trumbull'sHistory of Connecticut:" "He held the officeof Magistrate, or as then called, 'Assistant.'

"This then constituted the upper house of

the Assembly, and at that time was the SuperiorCourt of the colony. In1676 he removed withhis family and his second wife to Westfield,Mass., a new town set off from Springfield,Mass. Here hedied July 9th, 1678.

•

31

CHAPTER IV.

JACOB PHELPS, THE SECOND GENERATION.

Jacob Phelps, the sixth child of GeorgePhelps, and the first by his second wife, wasborn inWindsor, Conn., February 7th, 1650.

He married Dorothy Ingersol, May" 3d,1672. She was born in Hartford, Conn., in1654, and was the second child of John andDorothy (Lord) Ingersol, who settled in West-field about the time the Phelps family movedthere. Jacob Phelps removed to Westfield withhis father, where he settled, and he died thereon the 6th of October, 1689, aged 39 years.

His children were :First. Dorothy Phelps, born inWestfield,

Mass., October, 1673, and died February, 1674.Second. Dorothy Phelps, born in West-

field, Mass., May 20th, 1675. Married EdwardKibbie.

Third. Hannah Phelps, born in Westfield,Mass., November 16th, 1677. Married JohnKibbie.

Fourth. Israel Phelps, born inWestfield,Mass., April3d, 1681.

Fifth. Benjamin Phelps, born inWestfield,Mass., January Bth, 1683.

32

Sixth. Joseph Phelps, born in Westfield,Mass., August sth, 1686.

Seventh. Jedediah Phelps, born in West-field,Mass., December 7th, 1688.

Of the daughters, Dorothy second, andHannah married brothers.

The four sons all settled inLebanon, Conn.Israel Phelps purchased land there January30th, 1702, and the other brothers soon after.He lived there but a short time, when heremoved to Enfield, Conn.

There are full records of his descendants.Benjamin settled in Mansfield, Conn., about1710, where some ofhis descendants still reside.

Joseph Phelps lived and died in Lebanon,Conn.

33

CHAPTER V.

JEDEDIAH PHELPS, THE THIRD GENERATION.

Jedediah Phelps was the seventh child ofJacob and Dorothy (Ingersol) Phelps, and wasborn inWestfield, Conn., December 7th, 1688.

He married Elizabeth Janes (no date ofmarriage given). She was the daughter of AbelJanes and Mary (Judd) Janes.

She died in Lebanon, Conn., April 10th,1757.

Jedediah Phelps settled in Lebanon earlyin life with his three brothers, where we findmany transactions in the purchase and sale ofreal estate by these brothers. The first recordfound of Jedediah Phelps is that Joseph andJedediah Phelps (the latter then about 21 yearsold) purchased of Joseph Dewey for the sum of39 pounds 10 shillings current money of NewEngland, a parcel of land containing seventyacres, witha common right of thirty-five acres,the other tract containing five acres (the houselot).

Deed dated May 9th, 1709, recorded Vol. 2,

page 132.He bought of Abel Janes (his father-in-law)

several parcels of land—

one of forty acres, one

34

of five and one of eight acres ; deed dated Jan-uary 17th, 1717 ; recorded Vol. 3, page 61, withseveral other transactions. He died inLebanon,Conn., February 13th, 1752.

His children were :

First. Elizabeth Phelps, born inLebanon,Conn., December 3d, 1709.

Second. Abigail Phelps, born in Lebanon,Conn., November 4th, 1710. Married first T.Henry.

Third. Jacob Phelps, born in Lebanon,Conn., April16th 1713.

Fourth. Paul Phelps, born in Lebanon,Conn., April25th, 1717.

Fifth. Silas Phelps, born in Lebanon,Conn., January 17th, 1720.

Sixth. Jemima Phelps, born in Lebanon,Conn., January 26, 1724, died July 5, 1739.

Seventh. Lucy Phelps, born in Lebanon,Conn, (no date given). Married John Lyman.

Eighth. Jedediah Phelps, born inLebanon,Conn., June 20th, 1727.

Ninth. Eleanor Phelps, born in Lebanon,Conn., (no date given). Married Crocker.

Of this family Jacob died in1751. He hadfour children in all

—all daughters. Paul had

several daughters, and only one son who died in1752.

Jedediah had two children who died young.He died in1752.

<%

Itwould appear that all the children of Jede-diah Phelps except his son Silas, and Lucy or

35

Lucia, and Eleanor, who married Crocker,were all the children living at the time of theirfather's death.

From Probate Court Records in 1754, Vol.5, page 89, it would appear that the estate ofJedediah Phelps was divided between hisdaughters Lucia, Eleanor Crocker and Silas.

r

36

CHAPTER VI.

SILAS PHELPS, THE FOURTH GENERATION.

Silas Phelps, the fifth child of Jedediahand Elizabeth (Janes) Phelps, was born inLebanon, Conn., January 27th, 1720. MarriedHannah Dewey Dec. 22d, 1742. She was thedaughter of William Dewey, born May 14th,1723, and died at Lebanon, Conn., October 24th,1785, aged 62 years.

Silas Phelps livedon his father's homestead.We find several records of purchases of realestate. In1787 it appears that he became in-volved inlitigation, and several executions werelevied against his estate

—one infavor of Thomas

Brattle of Boston, for 193 pounds, 13 shillingsand 9 pence, November 6th, 1787, see Vol. 15page 21. Also one infavor of William Williamsfor 21 pounds, 13 shillings and 7 pence, Dec. 19,1787, Vol. 15 page 35.

About 1790 he removed withhis sons Silasand Jedediah to Oneida County, New York,where other records of his family say he died,in 1816, aged 96 years. Reference is made tothis familyin the

"Annals of Oneida County,

N. Y."His children were:

37

First. Bliphalet Phelps, born in Lebanon,Conn., November sth, 1745.

Second. Anna Phelps, born in Lebanon,Conn., April27th, 1747.

Third. Silas Phelps, born in Lebanon,Conn., May 15th, 1751.

Fourth. Jedediah Phelps, born inLebanon,Conn., April23d, 1753.

Fifth. Jacob Phelps, born in Lebanon,Conn., January 30th, 1755.

Sixth. Joseph Phelps, born in Lebanon,Conn., May 27th, 1758.

Of this family, Silas, Jedediah and Josephsettled in Oneida County, New York, theirfather Silas going with them there, where hedied in1816 as previously stated.

38

CHAPTER VII.

EUPHALET PHELPS, THE FIFTH GENERATION.

Eliphalet Phelps was the first child ofSilas and Hannah (Dewey) Phelps, and wasborn in Windsor, Conn., November sth, 1743;baptized December 18th, 1743; married Mehita-ble Hyde, daughter of Bezaliel and Mehitable(Porter) Hyde (no date of marriage given). Eli-phalet Phelps settled inLebanon on the home-stead ofhis father, where he had two children.

His children were :First. Eliphalet Phelps, born inLebanon,

Conn., May nth, 1765.Second. Hannah Phelps, born in Lebanon,

Conn., May nth, 1765.Eliphalet and Hannah were twinsIn the church records it appears that Eli-

phalet and Hannah Phelps were baptizedNovember 24th, 1765.

At what date Eliphalet Phelps died ourrecords fail to show.

The above Hannah Phelps married JosiahWoodward. They settled in New York State,and had two children, Benjamin and LucyWoodward.

Lucy Woodward married Captain Asa

39

Hosmer, by whom she liad two daughters andone son.

Her first daughter, Lucy Woodward Hos-mer, married James Perkins.

Her second daughter, Sophia Eliza Hosmer,married Ludyah Robinson, from whom aredescended the Robinson family of New Yorkand San Francisco.

"Aunt Hosmer," as she was affectionatelycalled by the children ofBHphalet Phelps of thesixth generation, was a woman very muchbeloved by them, and by her marriage to CaptainAsa Hosmer, the names of Asa and Asa Hosmerwere introduced into the family of the seventhgeneration.

The great-grandfather of the editor, BH-phalet Phelps of the fifth generation, served inthe war of the revolution, serving one month

—as quite common at that time, when at any emer-gency men were enlisted to serve for such lengthof time as might be necessary

—some only for

three or six days, others for one or two months,as the case might be. He served in theEighteenth Regiment of Connecticut Militia,Captain Forward's company.

This regiment was detailed for service inNew York State from August 24th, 1776, toSeptember 24th, 1776.

His two brothers, Silas and Jedediah Phelps,also served in the revolutionary army. Silaswas in the Seventeenth Continental ; was a ser-

40

geant, also a pensioner, and the name ofJedediahis found in the Lexington alarm list.

The Register, published by the State ofConnecticut containing the names ofallher citi-zens who served in the revolution, contains the•»jnames of seventy-six soldiers of the name ofPhelps, who enlisted from Connecticut alone.

As Eliphalet Phelps is the direct ancestorof all the children of our line, we, the descend-ants of Eliphalet Phelps of the fifthgeneration,are eligible to membership in the

"Societies of

the Sons and Daughters of the American Revo-lution."

We are also eligible to join the "Society ofColonial Wars," through the following ances-tors :

George Phelps, member of the HartfordCompany, First Troop, 1658; member of"Coun-cil ofTen."

Hugh Calkins, 1650 and '51, deputy to theGeneral Court of Massachusetts Bay.

Abel Janes, soldier in "Falls Fight," 1676.Nathaniel Porter, member of army inexpe-

dition against Canada, 1708 and '9, and died at

Fort Ann, Washington county, New York.

41

CHAPTER VIII.

ELIPHALET PHELPS, THE SIXTH GENERATION.

Eliphalet Plielps was the first child andonly son of Eliphalet and Mehitable (Hyde)Plielps, and was born in Lebanon, Conn., Maynth, 1765.

He married Mehitable Dodge, daughter ofBezaleil and Mehitable (Porter) Dodge, born inLebanon, Conn., December 2d, 1766.

Eliphalet Phelps removed from Lebanon toNew Marlboro, Mass., but the exact year hemade the change in his residence is now un-known, but it is supposed to have been about theyear 1790, possibly a few years later.

By his one wife, Mehitable Dodge, he hadfourteen children, of whom two died in infancy,and twelve lived to grow to manhood and¦womanhood.

At what particular places they were re-spectively born is now uncertain, but as it issupposed that he moved to New Marlboro in1790, all except Hannah, his eldest child, wereborn inNew Marlboro.

Alanson Phelps, the thirteenth child of thefamily, has left on record the fact that he wasborn inNew Marlboro, Mass.

42

Eliphalet Phelps emigrated fromMassachusetts to the Western Reserve, in the north-eastern part of Ohio, probably inthe year 1818,and brought with him his wife and all of hisliving children, so far as known, with the excep-tion of three

—Asahel, Asa Hosmer and thesecond Anrelia.

From a letter received from C. L. Wilcox,Esq., of West Williamsfield, Ashtabula County,Ohio, by the editor, dated May 4th, 1893, re-garding the date of Grandfather Phelps' arrivalin Ohio, we learn as follows:

11 Your favor of Aprilsth was duly received.Ihave delayed my reply thus long, hoping tobe able to furnish you something definite as tothe date of your Grandfather Phelps' arrival inWayne. Thus far Ihave found no person orrecords to show for a certainty such date.

"The old records of the First Congrega-tional Church of Wayne and Williamsfield(which are inmy possession), organized in1816,show that your grandfather joined this societyin 1818, at the meeting on the nth day ofDecember, 1818. This would almost seem to fixthe date of his arrival sometime during theseason of that year, as people acted promptly inthose days, especially inreligious matters."

Atthat time that part of Ohio was a com-parative wilderness, the township of Wayne,Ashtabula County, having been first settled bywhite men in 1803. When first opened tosettlement by white men, that country was an

43

unbroken forest for hundreds of miles, com-mencing probably in the eastern part of theState of New York and extending westward tothe verge of the western part of the State ofIndiana.

By trade Grandfather Phelps was a black-smith, and for many years he carried on thatbusiness after his arrival inOhio, and as long ashe was able to follow the occupation. In thosedays people did not have the convenient kitchenutensils which we have now, and they had todepend upon their local artisans to supply themwithnecessary articles, such as butcher knives,forks, broiling irons, pot hooks, &c. He wasvery expert in making such light and usefularticles, and during the latter years of his lifehe used to make a great many, which he dis-posed of to his friends and customers in thetowns around. There are a few samples ofhis work stillpreserved inour family.

As stated above, the children of Eliphaletand Mehitable Phelps were fourteen. Thefollowing are the names of the fourteenchildren, with the dates of the birth and deathof each of them:

First. Hannah Phelps, born March 12th,1789, died August 16th, 1828.

Second. Asahel Phelps, born March 16th,1791, died March 12th, 1844.

Third. Harvey Phelps, born August 19th,1793, died August 16th, 1853.

44

Fourth. Asa Hosmer Phelps, born April20th, 1795, died December 14th, 1835.

Fifth. Reuben Phelps, born February27th, 1797, died March 3d, iB6O.

Sixth, Harriet Phelps, born February20th, 1799, died November 24th, 1852.

Seventh. Melinda Phelps, born October7th, 1801, died December 14th, 1842.

Eighth. Dyantha Phelps, born November2d, 1804, died August 16th, 1828.

Ninth. Aurelia Phelps, born November28th, 1804, died April

—,1805.Tenth. Aurelia Phelps second, born March

22d, 1806, died February 19th, 1880.Eleventh. Mary Porter Phelps, born

November 21, 1808, died September 15th, 1828.Twelfth. Alanson Woodward Phelps, born

June—,1810, died October 10th, 1810.

Thirteenth. Alanson Phelps, born Feb-ruary 10th, 18 12,1 2, died November sth, 1889.

Fourteenth. Ann Eliza Phelps, bornDecember 14th, 1814, died April 30th, 1840.

The following are the marriages of thechildren of Eliphalet and Mehitable (Dodge)Phelps:

Hannah Phelps married Harvey Walter inNew Marlboro, Mass., December

—,1813.Asahel Phelps married Rhoda Norton in

New Marlboro, Mass., December 15th, 1817.Asa Hosmer Phelps married Margery

McCoun, on Long Island, N. V.,July 21st, 1819.

45

Harvey Phelps married Betsy Meacham inOhio, November 9th, 1820.

Reuben Phelps married Olive Leanord inOhio, February 4th, 1819.

Melinda Phelps married Gamaliel WilcoxinOhio, April18th, 1825.

Dyantha Phelps married Pliny Case inOhio, February

—, 1825.Aurelia Phelps second, married Pliny Case

in Ohio, June 19th, 1827.Mary Porter Phelps married Linus H.

Jones in Ohio, November Bth, 1827.Alanson Phelps married Mary Ann Bron-

son inOhio, August 31st, 1841.Alanson Phelps married Jane Bliza Bns-

worth in Connecticut, September 29th, 1859.Ann Eliza Phelps married Dryden Creesy

in Ohio, November 20th, 1834.Grandfather was a religious man, who

feared God and taught his children the faith ofJesus Christ. He and his family were Congre-gationalists, with perhaps two or three excep-tions, and, so far as the writer is aware, all ofhis children, with one exception, were churchmembers.

The church referred to in the extract copiedfrom the letter ofMr.Wilcox already mentioned,was located in the eastern part of the town ofWayne, and was one of the earliest churches, ifnot the very earliest church, organized in thattown. This edifice had a bell, one of the first

46

churches inall that part of Ohio to secure a bellwith which to call the people to worship.

Owing to a change in the population of thetown as it grew older and larger, and tothe establishment of other churches nearerthe center of the town, the organization thatused to worship in this building was finallydisbanded, and the old meeting-house many-years ago was remodeled into a dwelling house,still standing, at last accounts.

In the old burying-ground attached to thischurch

—which is stillpreserved and cared for—

rest the remains of Grandfather and Grand-mother Phelps, Aunt Harriet, Aunt Malinda,Aunt Mary Porter and others of the family,whom the writer is now unable to name.

Many years ago, Uncle Alanson Phelpserected a plain marble headstone over theremains of his father and mother. Thestone is of double width, and the style andinscription upon itare as delineated inthe sketchon the following page :

OUR PARENTS.

EUPHALET PHELPS MAHITABEL PHELPSDIED DIED

March 10, 1842. January 22, 1840.

They Taught Us To Love Jesus

Their Children Arise Up And Call

Them Blessed.

This Stone Is Erected By Their

Youngest Son.

•

47

DO THEY REMEMBER US?

Above these silent shrines of sacred dustI^et Palms arise

—let flowers of every form

Adorn these lowlymounds with colors warm,

And blend, with earthly grief, a heavenly trust.

Do those who sleep, inspirit see us here?From out the depths of the ethereal skies,Do they look down with sympathizing eyes

Upon us, as we struggle onward here?

Do they remember us where lifeis love?In that pure life

—in that celestial sphere

Do they remember our communion here?We know they do love us, for God is love.

Were itGod's Will,would they return againAnd enter all this field of worldly strife,That fills the measure of this mortal life,

To earn its fruit—

its recompense of pain?

We ask these queries, yet no answers come,For God hath closed the high and pearly GateAnd we must linger on, and wait and wait

UntilHe kindly calls,"

Mychild, come home."

48

Grandfather Eliphalet Phelps was a man ofmedium height, about 5 feet 8 or 9 inches tall,as the writer remembers him, of stout build, ofa light and florid complexion, and must haveweighed inhis prime from 180 to 200 pounds.The writer went to Ohio to live with his AuntAurelia (Phelps) Case, and to be brought up byher, arriving there inhis sixth year

—the year

of 1837—and he well remembers not only his

paternal grandparents, but many of his unclesand aunts.

Grandfather died in his great arm-chairbefore the fire in the house of his daughterMalinda (Phelps) Wilcox. Grandmother Phelpswas a large and tall woman, and of a dark com-plexion.

There used to be stories extant in Ohiorelating to the peculiarities of Eliphalet Phelpsin reference to the rapidity withwhich he ate hismeals. In those days people had to live in aprimitive way, and had to eat what they couldraise on their farms.

Among other dishes much affected was thehomely but nutritious dish of "mush andmilk."

Of this dish it was said of EliphaletPhelps,

"That he could eat a bowl of mush and

milk with a spoon quicker than it could beemptied inany other way."

49

CHAPTER IX.

THE DAUGHTERS OF EUPHALET PHELPS.

Hannah Phelps, the first child of Kliphaletand Mehitable Phelps, was born (probably) inLebanon, Conn., March 12th, 1789.

The record says that she married HarveyWalter in 1813. At this very early date shemnst have been married in Massachusetts, andthe opinion of the writer is that she accom-panied her husband soon after to the then faraway wilds of Ohio, preceding the family of herfather, possibly by two or three years, and itmay have been through her influence that thefamily of her father was induced to emigrate toOhio.

Her husband settled on a farm one mileand a half south of the centre of the town ofWayne, Ashtabula County.

By him she had two daughters, namedCornelia and Aurilla.

There is but little information obtainableregarding this aunt, and yet we may infer thather life at that period in the history of Ohiowas a hard one

—a pioneer life

—as the place

where her husband commenced to make a homewas in a dense and heavy forest of trees which

50

had to be cut down and burned up before a cropof any kind could be raised upon the land. Thestruggle to live must have been a hard one, andher fortitude must have been great to havewithstood the toilof that early pioneer life. Shedied inWayne, August 28th, 1828.

Cornelia Walter married a man by the nameof Collins Jennings.

They lived together for a few years, andhad one or two daughters.

One day Mr. Jennings left his home andwas never seen or heard of afterwards. Whatbecame of him was never known.

AurillaWalter married a man by the nameof Lamb, by whom she had three or fourchildren

—all boys

—the last two being a pair of

twins.Soon after their birth Aurilladied.Harriet Phelps, the sixth child and second

daughter of Bliphalet and Mehitable (Dodge)Phelps was born in New Marlboro, Mass., Feb-ruary 20th, 1799. Her early life was passed inher native State, and she accompanied her par-ents to Ohio when they went to that State. Atthe age of about twenty years she had the mis-fortune to lose one of her limbs from the effectsof a white swelling on the knee, and ever after-wards she walked on crutches, as at that earlydate the art ofmaking useful cork limbs had notreached the perfection that itnow has. Althoughafflicted in this serious manner, she alwaysmaintained a genial and cheerful disposition,

51

and was a most accomplished companion andconversationalist, having more real intellectualability than any other daughter of GrandfatherPhelps, so far as the editor's knowledge extends.

She early learned the tailoring trade, andwas an expert artist in that business. Shecould take a piece of broadcloth and cut, makeand press a full suit of clothes for a gentleman,and fit him in good style, as well as any mantailor of those days.

She was well and favorably known in allthe towns around where she lived, and she usedto sew for many of the best families every year,going to their houses and spending from oneweek to a month at a time, and continued to doso as long as her health and strength permitted.

In her religious belief she was an ardentand enthusiastic Christian of the old New Eng-land Puritan school of practice, believing mostthoroughly in the sins of card-playing anddancing, and in keeping the Sabbath day in avery strict manner. Iremember her well, asIwas inmy twenty-first year when she passed tothe higher life.

She was a very warm and affectionate sisterto her youngest brother, Alanson Phelps, and itwas through her assistance that he was enabledto obtain a collegiate education, and no doubt itwas also through her influence that he finallydecided to enter the Christian ministry.

For many years after the death of her par-ents she made her home with her sister, Aurelia

52

Case, and she died at the house of the latter inGreene, Trumbull county, Ohio, in November,1852. Her remains were taken to the town ofWayne, where the funeral services were held,and she was buried in the old burying-groundalready mentioned, and was laid to rest besideher father and mother, and her numerous rela-tives who are sleeping there. She was a womanany man might be proud to call his aunt. Shewas always desirous that Ishould live anupright and honest life,and always taught melessons of strict morality and integrity.

It is a pleasure to me after the silence ofthe many years that have passed since she diedto lay this littlechaplet of affection on her tomb.There is a small, white marble headstone stand-ing over her grave, which was erected by herbrother-in-law, Linus H.Jones, who was alwaysan ardent and warm friend of the Phelps family,because of the love he cherished for his firstwife,Mary Porter Phelps, and he was always afriend indeed to Aunt Harriet.

The stone he erected is a plain marble slab,is in the form delineated on the opposite page,and has an inscription as copied thereon:

In the possession of the editor is an oldletter written by Harriet Phelps to her sister,Aurelia Case, dated Oberlin, Ohio, May 12th,1841, an extract from which is copied below toshow the beautiful character of her mind. Thechirography is of the finest and most delicateorder, and yet ofa clear and flowing style :

OUR FRIEND.

MISS HARRIET PHELPSDIED

November 24, 1852.

Aged 54 Years.

A Daughter's HeartA Sister's Love

—A Light On Earth—

Her Crown Above.

Hers Was Gold Tried In The

Fire.

53

"Dear Sister Case:Your letter should have been answered,

before, but as Ihave time to write but seldom,willnot waste itinuseless apologies.Iwilltake up the subjects of your letter in

their order.You speak ofdear father as very feeble, and

probably near death.Ilove my dear father, as you well know;

but if,as you say, he is stretching the wings offaith, and waiting with earnest desire to depart,let himgo, mydear sister; and the Lord prepareus to follow him.

The sooner he is introduced into that blestsociety, the better, ifitbe the willof the Lord.Ishould love to see my dear father once more,but the Lord has brought me to this place, andmy beloved relatives are some one hundred, andsome several hundreds of miles from me, andyet Iwant no good thing, but feel that 'all iswell.'

If the Lord should call away every dearrelative of mine that remains on earth, Ishallnot want a friend whileJesus lives.

AndifHe first prepares my beloved friends,and then takes them to His bosom, IwillpraiseHis name forever. Ido not want to see mydear father die! Ido not want to see him inhis coffin!

Myvery soul died within me when Isawmy beloved mother there, and yet there was nota single moment in which Iwas not perfectlywilling the Lord should take her to Himself.But she was my mother!Ihad no other, nor wouldIhave.

*But the

Lord liveth, and blessed be my Rock.' Ah!here is an unfailing friend. And then Iam

54

surrounded withother friends, the most valuableand lovely. Yes; relatives, 'for whosoeverdoeth the WillofmyFather which isinheaven,the same is my brother, and sister, and mother?O blessed relationship to the most noble family,in earth and heaven. You say you 'want tofeel entire submission.' Do you not ? Can theLord make any mistakes? You answer 'No.'Then let Him do what He will. You say youwere ''overwhelmed with sorrow at the prospect ofbeing left alone.' IthinkIcan truly say noth-ing overwhelms me with sorrow, but the hidingof my Father's face.

Ihave had but one letter from Alanson,which was written in January. Brother Creesyhas written me twice. His letters and yoursare allIhave received from home.

Love to all who love our Lord.Harriet."

Malinda Phelps, the seventh child and thirddaughter of Bliphalet and Mehitable Phelps,was born in New Marlboro, Mass., October 7th,1801.

With her parents she came to Ohio andlived there with them until her marriage toGamaliel Wilcox, on the 18th of April, 1825.The father of Gamaliel Wilcox was one of thevery earliest settlers of the township of Wayne,the family being one of sterling character.Uncle Gamaliel lived on a farm only a shortdistance from where Grandfather Phelps lived,and his farm was very near the old church sooften mentioned. When Ifirst went to OhioI

*******

55

was taken to the house of Uncle Gamaliel, andthere Ifirst met any of my father's kindred inOhio, except having seen my Uncle Alanson atHudson on the journey there.Iremember Aunt Malinda as a very kind

and affectionate woman, who was much belovedbyallher relatives. She never had any children,or at least none that lived to any age, ifshe hadany at all.

Grandfather Phelps died in March, 1842,and Aunt Malinda died inDecember of the sameyear, so the family had great sorrow that year.

As she lived for some five years after myarrival, and as the families of the two sisters,Malinda and Aurelia, were very intimate,Isawmuch of her and became very much attached toher. Being so young, however, Icannot nowrecall very much about her personal appearance.

Dyantha Phelps, the eighth child and fourthdaughter of Eliphalet and Mehitable Phelps,was born in New Marlboro, Mass., November2d, 1804.

She also came with her parents to Ohio,and in February of the year 1825 sne wasmarried to Pliny Case, a young man, a nativeof Connecticut, who had settled in Wayne andtaken up a farm almost exactly opposite that ofHarvey Walter already alluded to. He hadbuilt a log house, and took his wife there aftertheir marriage. They had one daughter, namedJulia r but she died when very young. AuntDyantha died August 16th, 1828.

56

In the letter of Aunt Harriet, a part ofwhich has been copied, she refers as follows toher sister Dyantha: "When Iasked sisterDyantha 'if she ever felt any concern aboutlittleJulia,' she answered : 'O no! she willbetaken care of while you live, and then there isthe same God and the same promises remain.'

"

Other than what is here written the editorhas no knowledge of his Aunt Dyantha.

Aurelia Phelps, the ninth child of Eliphaletand Mehitable Phelps, was born in New Marl-boro, Mass., November 28th, 1804, and diedApril,1806.

Aurelia Phelps second, the tenth child andsixth daughter of Eliphalet and MehitablePhelps was born inNew Marlboro, Mass., March22d, 1806.

So far as known she received what educa-tion she had in New Marlboro, and it is sup-posed that, when her parents went to Ohio, shedid not accompany them, but remained inMassachusetts for a few years

—possibly to

obtain more education, as she was only about 12years old when they removed to Ohio. Aftershe became a young lady she went to the city ofNew York and spent about one year in thefamily of her favorite brother, Asa HosmerPhelps, after which she went to Ohio, arrivingthere after the death ofher sister Dyantha. Shewas a favorite sister ofher brother Asa Hosmer,and she always cherished for him a warmaffection.

57

She was married to Pliny Case in Wayne,Ohio, on the 19th day of Jnne, 1827.

Their children were:First. Alexander Case, born in Wayne,

April16th, 1828, died 1828.Second. Harriet Phelps Case, born in

Wayne, January 10th, 1833.Third. Sylvester Burt Case, born in

Wayne, December 14th, 1838, died December12th, 1839.

Margaret Malinda Case, born in Wayne,March Bth, 1842, died February 28th, 1893.

Fifth. Julia Bliza Case, born in Wayne,March Bth, 1842, died March 10th, 1842.

Sixth. Caturah Case, born in Wayne,December 20th, 1842, died February 3d, 1843.

As the writer was sent by his mother, afterthe death of his father, to live with and bebrought up by his Aunt Aurelia,his informationtouching her lifeand surroundings is still vividinhis mind.

Arriving in the fall of the year of 1837,when he was inhis sixth year, he found his auntlivingin a log house, withthe following familyaround her : In addition to her husband, therewas a younger brother of his, a young mannamed Lauren Case; there was a young girlabout 14 or 15 years of age, a daughter ofUncleHarvey Phelps, named Anna Phelps; a boyabout 11 or 12 years of age named MaverickWakeman, and her own daughter, Harriet, thennearly 5 years old. It was a new and at that

58

time a wild and hard country, with none of theappliances or refinements of civilization. Theforest trees had only been cleared off incomparatively small areas of land

—a few acres

in extent around the homes of the differentsettlers.

There were settlers living at intervals offrom one half to one mile from each otherthroughout the township. Allwere very poor,and it was hard work to make a living. Moneywas extremely scarce, and they had to deal witheach other and the stores with such products asthey could produce on their farms. The lives ofboth men and women were very hard. AuntAurelia was a tall and strong woman when inher prime, and could turn off an immenseamoui t of work of the very hardest kind.

She used to take the wool as itcame off theback of the sheep, card, comb, spin, color andweave itinto various kinds of cloth formen andwomen's wear, and then cut and make the gar-ments herself.

She also carded, spun and wove all kinds oflinen and tow cloth for men's summer wear, andwove and made table linen and towelling. Shewas also a very swift person with the knittingneedle, knitting great numbers of woolen stock-ings and mittens for winter wear. She was akind and obliging neighbor

—efficient in sick-

ness, often going at night to assist the sick anddying, and was capable of doing almost every-

59

tiling that required to be done in such tryingscenes of life.

She was an extremely conscientious womanin all matters relating to her religious life andbelief. Likeher sister Harriet already referredto, she had a horror of card-playing and dancing,and was also almost puritanical inher views ofkeeping the Sabbath day. She lived inWayneuntil the spring of1844, when her husband soldhis farm there and removed to .the township ofGreene, Trumbull county, where she lived ontheir farm until her death, on the 19th day ofFebruary, 1880.

She was a true Christian, fearless in herfaith, and when the summons came for her to goup higher, she resigned her soul into the care ofher Heavenly Father with perfect trust.

Mary Porter Phelps, the eleventh child andseventh daughter of Bliphalet and MehitablePhelps, was born in New Marlboro, Mass.,November 21st, 1808.

She accompanied her parents to Ohio. Onthe Bth day ofNovember, 1827, she was marriedto Linus H. Jones, a young man of excellentfamily of the town of Wayne. They lived inhappiness less than one year, when God calledher to a happier and purer life.

Uncle Linus once told the writer that shewas a handsome, vivacious and lovely woman.The love of Uncle Linus for the relatives ofhisyouthful wife was often manifested to them in

60

various ways during the long years ofhis usefuland active life. She leftno issue.

Ann Eliza Phelps, the fourteenth child andeighth daughter of Eliphalet and MehitablePhelps, was born in New Marlboro, Mass.,December 14th, 1814.

She also went to Ohio with her father andmother, and on the 20th ofNovember, 1834, shewas married to Dryden Creesy, of Cherry Val-ley, Ashtabula county, Ohio. She bore him oneson, named Alanson Creesy, but he died when ayoung lad about 7or 8 years of age. She diedApril30th, 1840. Iremember having seen her.

This completes the record of the daughtersof Eliphalet and Mehitable Phelps. A curiousfact about them is that of the six daughters whomarried, not one of them left a son to grow tomanhood, and only two aunts, Hannah andAurelia, left daughters who lived to grow towomanhood. They each lefttwo daughters wholived to womanhood.

They were all women of sterling character,and left their impress upon the early civilizationof that part of Ohio in which they had theirhomes.

T

61

CHAPTER X.

The Sons of Euphalet Phelps.

ASAHEI, PHELPS, THE SEVENTH GENERATION.

Asahel Plielps, the second child and .firstson of Eliphalet and Mehitable Plielps, was born(probably) inNew Marlboro, Mass., March 16th,1791. He married Rhoda Norton inNew Marl-boro, December 15th, 1817.

She was the daughter of David and RachelNorton, and was born inNew Marlboro, Mass.,January 28th, 1785.

Asahel Phelps removed to the town ofWales, Brie county, New York, previous to theyear, or very early in the year 1821, and livedon his farm there until his death on March12th, 1844.

The children of Asahel and Rhoda Phelpswere :

First. Julia A. Phelps, born inNew Marl-boro, April17th, 1819, died July 10th, 1895.

Second. Martin Phelps, born in WalesCentre, N. V.,March 29th, 1821, and died March30th, iB6O.

Third. Margery M.Phelps, born inWalesCentre, N. V., March 29th, 1821, and diedAugust, nth, 1886.

62

Fourth. David N. Phelps, born in WalesCentre, N. V., March 9th, 1824.

The writer remembers having seen hisUncle Asahel once inhis lifetime,when he camewith his wifefrom his home inBriecounty, NewYork, to visit his relatives in Wayne, Ohio,probably about the year 1840.

Of his character or historyIhave no dataupon which to form an opinion, but Iam con-vinced that they were both good, and that hewas a man who stood well in the community inwhich he lived.Ivisited his widow one day in the

summer of the year 1847, when a young lad,in company with my mother and my brother,William S. Phelps. Ialso remember of visitinghis grave in the graveyard situated near thefamily home.

63

CHAPTER XI.

HARVEY PHELPS, THE SEVENTH GENERATION.

Harvey Phelps, the third child and secondson ofEliphalet and Mehitable Phelps, was bornin New Marlboro, Mass., August 19th, 1793.

The writer has no data to show at what datehe went to Ohio.

Itis possible, and perhaps probable, that ifHarvey Walter went to Ohio before the familyof Grandfather Phelps removed there, that Har-vey Phelps accompanied his brother-in-law tothat then far western State.

Ifhe went withhis father to Ohio he musthave been about 25 years old when he arrivedthere.

He married Betsy Meacham in Gustavus,Trumbull county, Ohio, November 9th, 1820,and he died in Richmond, Ashtabula county,Ohio, August 16th, 1853.

He owned a farm near the center of thetown of Williamsfield, Ashtabula county, wherehe lived a great many years and brought up hisfamily, his farm adjoining that of his youngerbrother, Reuben Phelps, whose record willappear in due sequence.

64

The children of Harvey and Betsy Phelpswere:

First. Francis D.Phelps, born inWilliams-field, December 21st, 1821, and died June 17th,1893.

Second. Anna Phelps, born in Williams-field, January 16th, 1823.

Third. Harriet Phelps, born in Williams-field,March 21st, 1826.

Fourth. Hannah Phelps, born inWilliams-field, April17th, 1829, and died May 25th, 1856.

Fifth. Sarah Jane Phelps, born in Wil-liamsfield, February 10th, 183 1,and died Novem-ber 10th, 1872.

Sixth. James Madison Phelps, born inWilliamsfield, February 10th, 1833.

Seventh. George Monroe Phelps, born inWilliamsfield, February 10th, 1833, and diedApril20th, 1861.

Eighth. Mary Phelps, born in Williams-field, December 10th, 1836, and died November3^ 1893.

Ninth. Percis Phelps, born in Williams-field, August 16th, 1838.

Tenth. WilliamPhelps, born inWilliams-field, December 4th, , and died August sth,1893.

Like some ofhis sisters, Uncle Harvey was"

an extremely conscientious man in the manifes-tation of his religious belief. He and UncleReuben loved to attend a Wesleyan Methodistrevival meeting, and take part in it, and they

65

could shout "Glory to God" and "Amen" withgreat fervor and unction. The emotional inreligious work was more prevalent then than itis now in these latter days. Iremember UncleHarvey and his family, and of visiting them inmy early years.

66

CHAPTER XIIASA HOSMER PHEI*PS, THE SEVENTH

GENERATION.

Asa Hosmer Phelps—

the father of thewriter

—was the fourth child and third son of

Kliphalet and Mehitable Phelps, and was borninNew Marlboro, Mass., April 20th, 1795.

Of his early lifeand surroundings we haveno definite knowledge; all have faded away inthe dim obscurity of the many years that havepassed since he died, December 14th, 1835.

He is said to have been a man of about 5 feet11 inches in height, of dark hair and eyes, ahandsome form, and possessing a sweet andmelodious voice, was a fine singer. As statedbefore he was the idol of his sisters. By tradehe was a saddle, harness and trunk maker, butwhere he learned the trade is unknown

—prob-

ably inMassachusetts.He made the old-fashioned, round-topped

trunks covered with calfskin, tanned with thehair on, and fastened with small, round-headedbrass nails, which was the usual method ofmaking trunks in those days.Iremember having seen two or three of the

trunks he made when Iwas a child in Ohio.

ASA HOSMER PHELPS

67

He never went to Ohio. It is presumed thatwhen the family went to the west, that he emi-grated to New York City, or to that vicinity.At what year he went there is now unknown.Itis possible that he never lived inNew YorkCity until after his marriage to MargeryMcCoun, in Oyster Bay, Long Island, July22d, 1819.

She was the youngest child and fifthdaughter of William and Sarah (Townsend)McCoun, and was born in Oyster Bay, LongIsland, March 10th, 1799. She came ofan oldanddistinguished Long Island family of well-to-dopeople. For many years before the revolutionthey had lived near Oyster Bay, on Long IslandSound, and there Asa Hosmer Phelps met her,and there they were married July 22d, 1819.

They first went to live at a little hamletnamed Norwich, not far from Oyster Bay, andhere their first two children were born.

The following are the children of AsaHosmer and Margery (McCoun) Phelps :

First. William Sydney Phelps, born inNorwich, L.L,April17th, 1820.

Second. Emma Aurelia Phelps, born inNorwich, L.1., October 27th, 182 1, and died inBrooklyn, N. V., November 20th, 1889.

Third. Sarah Sophia Phelps, born inOyster Bay, L.1., February 22d, 1823, an<idiedinBrooklyn, N. V., April15th, 1861.

Fourth. Augustus Eliphalet Phelps, bornin New York City, May 2d, 1825, and died in

68

San Francisco, California, October, 15th, 1892.Fifth. Alanson Hosmer Phelps, born in

New York City,February 10th, 1832.Sixth. Daniel Townsend Phelps, born in

New York City, April21st, 1835.Ihave nothing that shows where my par-

ents lived during their early life inNew York,but inafter years, during the later years of myfather's life,they lived inEssex street (in whichstreet the writer was born), and in DeLancystreet. He followed the occupation of saddleand harness making, and so far as known, sup-ported his family incomfort.

While residing in New York Cityhe joinedthe New York Volunteer Fire Department.At that time they had no engines for extin-guishing fires, but had to depend upon bucketsof water, handing them from man to man toput out fires.

During his attendance at a fire he took asevere cold by getting wet

—a cold from which

he never recovered. The effects of it were dis-astrous to him and his family, as it finallyterminated in consumption, from which diseasehe died on the 14th day of December, 1835, inhis 41st year, leaving his widow withsix youngchildren to battle with the world, and withoutleaving them any means of a livelihood.

Some years 'before his death he hadsent his eldest son (William) up to Oyster Bayto live withhis Uncle Daniel McCoun.

69

Personally Ican remember but very littleabout my father, as Iwas only about 3 yearsand 10 months old when he died, but Idoremember seeing him at work inhis little shop—

of seeing him when he was sick during hislast illness, and of coming home in a carriagefrom the funeral.

Up to his last sickness he had never madeany profession of religion, but during his fatalillness he made his peace withGod and died inthe faith of Jesus Christ. In my possession isa part of a letter written by him on his deathbed to his friends in Ohio, but it was not signedby him; this Iregret very much, as it wouldhave been a satisfaction to his sons to have hadat least one of his autographs. Evidently hewrote the letter, and becoming weary he laid itaside, hoping to finish it at some future time,which probably he never was able to do.

When read between the lines, especially thelatter part of it shows, to my mind, a man ofnoble character, void of pretense or hypocrisy,and bears internal evidence of deep thoughtful-ness, and as ifactuated by high principle. Itiscopied here for three reasons : First, that itmaybe preserved; second, to show the condition,character and feelings of the man at that criticalperiod of his life; and, third, becanse it is theonly specimen of his composition extant, andtherefore contains the only authentic languageor words known to have been used by him.

The letter is as follows, although some few

70

corrections have been made in spelling, punctu-ation, etc:"

New York, Monday, Nov. 23d, 1835.MyDear Parents, Brothers and Sisters:Itake this opportunity to write to you all

in this letter, as it is probable the last that Ishall be ever able to write you again.Icommenced on the 19th to write to Aure-

lia,but Marga had wrote to Harriet some timesince. We expected an answer, but your letternever came to hand. Ithen felt miserable bad,but since Ihave found that my disease, whichhas been of the liver complaint, which hasthrown me into the hasty consumption and con-_sumed all of my flesh and strength, and left mejust able to walk from the bed to the fire. Theprobability is that ere the moon wanes twicemoreIshall be gone from this land of pain andsorrow. Iwas taken on Monday, the secondweek in September, with a violent cough, whichlasted me six or seven weeks ; was constant dayand night untilIgot so far exhausted thatnature gave way. Igot some sleep, and then Icommenced to take laudanum to relieve mypain, which itdid. Ithen called in our familydoctor, who ordered me to take blood root, whichIfound to leave me in either a feverish state, orwitha dry cough.

In the meantime Ihad chills every day butno fever until midnight, and then Ihave seensome curious and singular scenes, but not inter-esting at the present time, but at some otherwould be worth noticing.Ithen found that my complaint was becom-

ing seated in my left side.The dry and hacking cough which had so

long kept me insuch misery—

for such was my

71

distress—

that Icould not sleep for twenty-fourhours.Ithen concluded that my fate was sealed,

and when Icalled the doctor he recommended ablister to be drawn on any part of the chest, andthat itbe kept running as long as itwell couldbe by applying a salve for dressing it that woulddraw it sufficient to keep itopen.

It seemed then that this blister, or someisland moss whichIhad recommended to me bysome ofmy neighbors, had given me relief fromthat dry, hacking cough, and from that time Ihave had no difficultyin raising the matter thatgathered inmy breast and side. Ifyou recollectIwas sick for months with a very bad cough,and that lasted me until warm weather in thespring, but when the warm weather set in thecough left me from May to September, but nowitis progressing inthe way above stated. Ihavewanted to see some one of my friends, if nomore, butIfear thatIshall never do on this sideof the great gulf supposed tobe existing betweenGod and man. What then does this great spacecontain ?

Does it contain the numerous spirits, thedead bodies that have gone before us? Ipre-sume itdoes, but my weak mind cannot fathomthis.

But then look around you! Look at allthedifferent denominations who term themselvesChristians! Where will you find any onefrom the highest to the lowest but what islooking for self, and his selfish societies. Icast no reflections upon any one, but Ispeakfree and independent of all, and think as eachand every one must think who has looked overthese scenes with an impartial eye. But of

72

these scenes IknowIhave said enongh, for Iknow that they are so far from your belief.

Here Iwilltry to give a short sketch ofmypast life. WhenIlefthome Ileftat an age whenthe youthful mind hardly becomes stable enoughto think of these things. Imixed in early lifewithvarious sects of religious denominations, andwas always fond of going to meeting. For manyyears after Ileft home, as Ibecame moreacquainted in different societies, Iused to goless to church, and have not been a very regularattendant since. After Icame to New YorkIattended almost all of the different denomina-tions, and what didIsee? Isaw from thehighest to the lowest all striving to gain theirpoint by all the intrigue that laid intheir powerto draw the weak minds of their fellow creaturesover to their selfish purposes ; then it was thatIthought ifthis is religion it is no religionfor me.

From that time, which is ten or twelveyears since, Ihave left them all from that timeto this. What willbe the sequel God onlyknows.Ihave had the advice and prayers of a lov-

ing wife for years, who, no doubt, has felt forme all those ties of love and affection whichnature gives and the Christian heart could feel."

Here ends his letter. Attached to the samesheet is the following in the handwriting of hiswife: "He said, speaking of the letter, 'Mymind is altogether changed, but wish to send itjust as itis to let my parents see the differencein my views. Ifeel now that Iam a sinnersaved by grace; before Iwas trusting in myown good works to save me, but now Ifeel I

73

have none, that Jesus Christ is my Saviour; Idesire no other; he is just such a Saviour as Ineed.' Yours inlove,

M. Phelps."

There were then no methods of takingpictures of faces as we have now, as that waslong before the discovery of the photographicart, and yetIhave inmy possession a silhouetteof my father's face done in black. The pictureoriginally belonged to Aunt Harriet ; after hei-death it fellby inheritance to Aunt Aurelia, andduring my visit to Ohio in 1881, three yearsafter the death of the latter, her daughter Har-riet gave it to me. It shows a good face, orprofile, although it cannot show the expressionof his features. What his general characterwas other than what has already been writtenwe know but little,but reasoning from analogy,and bearing inmind the general characteristicsof his parents, of his brothers and sisters, whatgood men and women they all were, it is cer-tainly reasonable to infer that he was a goodman and a good citizen. Apoor man we knowhe was, but as that has been the fate of some ofthe best men the world has produced, we neednot feel that that was any stain or disgrace uponhis name.

That Asa Hosmer Phelps and MargeryMcCoun were a very handsome couple when theywere married we are very sure was true. Fromthe traditions that have come down about himregarding his good looks, and from the appear-

74

ance ofour mother inmiddle life,and inher oldage, we may believe that she was a fine-lookingand stylish girl. They were married in 1819,and as he died in1835, their married lifelastedonly a little over sixteen years. In that timethey had six children.

For the preservation of the record of thefamily Icopy here the names of Grandfatherand Grandmother McCoun, and the names oftheir children, with the date of birth and thedeath ofeach so far as the records show :

William McCoun, born August 28th, 1750,

died March 3d, 1818.Sarah (Townsend) McCoun, born

—, ,died February nth, 1825.

Their children were :First. Hannah McCoun, born September

16th, 1781, died February 13th, 1815.Second. Phcebe McCoun, born June 6th,

1784, died April 20th, 1820.Third. WilliamTownsend McCoun, born

August Bth, 1786, died July 18th, 1878.Fourth. Abigail McCoun, born March Ist,

1789, died November 16th, 1861.Fifth. Susannah McCoun, born June 9th,

1791, died February—, 1830.

Sixth. Daniel McCoun, born November28th, 1793, died October 20th, 1875.

Seventh. Sydney McCoun, born Septem-ber Bth, 1796, died September 25th, 1813.

Eighth. Margery McCoun, born March10th, 1799, died November 16th, 1884.

75

Of these brothers and sisters of MargeryMcCoun Phelps, the writer knows but very-littleof any of them, with the exception of hisUncle Townsend, his Annt Abigail, and hisUncle Daniel. These three Iremember havingseen, but none of the others. Uncle TownsendMcCoun was a distinguished lawyer of greatability,and amassed quite a fortune at his prac-tice at the bar, and was at one time the Vice-Chancellor of the State ofNew York.

Mother was a business woman. She knewhow to make money, and as quite as desirable aqualification she generally knew how to keep it.

After the death of her husband she did notsit down and repine at her fate, thinking thatthe sun had set for good, or that God had turnedHis face away from her, but with noble resolu-tion and courage she commenced at once to dosomething to support her family.

Uncle Townsend was kind to her, andhelped her in various ways.

As already stated, her eldest son, William,had been sent away from home to live withhisUncle Daniel some years before the death ofhisfather. She arranged to have the second son,Augustus, then about 10 years of age, sent toOyster Bay to live with an old friend of herfamily, Mr. Henry Fleet.

At the time of which Iam now writingbeads of various sizes, colors and styles weremuch affected by the devotees of fashion.

There were several large firms inNew York

76

then engaged in importing large quantities ofthese goods from Italy and France.

They came in all sizes—

from the tiniestsizes as small as the heads of the smallest pins,to sizes at least a quarter ofan inch indiameter.They were used by fashionable ladies for work-ing into bags and reticules. They were alsoexported to Mexico, and also went to the Indiantraders of the far west to sell to Indians for furs.

They came from Europe strung on grass,and as they were often badly broken and mixedtogether, it was necessary to have them assortedand re-strung on silk or linen thread.

Mother, with the assistance of some friends,made the acquaintance of two or three largedealers in these goods, and made an agreementwith them to assort and re-string the beads forthem.

This was work that littlegirls could do, andhaving two littlegirls ofher own who were thenold enough to assist her, she went to work atonce, and within a comparatively short time shehad conquered the difficulties of the business,and had quite a good paying business in a smallway. Before many months she had a goodmany other girls and women at work

—some-

times having from thirty to forty on her pay roll.She continued the business for several

years—

just how many is now unknown—

butIthink she followed it until her own daughtersbecame of a marriageable age. She was livingat this time at No. 165 DeLancy street, New

77

York, and continued to live in the same housefor some years after the marriage of her eldestdaughter. Her sister, Abigail McCoun, thenlived withher. Augustus was also livingwithher at the time, or rather after he came backfrom Mr. Fleet's. He came to New York tolearn the bookbinding trade with Harper &Brothers, and while learning his trade he livedat home with his mother. After the marriageof her youngest daughter to Mr. Isaac Hall,which was in 1842, she discontinued keepinghouse, and went to live with Mr. and Mrs.Hall.

A few years after the death ofher daughter,Mrs. Hall, which occurred in1861, and after theemigration of allof her sons to California, shecame to the latter State in the year 1863, andfrom that date to the time of her death in1884,she made California her permanent home, livingnearly all the time with her son, Augustus H.Phelps.

She died inhis house November 16th, 1884,holding her mental faculties to the last, and wasburied in Laurel HillCemetery, in San Fran-cisco.

78

CHAPTER XIII.

REUBEN PHELPS, THE SEVENTH GENERATION.

Reuben Phelps, the fifth child and fourthson ofEliphalet and Mehitable Phelps, was borninNew Marlboro, Mass., February 27th, 1797.

His eldest son states that he came to Ohiotwo or three years before his father came. Thewriter is firmlyof the opinion that both Harveyand Reuben Phelps, and probably Harvey Wal-ter and his wife, Hannah Phelps, came to Ohioall together as early as 1816, and possibly in1815.

If they came as early as 1815 Reuben wasthen a very young man to start out into a newcountry, as he would then have been only 18years old. He settled on a farm on the east sideof the road, a short distance north of the centerof the town of Williamsfield, Ashtabula county,a farm adjoining that of his brother Harvey,where he lived all his life,and where he died inhis old homestead on March 3d, iB6O.

He married Olive Leonard inWilliamsfield,February 4th, 1818.

She was the daughter of Levi Leonard andKezia (Benjamin) Leonard, and was born inMassachusetts, November 29th, 1801.

79

Their children were :First. James H.Phelps, born in Williams-

field, December 14th, 1819.Second. Dyantha Phelps, borninWilliams-

field, March 12th, 1825, and died Septembersth, 1841.

Third. Mary P. Phelps, born inWilliams-field, November 7th, 1828, and died October25th, 1889.

Fourth. Anrelia Phelps, born inWilliams-field, November 13th, 1838.

Fifth. Joseph B. Phelps, born inWilliams-field,July 26th, 1840.

Sixth. Reuben Phelps, Jr., born in Wil-liamsfield, November 3d, 1841, and died August2d, 1869.

Seventh. Lemuel B.Phelps, born in Wil-liamsfield, September 18th, 1843, and died June30th, 1887.

Reuben Phelps was a man of about 5 feet6 or 7 inches in height, and of dark complexion.He was an ardent and enthusiastic Christian,always ready to give a reason for the hope hecherished of an immortal life beyond the grave.His greatest happiness seemed to be to attendthe numerous Methodist or Wesleyan revivalmeetings that in his time were frequently heldin the vicinity.

He was a good singer, and was capable oftaking part insuch meetings, either by leadingthe singing, speaking, or leading inextempora-neous prayer.

80

He sleeps inthe old burying ground locatedjust across the road from his home in Wil-liamsfield.

Alanson Woodward Phelps, the twelfthchild and fifth son of Bliphalet and MehitablePhelps, was born inNew Marlboro, Mass., June—, 1810, and died October 10th, 1810.

REVEREND ALANSON PHELPS

81

CHAPTER XIV.ALANSON PHELPS, THE SEVENTH GENERATION.

Alanson Plielps, the thirteenth cliild andsixth son ofEliphalet and Mehitable Phelps wasborn in New Marlboro, Mass., February ioth,1812.

IfEliphalet Phelps and his family went toOhio from Massachusetts in1818, as referred toin Chapter VIII,the subject of this sketch wasin his seventh year when he arrived in Ohio,and he must have seen inhis childish way thestruggles ofhis parents to make a livingin thatthen new and undeveloped country. That thefacilities for obtaining an education were thenvery limited, there is no doubt, and where hefirst attended school in Ohio is now unknown.When he became a man, through the assistanceof his sister, Harriet Phelps, he was enabled totake a course of instruction in the WesternReserve College at Hudson, Ohio, where hegraduated from college either in 1839 or 1840.He was the only member of the family of Eli-phalet Phelps that had the good fortune toobtain a collegiate education. The writerbelieves that it was also through the good influ-ence of his sister Harriet that he was induced toenter the Christian ministry.

82

The following account of his life has beenwritten by his fourth daughter, Mrs. LouisaKimball (Phelps) Wyman, for this book :"

Inhis early manhood he graduated at theWestern Reserve College, then located at Hud-son, Summit county, Ohio, after which he wentto the Theological Seminary of the ProtestantEpiscopal Church inAlexandria, Va., where hegraduated and was ordained to the diaconate,July 18th, 1841, by Bishop Moore of Virginia.He returned to Ohio directly after his ordina-tion, and was married August 31st of the sameyear to Miss Mary Ann Bronson, then residingat Peninsula, Summit county, Ohio.

"She was the only surviving daughter ofRev. Abraham and Sabra (Way) Bronson, andwas born in Arlington, Vt.,November 7th, 1814."

Their children were :"First. Emma Lydia Phelps, born in

Peninsula, Ohio, July 28th, 1842.vSecond. Ann Eliza Phelps, born inHud-

son, Ohio, March 10th, 1843, and died Novem-ber 12th, 1862.

"Third. Mary Bronson Phelps, born inHudson, Ohio, November Bth, 1845."

Fourth. Louisa Kimball Phelps, born inHudson, Ohio, September 2d, 1847.

"Alanson Phelps was ordained to the priest-hood in 1842, by Bishop Mcllwain, in RossChapel, inGambier, Ohio.

"During his ministry he had charge of

83

parishes as follows: In Hudson, Ohio, from1842 to 1849; in Franklin Mills (now Kent),Ohio, from 1849 to 1854 ;in Painesville, LakeCounty, Ohio, from 1854 to iB6O, and in Fre-mont, Ohio, from iB6O to 1865. His ministry-was successful, and the parishes under hisefficient care increased innumbers and influence."

For many years he labored under greatbodily infirmity, which finally so overcame himthat he was obliged to give up active ministerialwork, and after resigning the charge of theparish at Fremont, he removed again to Paines-ville, which was his home, until his death, whichoccurred inPainesville on November sth, 1889."

Mrs. Mary Ann (Bronson) Phelps died inPainesville, November 28th, 1857.

"On the 29th of September, 1859, Rev.Alanson Phelps was married inChrist Church,Hartford, Conn., to Miss Jane Eliza Ensworth,daughter of John and Eliza (Bunce) Ensworth.She was born in Andover, Conn., April 21st,1820. They had no children. She survivedhim but one year, dying in Manchester, Vt.,October Bth, 1890."

The following account of his life has beenfurnished the editor by his third daughter, MissMary Bronson Phelps :"

Rev. Alanson Phelps was specially inter-ested in the cause of public education, andwhatever tended to promote its growth. Hislife in Virginia, during his seminary days,interested him in the colored race, and he

84

espoused the cause of the negro, although con-trary to the spirit of the times. Many of thesehe taught to read and write, and he gave hisservice freely when he could do them good."

Later in life he took an active interest incommon schools, and aimed as far as possible todevelop a literary spirit inthe community wherehe lived. His help was freely given in sustain-ing literary societies, and he delivered manylectures on different subjects of science andother matters suited to the times."

Becoming convinced of the advantage ofbelonging to some one of the various orders orsocieties popular at the time, he joined the Orderof Free and Accepted Masons, and was anenthusiastic member of Knights Templar,retaining his interest to the end ofhis life.

"After the failure of his health, and hisconsequent retirement from the active work ofthe ministry, he sought recreation in travel, andaccompanied by his wife he made several tripsto California, where he was ever a great admirerof its climate, its scenery and the hospitality ofits people. He visited all parts of the State,and the many enthusiastic letters written for thevarious periodicals ofhis home in Ohio, testifiedto his enjoyment of that wonderful country."

In 1872 he, with his wife,made the tourof Europe, where they spent many months trav-eling through the Old World, and from thattime he traveled so extensively that at the timeof his death there were few places of interest in

85

this country or Europe which he had not visited.His travels, as well as his position, brought himin contact with many distinguished people, andhe numbered among his friends many menprominent in State and Church."

The years ofhis age were more than threescore and ten, and when he departed this lifesuddenly inhis 78th year, it was likea sheaf ofwheat fully ripe for the sickle, but rich in thefulfillment of the harvest, and 'meet for theMaster's use.'

"

Rev. Alanson Phelps was a man spare inform, and when in his prime stood very erectin figure, ofdistinguished appearance, a man ofremarkable dignity of bearing, in heightabout 6 feet 1inch, and withcoal black hair andpiercing black eyes.

His manners were ever quiet and somewhatreserved, and his conversation was modulated toa low tone of voice.

He was, however, a genial and cordial com-panion to allhis friends and acquaintances, andwas universally liked by his neighbors.

In the early manhood of the editor of thiswork he had the happiness to spend nearly orquite a year in the family of this uncle.

During that period of time he, the editor,passed tnrough a very severe siege of illness,and at that time of pain and sorrow this unclecared for him with the tenderness of a fathertowards a beloved son. Inpoint of fact he wasmore like a father to the writer than any other

86

lie has ever known. Having been named afterhim, there was a bond of affection between thetwo which was never sundered so long as theuncle lived. He was a man chary of givingadvice, but his conduct and deportment werecomplete in moral excellence, and his life wasthe perfect bloom of a Christian gentleman'scharacter.

He was not a floridor avery ornate speaker,but as a sermonizer he compared favorably withthe other rectors of the Episcopal Church inOhio, as it existed in his day, his sermonsbeing calculated to inspire to higher and purermotives ofconduct inhis hearers.

By the death ofhis first wife,who had beenan invalid for several years, suffering from thedreadful disease of consumption, he was leftwith four young daughters to struggle with theworld,and for whom at that time there was needofa firm hand and a kind woman's heart to leadthem on in life. By his second marriage hewon a lady of surpassing loveliness of disposi-tion, and who, coming into his family, becamethe very ideal of a loving mother to the fourmotherless girls whom she found awaiting herwhen he brought her to his home after theirbridal trip.

She took them at once to her heart, and shebecame to them all a mother indeed. Rev. Mr.Phelps and his wife were among the first touriststo come to California over the newly-constructedrailroads

—the Union and Central Pacific

—

87

arriving here immediately after the completionof these roads in the early summer of 1869.This was his first visit to the State. Here hemet for the first time some of his nephews, thesons of his brother Asa Hosmer Phelps. Hewas the only paternal uncle allof these nephewshad ever known. His coming seemed like abenediction to them, and each time when hewent away, they parted from him and his lova-ble wife with great regret. He made fourvisits in all to the State, the last visit in 1885,leaving the State in the spring of 1886.

He was always happy while in California,and having no sons of his own, his heart seemedto go out to these nephews as if they were hisown children.

He was a devout and consistent churchman,holding the orthodox faith as taught by thethirty-nine articles of the Episcopal Church.

He was not obtrusive inhis religious life—

he never wore his religion on his sleeve for"daws to peck at," but as a calm, consistent,Christian gentleman. Itaffords the writer greatpleasure to pen these few lines in affectionateremembrance of the beautiful character of theReverend Alanson Phelps. His influence wasfelt for good wherever he made his home.

He sleeps the sleep of the just in the familylot inOakwood Cemetery, Fremont, Ohio, wherethe remains of his two wives, and his daughter,rest inpeace.

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CHAPTER XV.

The Family of Asa Hosmer Phelps.

William sydney phelps, the eighth gen-

ERATION.

William Sydney Phelps, the first child ofAsa Hosmer and Margery (McCoun) Phelps wasborn at Norwich, near Oyster Bay, Long Island,April17th, 1820. His early life was passed onLong Island, living there withhis parents nntilthey removed to the city of New York, whichoccurred within a few years after his birth. Asheretofore stated, when he was about 8 years ofage his parents sent him to live with hismaternal uncle, Daniel McCoun, at Oyster Bay,where he was occupied as boys usually are onand around a farm. Here he attended a privateschool for a very few weeks. Daniel McCounbeing a blacksmith as well as a farmer, Williamin time began to assist his uncle withhis black-smithing, and by this means he acquired aknowledge of that trade.

He lived withhis uncle inOyster Bay untilthe latter removed to the city ofBrooklyn, aboutthe year 1833, where he bought out and carriedon a horseshoeing establishment. Williamaccompanied him to Brooklyn. While there he

-

WILLIAMSYDNKY PHELPS

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used to wander with other boys around what arenow Brooklyn Heights, where at that time weremany orchards of apple trees growing, the fruitof which the boys helped themselves to as oftenas they could get a chance.

Daniel McCoun only remained inBrooklynabout two or three years, and then returned toOyster Bay, taking William with him.

About the year 1839, when William was

19 years of age, Daniel McCoun removedhis family from Long Island to South Wales,Erie county, New York, taking William withhim. Here Mr. McCoun entered upon theclearing offof a new farm, the building of a saw-mill, and various other enterprises in whichWilliam took an active part. He lived herewithhis uncle until he became a man. On the10th of October, 1844, he was married to MissMinerva McCall, the only daughter of Ira andSelecia (Seely) McCall. She was born in SouthWales, Erie county, New York, February 2d,1823.

She was a woman of an amiable and lovelydisposition, and possessed the charms of heartand mind to make a happy home.

Their children were :

First. Emma Margery Phelps, born inAurora, Erie county, New York, August 16th,1846, and died inSan Francisco, Cal., March 3d,1862.

Second. Daniel Sydney Phelps, born in

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Brooklyn, N. V., January 23d, 1848, and diedJuly 6th, 1848.

Third. Charles Ira Phelps, born in Brook-lyn, February 2d, 1852.

Fourth. William Phelps, born in Brook-lyn,February 2d, 1852, died February, 3d, 1852.

Fifth. Augustus Phelps, born in Brook-lyn, February 2d, 1852, died February 3d, 1852.

Minerva (McCall) Phelps died in Brooklyn,N. V., February 9th, 1852, and with her littlechildren sleeps inGreenwood Cemetery, Brook-lyn.

After his marriage William was engaged inseveral occupations

—sometimes in blacksmith-

ing, but during the latter years of his residencein South Wales was engaged inthe flour-millingbusiness.

In the summer of1847 his mother, MargeryPhelps, went on a visit to South Wales to seeher brother, and when she returned toNew YorkinAugust of1847, Williamaccompanied her, butwithout his family,leaving them withhis father-in-law, Mr.McCall.

Soon after his arrival in New York heformed a co-partnership with his brother-in-law,Isaac Hall,and they commenced the business ofship-smithing together in the city ofNew York.After a few months he sent to South Wales forhis family, and they immediately went on to

New York, where he then commenced house-keeping in the upper part of the house thenoccupied by Isaac Hall,inBergen street, Brook-

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lyn. Here lie joined the Volunteer FireDepartment of the city of Brooklyn, and did hisduty as a fireman fora number of years. He wasdestined, however, to enjoy only about four yearsofa happy married lifeinBrooklyn, when deathcame and called his beloved wife, and he wasleft alone with two young children to care andprovide for.

A short time previous to the death of hiswife, his younger brother, Augustus, hadreturned from California, and after her death thelatter persuaded him to go to California.

William sent his two littlechildren to SouthWales to be cared for by their maternal grand-parents, Mr.and Mrs.IraMcCall, and on the 21stday of May, 1852, they sailed by the steamer"

Crescent City,"via. the Isthmus of Panama, forCalifornia. They crossed the Isthmus by railtwelve miles, thence by boat up the ChagresRiver to Gorgona, where they took a mule trainfor Panama. In the Bay of Panama theyembarked on the steamer "Northerner," andarrived in San Francisco on the 22d of June,1852.

Very soon afterwards William secured alot on Drumm street, San Francisco, nearMarket street, upon which to build a shop, andformed a co-partnership with a man by the nameof Joseph Fick to do a ship-smithing businessunder thename ofFick&Phelps. They were suc-cessful, as there was a great deal of shipping inSan Francisco. Prices for their work were

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high, and they entered npon an era of greatprosperity.

After one or two years with Mr.Fick thelatter sold out his interest to William, and hethen took his brother into partnership withhim,under the name of William S. Phelps & Co.,and for many years they were the leading firmin that line of mechanism in San Francisco, andthe business was successfully carried on by themtogether, on the original lot where it was firststarted, until death took Augustus away on the15th of October, 1892. In the year 1853 theypurchased a building lot on the southwest cor-ner of Pacific and Jones streets, San Francisco,where they made their home under the care ofahousekeeper. Upon this lot the two brothersalways lived side by side. Early in the springof 1856 William returned to New York by theIsthmus route, and on the 15th day of April,1856, he was married inBrooklyn to Miss JaneMcKwen.

She was the daughter of Peter and Susan(Warren) McEwen, and was born inUnionville,Albany county, New York,August 17th, 1830.

A few days after their marriage they sailedfor California by the Isthmus ofPanama, accom-panied by the two children of William by hisfirst wife. The train by which they crossed theIsthmus was wrecked a few miles from Aspin-wall, and out of 1200 passengers on board nearly250 were killed and wounded, but a kind Provi-

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dence overshadowed and protected them, andnone of the family were injured.

AtPanama they went on board the steamer"Golden Age," and arrived in San Franciscoupon a very notable day in the history of thecity

—the 22d day of May, 1856, the day that

Casey and Cora were hung by the VigilanceCommittee in the presence of 20,000 people.There was intense excitement. William tookhis family to his house, and they commencedhousekeeping at once.

The children of William S. and Jane(McEwen) Phelps were :

First. William Hall Phelps, born in SanFrancisco, April17th, 1857.

Second. Minnie Margery Phelps, born. inSan Francisco, February 19th, iB6O.

Third. George Townsend Phelps, born inSan Francisco, June 21st, 1862.

Fourth. John Reed Phelps, born in SanFrancisco, June 21st, 1862.

Fifth. Edwin Corliss Phelps, born inSanFrancisco, May 22d, 1871.

InDecember, 1853, WilliamSydney Phelpstook the first degree of Masonry in Golden GateLodge of Free and Accepted Masons. In pro-cess of time he was elected Junior Deacon,

Junior Warden, Senior Warden, and then electedto the office of Worshipful Master of the lodge,which office he held for two years. By virtue ofhaving held the office of Worshipful Master he

«>

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became eligible as a member of the Grand I<odgeof the State of California, and has acted in thatcapacity for the last twenty-five or more years.

The first sorrow and affliction that cameto him in California overtook him by thevery sudden death of his beloved daughter,Emma Margery, who sickened and died after anillness of only four days, on the 3d day ofMarch, 1862. She was an interesting and beauti-ful girl, just budding into womanhood, and gavegreat promise of maturing into a delightfulmember ofhis family, when Death came withhisChariot and bore her away from the pains andsorrows of earth to a fairer and better land.

In the year 1868 William Sydney Phelpswas nominated and elected by the Peoples'Party of San Francisco as Supervisor of theFourth Ward of the city. During his incum-bency of that office the paid fire department ofthe city was organized and put into service, andto this work he devoted a great deal of thoughtand attention, and saw it successfully inaugu-rated. He served the city inan honorable andfaithful manner for two years, and retired fromthe office at the end of his term withthe goodwilland esteem ofall the good people of the city,as no man could point to him and say that heever prostituted his office for personal gain.Since his retirement from office at that time hehas never sought office again, although he wasnominated as a member of the Assembly of theState Legislature but failed of an election.

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In writing this epitome of the life of Wil-liam Sydney Phelps itis almost unavoidable notto give at this place some account ofhis brother,Augustus Eliphalet Phelps, although a fullaccount of the latter will appear in ChapterXVIIIof this book. The two brothers were formany years inseparable as partners, affectionateas brothers, living side by side for thirty-nineyears on their property on Pacific and Jonesstreets, and bringing up their families togetherin intimate friendship.

As the years went on, Pacific street, onwhich their houses fronted, became less and lessdesirable as a street on which to live, and thebrothers having considerable frontage of prop-erty on Jones street, which was much moredesirable as a residence street than Pacific streetthey decided in the year 1880 to change the loca-tion of their houses.

Accordingly early in the summer of thatyear Augustus had his house raised up, partiallyturned around, and then removed to the lotowned by him on the west side of Jones street.Immediately following this, William built a

large and commodious house adjoining that ofhis brother on the north side of the latter, fur-nishing and moving into it in the autumn of1880. Here they had their homes until deathcalled the younger brother in1892.

Inthe year 1868 William S., Augustus E.,and Alanson H.Phelps formed a co-partnershipunder the firm name of Phelps Brothers for the

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manufacture ofbridge and machine bolts, for themanufacture of iron work for bridges and cars,and for doing heavy forging, and the businesswas continued under that firm name until theyear 1873, when it was incorporated under thename of the Phelps Manufacturing Company.

They carried on the business in the samebuilding with that of William S. Phelps &Co.until the year 1882, when they removed thebusiness ofthemanufacturing company to a tractof land composed of nine fifty vara lots whichthey had purchased in the previous year, situ-ated on Beach street, west of Black Point, inSanFrancisco.

Here they met with fair success during thefirst six or seven years they occupied the prop-erty, but after about 1888 the general decline inthe iron business began, and during the follow-ing years, up to the fall of 1894, they found itimpossible to make any money, and inthe monthof October of that year they had to suspendwork, on account of the hard times and thefalling offinbusiness.

But amid all the misfortunes of the hardtimes William Sydney Phelps has ever main-tained his integrity as an honest man.

He is a man who has a great many warmand personal friends, some of them of forty yearsor more acquaintance, and he is going downtowards the evening of lifewiththeir respect andregard.

EMMA AUREUA PHELPS

(MRS. JOHN M. GRIFFITHS)

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CHAPTER XVI.

EMMA AURELIA PHELPS, THE EIGHTH

GENERATION.

Emma AureliaPhelps, the second cliild andfirst daughter of Asa Hosmer and Margery(McCoim) Phelps, was born at Norwich, LongIsland, October 27th, 1821. Her parents soonafterwards removed to the city ofNew York,andthere she received what education she had, andwas brought up in the city. She was a girlofatrimand handsome figure, with light brown hairand blue eyes, very social by nature, and withasoul full of mirth and lightheartedness. Shepossessed an innate sense of the ludicrous sideof life, and had a fine appreciation of all thehumorous scenes of city life as they passedbefore her eyes.

She was a loving daughter, and an ableassistant to her mother inher widowhood.

Being such a lovely girl she had manyadmirers, and among others who came in hertrain was a young and stylish druggist namedJohn Morton Griffiths, who laid siege to herheart, and finally won it.

He was the third son of WilliamBetts Grif-fiths (a lieutenant in the American army in the

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war of 1812-14) and Elizabeth (Cowenhover)Griffiths,and grandson of Lieutenant John Grif-fifthsof the military school of Paris, who cameto America withLaFayette to assist the colonistsagainst the British in the war of the revolution,and served in the American army to the end ofthe war.

Later Lieutenant John Griffiths marriedMiss Julia Betts of New York, a sister of Wil-liam Betts, whose farm was located betweenBast Fifty-ninth street and Harlem, andwhose farm house was on the old

"Cator Road,"

which ran eastward from the old Boston roadtowards the East River, not far above Fortiethstreet.

John Morton Griffiths and Emma AureliaPhelps were married at the home of her motherinNew York City on April27th, 1841.

Their children were :First. William Edward Griffiths, born in

New York, February 7th, 1842.Second. Henry Clay Griffiths, born in

New York, December 2d, 1844, died February3d, 1862.

Third. John Morton Griffiths, born inNew York, September 13th, 1851.

Dr. John Morton Griffiths was an ablechemist anc{ druggist, and opened a drug storeat the corner ofGrand and Norfolk streets, NewYork, where he carried on that business for agreat many years with considerable success.He was a man of courtly manners, very fastid-

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ious inhis style of dressing, as he thought everyprofessional man should be.

He brought up two of his sons to be drug-gists

—the eldest and youngest

—the second son

dying when he was about 17 years of age.

When Mrs. Griffiths was about 33 years ofage, she had an attack of inflammatory rheuma-tism, which left her with an infirmity thatremained with her all her life. During thewinter of 1857-58 the editor spent severalweeks in the family of his sister, and he willnever forget her gentle and patient daily life.She was a true and faithful wife to her husband,a warm-hearted and affectionate mother to hersons, and was always ready to help them inanyway that would insure their happiness. In theyear 1868 her mother made her second visit toCalifornia, and in the following year the broth-ers ofMrs. Griffiths wrote to her inviting her tocome to California and make them a visit.

This she did, arriving here in the autumnof 1869, and remained inSan Francisco visitingamong her four brothers for one year.

This year was one ofgreat happiness to her,and was of equal happiness to her brothers, asshe was an agreeable companion, and her pres-ence in the family gatherings was alwaysenjoyed by them.

In the fall of 1870 she returned to NewYork with her mother, and a few months afterher return she removed to Brooklyn.

Her eldest son, Dr. William E. Griffiths,

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who had studied medicine, and graduated at theCollege ofPhysicians and Surgeons inNew Yorkin 1868, and subsequently spent a year in Ger-many at special studies, decided on his return toestablish himself in Brooklyn, and to that citythe family removed in 187 1, and there hismother made her home to the close ofher life.

Owing tothe inroads of therheumatism uponher system, to which reference has been made,during the last twelve or fifteen years ofher life she was able to move around but little,and had to remain in her room from month tomonth and from year to year, without oftengoing down stairs. She bore all these afflictionswith the patience of a saint

—never complaining

or wondering why she had this trial to bear,being satisfied that the Divine Father knewwhat was best for her. After a few years Dr.Griffiths built for himself a new residence onSchermerhorn street, on the corner ofNevins, inBrooklyn,, and in planning the house hedesigned a large, airy, and spacious room over-looking the street, for his mother, and here,seated in her large arm-chair she spent manyhappy years. In looking out of her window tosee the constant kaleidoscope of city life andfashion pass before her eyes, she had the happyfaculty to discern the humorous side of it all.Hers was such a sunny nature that she wasable, by herself, to extract amusement anddelight from scenes which ordinary peopleobserve but casually.

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She was a kind-hearted woman, alwaysready to do good to others to the extent of hermeans and strength. She ever cherished awarm affection for her fonr brothers in Cali-fornia, and when letters came from year to yeartelling of their success in life, she alwaysrejoiced to hear of their prosperity. She was anoble woman, doing her duty in life,bearing alldisappointments with sincere faith and anuncomplaining mind. The rheumatism, fromwhich she suffered inearly life,left her withherhands and fingers very much distorted, yetduring the long years she occupied her room shewas never idle

—when she was able to be vp

—always at work doing some kind of worsted orother fancy work for her friends. She becamevery expert in the making of "darned net"work, producing numerous pillow-shams andbed-spreads of intricate designs and mostremarkable beauty.

These she presented to her friends. Someof these specimens of her work are marvels ofbeauty, and exhibit a wonderful amount ofpatience and skillin their construction.

Dr. William Edward Griffiths has fur-nished the editor with the following tribute,which he has written in affectionate remem-brance ofhis mother :"

Emma Aurelia (Phelps) Griffiths,born in1821, married in 1841, entered into rest in 1889.

11 She had three sons, and being herselfpossessed of an amiable and patient disposition,

102

as well as excellent judgment, her chief ambi-tion was to insure to her children a good educa-tion, and to that end her early instructionfostered the idea of the necessity of learning,and inspired her children withan ambition akinto her own.

11Inthe midst of her chosen work,and whilestill a young woman (but 33 years of age), shewas afflicted with rheumatism, the result ofwhich, after more than a year ofacute suffering,was to cripple her hands and feet to a greatdegree, and condemn her to a lifeof invalidism.For all that, her patience and cheerfulness wereunconquerable, and under stress of physicalpain, the work of benevolence and love whichwent forth from her sick room, brought comfortand peace to many a sorrowing heart."

How often were her sympathies enlisted inbehalf of the sick and suffering poor, at therecital of my experiences among them profes-sionally, and how often her charitable instinctsfound a ready and practical means of relief!"

With an ardent love of nature, her inter-est extended from the simplest fern or wildflower to the terrific manifestations of the thun-der storm."

Music was her delight, and withher sweetand pleasant tones we could always tell hermoods by her singing. Now 'Thy WillBeDone,' or c Praise God From Whom AllBlessingFlow,' and again

*MyCountry 'Tis of Thee,' or

1 Home, Sweet Home.'

103

"There was no room inher heart for injus-

tice, shams, or hypocrisy."She entertained a sturdy and steadfast

opposition to slavery, and had an abiding faithin its ultimate destruction. Her patriotism wasshown by her efforts in behalf of the nation'sdefenders, and, in making with her poor, lamefingers, the flag,

'the stars and stripes,' which

was to float over our home tillthe war was over,and long past."

Ican almost hear her now: *Be just andfear not; let all the ends thou aimst at be thyCountry's, thy God's, and truth's.'"

Such an one was my mother, and, assuch, when the summons came to lay down theburdens of this earthly sojourn, notwithstandingthe bodily pain which tortured her at times, hervoice, though weak, sang hymns of praise, andher last words were a benediction on herchildren."

Outside of the revelation of the Bibleregarding the immortality of the soul, there areother indisputable evidences of the certainty ofa life beyond the grave. One great and won-derful proof of this is that allraces ofmen, inallages, in a greater or less degree, have believedin a future existence. Infidels may scoff andskeptics may sneer, yet all history proves thistruth. It is a truth invincible in the humanheart, planted there by the great Creator him-self, and no infidel with his subtlest sophistry

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willever be able to eradicate this belief from theminds ofmen.

Another proof of the certainty of a futurelife in a happier world is often afforded by thevisions of the dying, when the Saviour of men,or an angel chosen by Him, for an instant holdsthe gates of heaven ajar for those who are purein heart to glance within,and to see with theirearthly eyes the unspeakable glory of heaven,ere they pass away from earth.

Traditions have come down to the writer ofsuch visions having been vouchsafed to mem-bers of our family, ere death clutched themaway from this mortal life. Such a manifesta-tion of divine love and favor was given to thesubject of this sketch ere death closed her eyes.

From letters received by the editor from theson and a nephew ofMrs. Griffiths,soon after herdecease, which occurred on the 20th of Novem-ber, 1889, he has gleaned the following. Hernephew wrote:"

Aunt Emma has been an itvalid forthirty-five years ;seven years before my blessedmother's death she was taken sick, and verynearly all that time she has been confined toherroom, her life a benediction of peace and love toall who visited her. Always cheerful, uncom-plaining, ready to laugh with those who weremerry, or to weep with those who wept.

11 What was the secret ? She knew thesource of happiness.

"Although undemonstrative over her relig-

105

ious convictions, yet constantly she was incommunication with her God at the throne ofgrace.**

Several weeks ago she was taken quitesick, so that she had to take to her bed muchagainst her will. Itwas to be her last sickness.

liShe knew that the summons had come forher to set her house in order, and to be readywhen the Bridegroom came. Ihave no doubtin my own mind that this communication, orvision, which came so vividly to her then wasonly a foretaste of what she would soon enjoyofeternal happiness and association with thosegone before.

c< She said she*came to the gate of Paradise

and saw my mother and my grandmother insidewith their hands extended as ifin greeting toher, but they did not speak

—only beckoned her

to enter."'The glory and brightness inside the gate

was wonderful to behold,' and when she awak-ened it grieved her very much that she wasback on earth again. Icalled to see her onSunday evening, two days before she passedaway. She was conscious, but ingreat pain, andconstantly groaning in her anguish. She waspleased to have me read the scriptures, and insinging to her several hymns which she desired,her voice would unite with mine. Leading inprayer at her bedside, Iasked God to removefrom her the great pain, and to give her an easytransit from this world to the next. She

106

instantly broke out with the cries of'Come Lord

Jesus, come quickly,' then she would sing'O

happy day when Jesus washed my sins away.'Inallmy past experiences in scenes like thisInever saw any one so triumphant and happyover the anticipation of meeting their lovedones."

Her son wrote as follows: "On Sundayevening of November 17th she had a sinkingspell ; her limbs were cold and remained so forhours, notwithstanding artificial warmth andstimulants were used."

Before she rallied from this her nephew,William A. Hall, came in, and after awhile,during which mother thought she was going,and had said,

*Ilove my children

—Ilove you

all; give my love and my good-byes to my broth-ers,' then when Will asked ifhe should sing,mother said

*Yes, Will.' Then he began Aunt

Sarah's favorite hymn,*When ISurvey the

Wondrous Cross,' and he had not reached theend of the first line before mother, with herpoor, dear, feeble voice took up the tune andsang it to the end. Then Willread portions ofthe Psalms, and mother would repeat them afterhim, as only believers can who rely upon thosepromises."

Then he prayed, and sang again*O happy

day when Jesus washed my sins away,' andagain mother, with wonderful power, sang theentire hymn.

"After watching her for hours and hours

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untilTuesday when, after seeing her suffer somuch, Isaid

'Mother, Iam resigned

—better

bear the pain of parting than to see you suffer,'and mother answered,

'Now take me Jesus, take

me home.' Soon afterwards she fell asleep, anddozing and waking, but not to full conscious-ness, the time passed untilnearly midnight, when,after two hours of unbroken rest, her breathingbecame shorter and feebler untilshe passed away.

"She had reached 'that goal of life wherewe lay our burdens down.'"

Then in a short time appeared the mostwonderful transformation ; the poor, pain-rackedface lost every trace of sorrow and suffering, andtook on a benignant, pleasant expression oftwenty years ago.

"After the nurses and attendants had pre-pared her for the casket, she was beautiful, andon Thursday night, before the funeral services,Will's exclamation on seeing her was,

'That's

my mother.'liThere was no crape upon the door, but a

garland of roses instead.11After the services of the church were read,

and an address made by the rector, Rev. LindsayParker of St. Peters, of singular beauty andfelicity, and old friends and new took their lastfarewells and adieus, there in the home madebright and sanctified by her pure presence, amidthe sympathies of those who knew what a pil-grimage her sojourn had been, and amongst awealth of lovely flowers that she always loved so

108

well,itseemed as ifsorrow were selfish and tearsingratitude."

The death of their Uncle Alanson Phelps inOhio on November sth, 1889, followed so quicklyby the death of their only surving sister,brought great sorrow to all of the relatives inCalifornia, and on the day that the remains ofMrs. Griffiths were laid to rest in GreenwoodCemetery, at the suggestion of the eldest brotherof Mrs. Griffiths, all of her brothers and theirwives, and nearly all ofher nephews and nieces,with a few personal friends, met at thehouse of William S. Phelps in San Francisco,and held a service in affectionate remembranceof the two dear friends who had so recentlyentered into rest. Upon invitation of the familyRev. Dr. A. W. Loomis, a Presbyterian clergy-man, conducted the service, which consisted ofreading selections of scripture, as well as thereading of some beautiful poems suitable to theoccasion, accompanied with a few appropriateremarks, closing witha prayer and a benediction.

Allwho were privileged to be present feltthat it was an occasion long to be remembered,and the memory of it is cherished by all of herbrothers and their wives inCalifornia.

In looking over the relics and effects of hismother after her decease, Dr. Griffiths foundseveral little poems among them, which hismother evidently had preserved for many years,and had probably read and re-read time andagain untilshe probably knew them by heart.

109

To show the beautiful thoughts she cher-ished in her mind, a copy of one of them isinserted here, and willclose this tribute ofaffec-tionate remembrance :

"ONLY REMEMBERED BY WHATIHAVE

DONE.• 'Up and away like the dew of the morningThat soars from the earth toits home in the sun,

So let me steal away gently and lovingly,Only remembered by whatIhave done."Gladly away from this toil wouldIhasten,Up to the crown that forme has been won,

Unthought of byman inrewards and praises,Only remembered by what Ihave ddne.''Up and away like the odors of sunset

That sweetens the twilight as evening comes on;

So be my life—

a thing felt but not noticed,AndIremembered by whatIhave done.''

Needs there the praise oflove-written record—

The name and the epitaph graved on the stone?The things we have lived for, let them be my story,

We ourselves but remembered by what we have done."Not myself, but the truth that inlifeIhave spoken ;

Not myself, but the seed that inlifeIhave sown,Shall pass on to ages

—all about me forgotten

Save the truthIhave' spoken, the things Ihave done."

110

CHAPTER XVII.

SARAH SOPHIA PHELPS, THE EIGHTHGENERATION.

Sarah Sophia Phelps, the third child andsecond daughter of Asa Hosmer and Margery(McCoun) Phelps, was born in Oyster Bay,Long Island, February 22d, 1823. Soon afterher birthher parents removed to the city ofNewYork, where she spent her early years, andattended such schools as were then carried onfor young children in the city.

She was a girlof a lovely and amiable dis-position, and early gave promise of maturinginto a lady ofbeautiful appearance.

As already related in Chapter XII,at anearly age she began to assist her mother inre-stringing beads as explained in the chapterreferred to, and became an efficient helper to hermother in that labor.

The editor has received an account of herlife written for this book by her eldest son, Mr.William A. Hall,of Brooklyn, N. V., which isinserted here almost precisely as written byhim. The article is as follows:"

Sarah Sophia Phelps was born at OysterBay, Long Island, in the year 1823. She came

SARAH SOPHIA PHELPS

(MRS. ISAAC HAlylv)

«

IN

to New York City at an early age, and lived forseveral years at No. 158 Delancy street, where,under a mother's care and instruction, she grewto be a dutiful and loving daughter, and for thegentleness of her disposition and kindness ofheart she was admired by allher associates. Itwas at this home that she became acquaintedwith a young man of English descent, namedIsaac Hall, and the acquaintance ripened intolove.

"He was a hard-working mechanic, juststarting intobusiness for himself as a shipsmith,and believing that with a wife like Sarah hewould better his condition in life, they weremarried in New York City on September Ist,1842. The young couple commenced life inhumble circumstances, occupying small apart-ments in the lower part ofNew York,but it wasnot long before they were enabled to obtain abetter home."

Their children were :"First. William Augustus Hall, born in

New York, August nth, 1843."Second. Sarah Louise Hall,born inNew

York,January Ist, 1845."Third. Isaac Hosmer Hall, born in

Brooklyn, September 6th, 1846.Cl Fourth. IdaFrances Hall,born inBrook-

lyn, September 26th, 1854."A short time after the birth of his second

child Mr.Hall's affairs were in such a prosper-ous condition that he was able to purchase a

112

home inBergen street, Brooklyn. By a consci-entious and industrious life the couple wereenabled to give their children a good education,and they attended the best schools.

"After livinga few years in Bergen street,Mr.Hall purchased a much larger house in abetter part of the city, and moved his family toDean street, where his youngest child, IdaFrances, was born.

"The family, now consisting of four chil-dren, received from their parent's teachingsan influence for good which has followedthem all these years. It was in this homethat Sarah became a convert to the Christianfaith, and united with the Strong Place BaptistChurch, her husband being a member for manyyears of the orthodox Society of Friends. Butit was in the dispensation of God's providencethat a separation should come, and that thehome associations should be sundered, and fortwo years Sarah suffered severely from an incura-ble disease, which she bore with patient faith,until on the 15th day of April,1861, she passedto a better world, in her 38th year, sincerelymourned by her husband, her children, and hermany friends."

Her life, though a comparatively shortone, was not devoid of many incidents showingher integrity and Christian traits of character.

14 Byher cheerful disposition and her spiritofhospitality she gathered about her home manyfriends. The loving care she ever manifested for

113

her children endeared them toher, and the remem-brance of the happy days they spent with herhas been a benediction of love upon their lives.Her husband gratified every wish and desire ofhis devoted wife,and during her last illness hismind was constantly on her, studying and usingevery means possible towards securing the bestobtainable medical advice."

The memory of their mother's prayers inbehalf of her children, her sympathetic andbenevolent nature, her admonitions and advice,have been to her children a pleasing remem-brance all the years since she was translated toher heavenly home.*'

When Christ went withhis disciples onMt.Hermon, itwas evident in the transfiguration ofour Lord, that Moses and Elijah knew Him,and that the disciples knew those holy beingswere Moses and Elijah; hence may we notassume that this is conclusive evidence that thespirits of those who are gone from us, are inter-ested in the well-being of their loved ones whoare engaged in the Lord's work on the earth?

11In the mind of every Christian believerthere can be no doubt of this. So the manyyears that have passed since our mother hasbeen separated from her loved ones in the flesh,yet inher spirit we believe she is alert to everyact which pertains to God's kingdom, whichthey do."

As the foregoing writer has observed, Mr.and Mrs. Hall were members of different relig-

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ious bodies. Mr.Hall,by a long line ofancestry-back in England, being an Orthodox Friend,while Mrs. Hall was a Baptist, but they livedvery happily together, and never had troubleover their religious views. He often accom-panied her to church, and she frequently wentwithhim to Friend's meeting.

He was a large and distinguished lookingman, six feet or more in height, and a man ofgreat business ability,and amassing a considera-ble fortune they were able to live in greatcomfort and affluence during the last few yearsof her life. She was a lovely woman

—a

very beautiful woman—

of large and fine pres-ence, a refined face with blue eyes and soft,brown hair, an agreeable and cordial manner,and possessed an excellent taste indress whichher husband's means enabled her to gratify; akind and charitable friend, a loving and indul-gent mother to her children, an affectionatedaughter, and a generous sister to her brothersand her sister. She was a true and conscien-tious Christian, and adorned her profession as adisciple ofJesus Christ.

These things the editor writes from per-sonal remembrance of both Mr. Hall and hiswife, as they were exceedingly kind to himwhen he was a young man, and not only to himbut to his mother as well, to whom they fur-nished a home for many years, and itgives himpeculiar pleasure to put upon record, for preser-

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vation, this commemoration of their kindness,and inaffectionate recollection of them.

Itmay be said of her as Milton speaks ofEve:"

Grace was inall her steps, heaven inher eye,Inevery gesture dignity and love."

When she entered intoParadise may we notbelieve that had she been permitted to speak tons that she might have spoken these words ofcomforting

RECOGNITION.The night is past, the sunrise comes

luminous o'er the sea,Wafting a balm from glorious homes

Waiting for you and me ;Waiting for us to enter in

To breathe that fragrant balm,

Where twinge ofpain, no taint of sinDefiles that holycalm.

There willbe, recognition blestAmid the palms that wave,

Beyond the Sea, when we shall rest

Exultant o'er the grave,For, the Apostle Paul has said,

In words that plainly bear,''We shall, when risen from the dead

Allsit together there."

Upon the Shore, a Saint,IseeInraiment softly white,

He scans the verge—he beckons me

With features ofdelight;Itis my father ;nowIknow,

What was so dark tome,

When in the fleshIdwelt below—

This Heav'nly mystery.

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Others Isee, a happy shoutOf welconie fillsmine ear,

MyMends Iloved group me about,Dear ones Ilost are here.Ipraise my Maker for His love,

This joy to me is given,Tomeet upon this Shore above,

And know my Mends inHeaven.

AUGUSTUS EIvIPHALET PHELPS

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CHAPTER XVIII.

AUGUSTUS EUPHALET PHELPS, THE EIGHTHGENERATION.

Augustus Kliphalet Phelps, the fourth childand second son of Asa Hosmer and Margery(McCoun) Phelps, was born in the city of NewYork, May 2d, 1825. Previous to the age of 10

years he attended the common schools of thecity ofNew York,and the writer has often heardhim relate withgreat humor the capers he usedto perpetrate to avoid going to school, and howhe used to play "hookey," and the consequentpunishment inflicted therefor, not only by histeachers, but by his mother as well.

When he became 10 years ofage his mothersent him to live withan old friend of the family,a Mr.Henry Fleet of Oyster Bay, Long Island.

A few months later his father died. Heremained an inmate of Mr. Fleet's family sixyears, and attended the district school in thetown during the winter months, and worked onand around the farm as such boys in the countryare expected to do.

When 16 years of age he returned to NewYork to live with his mother, and soon after-wards commenced to learn the bookbinding trade

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with the great publishing house of Harper &Brothers.

He worked for them until he became mas-ter of his trade, and then continued with themas a journeyman until 1848, living with hismother, who then kept house in Delancy street.In the year 1848 he started a newspaper standinBrooklyn and followed that business until thespring of 1849, when he suffered a very severeattack of the California fever, which was thenvirulently raging throughout the eastern States.

Allyinghimself withseventeen other youngmen of adventurous spirit, they formed a com-pany ofeighteen, bought the schooner

"General

Worth," of 175 tons, paying $9000 for her, andfitted her out for a voyage to the golden shoresofCalifornia.

They sailed from New York on the nthday of April, 1849; stopped at Rio Janiero,rounded Cape Horn, made a call at Valparaiso,and arrived at San Francisco October 15th,1849; thus making him a Pioneer of the State.Here the company as a company broke up,although a few remained withthe vessel, Augus-tus among the number. They almost immedi-ately commenced running the schooner as apacket for passengers and freight on the Sacra-mento River, charging $30 for passage, and $80per ton for freight from San Francisco to Sacra-mento.

He followed this business until the springof 1850. In the spring of the latter year he

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went to try his fortune in the mines, going towhat were then called the Southern Mines, inMariposa county, where he met with fair successfor about two months, when he returned to SanFrancisco. In the summer of 1850, with twopartners, they bought a half interest in the scow"Brooklyn," and again went into freighting,this time from San Francisco to Alviso, theentrepot of San Jose". The venture was profita-ble, the scow sometimes making $3000 in asingle trip.

During a part of the year 185 1 he wasemployed by a contractor by the name of Bal-lentine, to oversee the laying ofbrick work.

In November of 185 1 he returned to NewYork, going by the then newly-opened Nicar-agua route, and from the date of his arrival inNew York he remained in the city, visitingamong his relatives and friends, until the follow-ing May, when he came to California, accom-panied by his brother, William S. Phelps, asrelated in Chapter XV.

Upon the commencement of the business ofFick & Phelps, as also detailed in the chapterreferred to, he commenced to learn the ship-smithing business, and worked faithfully at theforge until he had acquired a full and practicalknowledge ofthe business, and when the firm ofFick &Phelps was dissolved, William took himinto partnership as already stated, under thename of William S. Phelps &Co.

They were eminently successful and soon

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acquired a fine reputation for excellent work-manship in their line of business, all up anddown the Coast, which reputation they main-tained all the days of his life.

He continued with his brother until thespring of 1857, when he returned again to NewYork, and on the Bth day of June, 1857, he wasmarried in the city of New York to Miss SarahE. McFarran.

She was the daughter of James and Sarah(Ayres) McFarran, and was born in New YorkCity,April 18th, 1827.

They sailed for California on the 6th day ofJuly, and safely arrived inSan Francisco on the31st day ofJuly, 1857.

He took his wife to the house ofhis brotheron the southwest corner of Jones and Pacificstreets, and in a few weeks thereafter they (heand his wife) commenced housekeeping in theupper part of the house that William was thenliving in.

The children of Augustus and Sarah(McFarran) Phelps were :

First. Anna Phelps, born in San Fran-cisco, July 20th, 1858, and died July 20th, 1858.

Second. Asa Hosiner Phelps, born inSanFrancisco, October 28th, 1859.

c Third. Warren Phelps, born in San Fran-cisco, June 21st, 1861, and died October 17th,1862.

Fourth. Frank Augustus Phelps, born inSan Francisco, July 23d, 1865.

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Fifth. Frederick Phelps, born in SanFrancisco, July 23d, 1865, and died July 23d,1865.

He lived in the upper part of the houseabove mentioned until the latter part of thesummer of 1858, when he removed to a housewhich he had purchased immediately adjoiningthe house of his brother, and which house hecontinued to occupy untilits removal to the eastside of Jones street, in 1880, as related in Chap-ter XV.

Following the example ofhis elder brother,in the year 1865 he joined the order ofFree andAccepted Masons on November 27th of thatyear, and maintained his membership in GoldenGate Lodge No. 30 as long as he lived.

In 1863, during the war of the rebellion,fired withan ambition to do what he could to showhis loyalty to his country during her greatstruggle, he joined Company A(light battery ofartillery) ofthe California militia,and faithfullydrilled and served as a private for over one year.The battery at that time was commanded byCaptain Isaac Bluxome, a man who occupied avery conspicuous position during the days of thegreat Vigilance Committee of San Francisco,and his company at that time was filled withyoung men who served as Mr. Phelps did

—because of love for their country.

By reason of his early arrival in Californiahe was eligible as a member of the Society ofCalifornia Pioneers, and withthe belief inmind

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that that society was one that would perpetuatethe history and the noble achievements of thePioneers of the State, of which, as a Pioneer, hewas very proud, he made application to, and wasduly admitted as a member of the society on the2ist day ofJuly, 1868.

From the first he took great interest in it,and on the 7th day of July, 1888, he waselected a director of it, and was continuallyre-elected every year thereafter up to andincluding the year of his death, and held theoffice at that time.

He was a man who took great pleasure insocial matters, such as the Society of Pioneersafforded, and he was an efficient and a valuablemember, a man of good judgment and executiveability, of pleasant conversational powers, andwho knew how to arrange pleasant functions foran organization of that kind.

He also possessed a genial disposition andmanner, and in his family he loved to meet hisfriends, and to gather them around his table.

He knew how to cater for a large number ofpeople at one time, and there was no pleasurein life which he enjoyed more than to have atable fullofcongenial friends come to dine withhim, and to see them enjoy the good things histaste and hospitality had furnished for theirentertainment. His acquaintance being verylarge, especially, among seafaring men withwhom his business brought him in close andfrequent contact, he was enabled to obtain many

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delicacies from domestic and foreign places thatordinary men findithard to procure, and he wasalways on the alert to get good things to eat, aswell as curios from many foreign parts.

He was a man who never forgot his friends,and he was constantly doing littlekindnesses tothem

—a man who loved to give gifts because of

the pleasure he experienced in seeing those heloved made happy.

He was a great admirer of children andyoung people, and liked to have them visit him,and to do for them as he often did for his olderfriends in the way ofhospitality.

Infact his character may be summed up ina few words : he was a man of large and gener-ous heart, with no room in itfor petty mean-nesses.

The editor is under obligation to FranklinM. Farwell, Esq., of Saratoga, Santa Claracounty, California, for the following account,which he has furnished for this book :

vIfirst knew Augustus E. Phelps in 1852,and from that time to his death was on intimateterms withhim, so much so that he was knownby our family as cUncle Gus.' We consideredhim one ofour best friends, and we always foundhim a kind and generous man. He seemed tobe really jealous ofhis friends, that they shouldhave no friend as good, or any better than him-self. Inever saw a man who seemed more inhis natural atmosphere than when surroundedwithhis friends inhis own home, an<l inmaking

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them happy. In the spring of1874 his brother-in-law, Mr. Isaac Hall, and wife, of Brooklyn,N. V., were out to San Francisco on a visit tothe brothers. Ata social gathering of the familyone evening at the home of Uncle Gus, a veryfunny scene occurred that Ishall never forget.Mr.Hall,it seems, came from Quaker stock, andduring the evening the Shaking Quaker bur-lesque dance that the celebrated Christy's Min-strels of New York made so popular about 1850was talked of, and Mr.Hall proposed that wehave a Quaker dance after the Christy Minstrelstyle, and that he would take the lead, and as allof us had lived inNew York and had seen theChristys do the dance, we all entered into thespirit of it heart and soul. Mr. Hall selectedfive of us as follows: W. S., A.E., and A.H.Phelps, Lyman Grimes, and myself, making sixinall.

"We all took off our coats, and followedbehind Mr.Hall insingle filearound the doubleparlors, singing what was called the

'Fi-hi-hi

chorus,* in a sort ofmonotone voice, and movingwithshort, jigglingsteps, our elbows against oursides, and our hands with their palms downward,and with limp wrists, the position of the Shak-ing Quakers.

"We followed around the room severaltimes, and then we filed three abreast up anddown the center of the room behind each other,and in coming back did not face about, butwould back up.

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"On the first line was Mr.Hall,Uncle Gns

and A.H. Phelps. After we had jogged up andback two or three times, as we were allbackingup, William S. Phelps threw himself, quick as aflash, on the floor behind the first line. Mr.Hall's heels struck William's body, and over hetumbled backwards ;then came A. H.P. on topof Mr.Hall, and next Uncle Gus began to top-ple over backwards, and yet so slowly that Ihadtime to take in the tableau, withhis corpulentfigure, with hands instinctively thrown abovehis head, his feet left the floor slowly, and hecushioned on top of the pile, witharms and legsin the air at the same time. Itwas the mostgraceful fall for a large body Iever saw, and didnot hurt him in the least. William was stillunder the mass of bodies, swinging legs andarms, whose individual ownership to the spec-tators was for a time somewhat uncertain, andbeing in our shirt sleeves made the scene morecomical, with the surrounding friends laughingand dancing around this struggling pile, a pict-ure inmy mind never to be forgotten. Grimesand myself kept out of the jam, but kept on ourfeet, and from our position Ithink we saw moreof the fun than those in front."

Mr. Phelps was a man who dearly lovedsuch social gatherings, and inthe early years ofhis married life,before he became so very stout,he often gave social parties in his spaciousrooms, to which his friends were always wel-comed witha hearty and generous good will.

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Although lie never made any profession ofreligion, yet lie was always a supporter of thechurch by giving constantly in support of it,byhaving a pew, and in contributing in thatway for the support of the Gospel, and was oftenan attendant on divine service.

In the autumn of 1889 he was seriouslyhurt on board of a ship by an injury to oneof his limbs, which resulted in a severe illnessto him, and which kept him in his house forseveral months, and from that time he was neveragain so strong and hearty as he was before theaccident.

In a few months, however, he recovered soas to be able to attend to his business, but henever was really well again.

He died very suddenly and unexpectedly tohis family and friends on the 15th day ofOcto-ber, 1892, on the forty-third anniversary of hisarrival in California, after an illness of onlyabout twelve hours, the immediate cause ofdeathbeing fatty degeneration of the heart. He wasan extremely stout man, weighing at the time ofhis death about 280 pounds.

On account of an almost inexcusable mis-take in the diagnosis of his disease by the phy-sician who was called to see him early in themorning of the day ofhis death, neither himself,his own family, nor his brothers were informedas to the serious nature ofhis malady.

The doctor visited him three times from about7 A. M. to 3 p. m., and not until the last visit did

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lie surmise that Mr.Phelps could not long sur-vive. Because of this ignorance ofhis physicianthe day was permitted to pass without anyknowledge on the part of his own family, or bythose ofhis brothers, that his end was so near.

The writer returned home from his busi-ness at about 5 p. m., and was at once informedthat his brother was dying. He hastened to hisside, but when he reached the room he wasunconscious, and passed away within a few min-utes.

His funeral was held under the auspices ofGolden Gate Lodge of F. and A. Masons, inKing Solomon's Hall, in the Masonic Temple,San Francisco, on Tuesday afternoon, Novem-ber 18th, 1892.

There were twelve pallbearers—

four repre-senting the family, four from the lodge, andfour from the Society ofCalifornia Pioneers.

Besides a large number of Masons there wasa delegation of Pioneers, numbering sixty-four,inattendance.

The service in the hall was conducted bythe Master of the lodge, Edward L. Meyer,Esq. The male quartet of the Masonic ordersang "Come to Me," "Abide With Me," and"

Good Night."The service at the grave was concluded by

the reading of prayers by the Rev. DavidMcClure, D.D., an Episcopal clergyman.

The funeral was a notable one because ofthe great number ofpeople inattendance, crowd-

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ing the large hall inevery part and all the ante-rooms.

Itwas also notable because of the fact thatall, or nearly all, were warm and personalfriends of the deceased, and their presenceserved to testify their respect for him as a manand a friend.

Among the many floral gifts was a wreathof heliotrope and roses

—heliotrope being a

favorite flower of Mr.Phelps'—

and attached tothe wreath was a card bearing these lines froma poem by Wadsworth :

"I<ike clouds that rake the mountain summitsOr waves that own no curbing hand,

How fast has brother followed sisterFrom sunshine to the sunless land.'

'He sleeps inLaurel HillCemetery upon an

eminence whose crest overlooks the broad Pacific,and above his grave there rolls the never-endingrequiem of the sea.

ALANSON HOSMER PHELPS in 1878

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CHAPTER XIX.

ALANSON HOSMER PHELPS, THE EIGHTHGENERATION.

Alanson Hosmer Phelps, the fifth,child andthird son ofAsa Hosmer and Margery (McCoun)Phelps, was born inEssex street, in the city ofNew York, on February ioth, 1832. He hasbut littleremembrance ofhis early years inNewYork,but he can recall that he attended a littleschool for very small children. As heretoforerelated, his father died when Alanson was lessthan 4 years ofage, but before his death he hadarranged with his wife that one of his boysshould be sent to Ohio, in due time, to live withhis favorite sister, Aurelia, who was then thewife ofPliny Case.

In the fall of the year 1837 a merchant ofWayne, Ashtabula county, Ohio, a Mr. Clapp,went to New York to buy goods forhis business,and it was mutually agreed between the motherof the subject of this sketch and the aunt, thatAlanson should be the boy who should go toOhio. Mr. Clapp came and saw Mrs. Phelps,and when he was ready to start on his return(to Ohio) the little boy's outfit of clothing wasready for the journey. When the day came for

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parting with Mm, his mother, and sisters, whowere then just arriving at the age of woman-hood, parted with him with many tears, ashe was going out into the then wilds of a newcountry, of unknown dangers to them. Hissisters fixed him up, combed and parted his hair,and he went away withMr.Clapp into the greatworld,—into the wilderness of Ohio

—as it were,

alone, a .little less than 6 years of age, to meethis fortune and his fate. At that time therewere no railroads known. The journey had tobe made by the Hudson River to Albany, andthence over the great Brie Canal to Buffalo.He remembers nothing of the journey up theHudson, but he does remember that Mr.Clappslapped him one day at the table on the canalboat for some childish misdemeanor. They tookpassage at Buffalo and went up Lake Brie toCleveland, where they landed.

He remembers going up a street in Cleve-land that seemed very wide to him, and also ofseeing the stumps of trees still standing in thestreet. From Cleveland he was sent to Hudson,Ohio, which is about twenty miles from theformer place, to meet his Uncle Alanson, whowas then a student in the Western Reserve Col-lege, located inHudson.

There he met his uncle for the first time,and remained with him a few days, until anopportunity offered to send him on his wayto his aunt in Wayne. The opportunity camevery soon by the visit to Hudson ofa Congrega-

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tional minister, a Mr.Latham, from Wayne, towhom the little boy was consigned to take toWayne.

They left Hudson ina one-horSe vehicle, andthe boy well remembers the journey, or at leasta part of it, where they went through densewoods, and where the road was fullofmudholes,and covered with water.

As Hudson is about fiftymiles from Waynethey must have staid over night at some place,but the littleboy cannot remember where.

They arrived safely at last at the home ofanaunt of the boy

—his Aunt Malinda

—who was

married to Gamaliel Wilcox. Here he wasreceived withaffection and kindness by his aunt,as well as by his paternal grandparents, whothen lived with her.

Word was sent to his Aunt Aurelia, wholived about three and a half miles away, and ina day or two his Uncle Pliny Case came afterhim, and taking him in front of him on horse-back, carried him to his future home. Uponarrival at the house of his uncle he found alittle cousin, the daughter ofhis uncle, standingout in front of the log house in which she lived,mounted on a pile of logs of wood and intenselywatching for the little stranger from New York.

Upon arrival at the house he was receivedby his aunt with affection, accompanied withtears.

They arrived in the forenoon, and soon afterdinner littleHarriet asked the boy ifhe would

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not like to go out with her in the orchard andget some peaches, which were ripe at that time,and taking him out toldhim to pick some from atree ;this he objected to do, as he said "We don'tpick peaches from a tree where Ilive; we buythem at a store."

This was repeated by little Harriet, andseemed very funny to all the family.

Ashort distance down the road from UnclePliny's lived Horace Wilcox, a brother ofUncleGamaliel Wilcox, who had settled on a farmadjoining that of Uncle Pliny's, and during theafternoon Harriet took the lad to see the littleWilcox children, of whom there were four atthat time

—two girls and two boys

—one of the

boys being almost the same age as the subject ofthis sketch.Iremember with what interest they looked

at him when his cousin brought him to theirhouse to see them. This family of childrenafterwards were among his warmest friends, andhis association with them for many years was ahappy thing for the littleboy.

And now there opens to the boy a new worldand a new environment in life,and the bitterfrown ofpoverty and incessant toilfell upon himand followed him through all his childish andyouthful years.

The family of his uncle, at that time, wasas follows: Uncle Pliny and Aunt AureliaCase, their little daughter Harriet then nearly5 years old, a younger brother of Uncle Pliny

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named Lauren Case, a daughter of Uncle Har-vey Phelps named Anna Phelps, and a youngboy named Maverick Wakeman.

The little boy was never adopted by hisuncle and aunt ;simply went to live with them,and as itwas the opinion of his uncle that thechief end of a boy was to work and earn hisliving,he began at once to inculcate that doc-trine in the mind of the boy, and he set him atwork in the barn husking corn, givinghim a stint to do each day

—to husk so many

baskets full of corn in a day or half a day.One day he gave him such a stint

—to husk two

two-bushel baskets fullof ears during the fore-noon. The work naturally became tiresome,and as there was a pile of ears on the flooralready husked, the little chap helped out thestint by partially fillingthe basket from the pileon the floor.

This, of course, was contrary to his uncle'sorders, and when the latter came in and saw thepile he knew that some deceit had been practiced,and accused the boy of it,and also accused himofhaving lied about itby pretending to him thathe had husked all the corn in the basket, theresult being the boy was whippeclfor the deceit.

The writer thinks now the punishment wasmore than the boy was entitled to, under thecircumstances, as the temptation was left openbefore him. He was then a small and delicateboy, and had never before been placed in a

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position where lie had work given him to do, andhe was then not quite 6 years old.

His aunt was less strict about working, butshe was very strict on all moral and religiousquestions, as she had been brought up in a veryrigid Puritanical school, and exacted the. mostimplicit obedience on allreligious matters.

The country in which they lived was anextremely heavily timbered district, a very newcountry at that time, and, of course, everybodylived in a primitive way. A few years beforeUncle Pliny had taken up the farm on whichhe then lived, comprising about fifty acres ofland, and commenced to clear it of the timberaround his house.

This was a work of exceedingly heavylabor. To clear a piece of land of two or threeacres inextent was a season's work for two men,that is to say, they had to cut down the timberin the winter and spring, and in the early sum-mer, or as soon as the logs were dry enough toburn, they would haul them together withoxen,pile and burn them up, and by the 25th of Julythey would try to get the land in condition sothey could sow a crop of turnip seed on it,togrow and ripen by the time the snow would flyin the fall.

So he had worked from year to year, andat the time of the arrival of the boy he had quitea tract cleared for cultivation.

Lauren Case, the younger brother of UnclePliny, was then, Ithink, about 20 years .old.

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Like a great many other young men he wassometimes thoughtless, and did things he oughtnot to have done, and yet with no intention ofbeing unkind. To the littleboy he was unkindwithout intending to be so, as he would lifthimup by the ears about breast high, almost everynight after supper, and as he did so he wouldsay "There, Lanson, that will make your earsgrow."

As has already been stated, they lived in alog house, with a broad door opening intothe kitchen, which was bedroom., and living-room as well. The house, as Irememberit,had only one room, although there may havebeen two rooms. The hired men and the boyshad to sleep up stairs, going up a ladder underthe gable roof of the house, and in the winterthe snow would sift through the cracks betweenthe logs, and in the morning the beds would becovered with snow.

The younger children were put to bed in atrundle bed which was fixed to run under thebed of the old folks during the daytime, andcould be pulled out at night.

The kitchen had an enormous fireplace atone end witha large iron crane, decorated withlinks and hooks for hanging the different ironpots and kettles used for family cooking. Thefireplace was long and deep, with large andirons,on which were placed great logs of wood.

The door into the house was verywide, so as to permit the boys to draw wood for

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the great fireplace into the kitchen on theirhand-sleds, whichIhave done many times.

The fireplace also had a smooth hearthmade of stone, and during the long winter even-ings the family would gather around it andcrack hickory nuts, eat apples and drink cider.Iwas sent to the district school for a short

time after Iarrived there during the summermonths, and during the winter, but my serviceswere too valuable to my uncle for that long tocontinue, and after a year or twoIwas not per-mitted to attend school except for three monthsin the winter of each year. During the summermonths Iwas kept busy riding horse to plowcorn; to help in logging and other heavy work;to drive oxen to plow, without shoes to wear,with the result that my feet were constantlyfilled with the thistles which overran all thecountry at that time.

Uncle Pliny had what was called a*'

sugarbush," being a grove of maple trees which heused to

"tap

"every spring, from which he made

a great deal of maple sugar. In those daysthey had to manufacture their own sugar or gowithout sweetening for cooking, as there was nocane sugar at that time.

The trees were"

tapped"

on the side aboutthree feet from the ground, and a small woodendug-out trough was placed under each tree tocatch the sap, which was led into a trough by abass-wood spout.

Itwas then gathered each day, or as often

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as the troughs were filled, by going aroundamong the trees witha pair ofoxen hitched to asled on which was a barrel, and the sap wasgathered up and taken to the "camp," where therewas an iron kettle set in stone work, in whichthe sap was boiled down to a thick syrup. Afterthis was done it was then "sugared off," anoperation of surpassing interest to the smallmembers of the family. In

"sugaring off"there

is a time just before the sugar is cooked enoughto ltgrain" when it gets cold, when, iftaken outand placed on snow or ice, it forms a beautiful"wax," and at that time it is the best to eat ofany time during the whole operation.

When Uncle Pliny opened his sugar bushthe spring after my arrival, of course Maverick,Harriet and myself were on hand when the first"batch" of sugar was ready to be finished.

At the time there was some littlesnow lefton the ground in spots, enough so that a hand-fulcould be obtained on which to drop some ofthe hot sugar to make the wax spoken of.

When the sugar was done enough to wax,Maverick went and got a handful of snow sothat he could make some wax. Isaw him do itand, of course, Iwanted some. Iwent and gota handful of snow and brought ittoUncle Pliny,who then dipped out a generous supply on topof the snow.

Itwas boiling hot, but Idid not know thatit would burn me, as Ithought the snow wouldcool it at once, so Iput it to my mouth, the

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result being that Iwas most fearfully burned onmy lips and on the inside ofmy mouth. NeitherUncle Pliny or Maverick told me to be carefuland not get burned, and as it was Iwas badlyburned.

Uncle Pliny was always fond ofa joke, andhe always looked upon that as a fine joke on theboy from New York.

One day, probably the year following theabove incident, at the time of sugar making aboy came to the sugar bush where Maverick andIwere boiling the sap of the sugar trees, andshowing us some littlepieces of wood, said thathe

"could make fire with them."This was a marvelous thing for any boy to

attempt to do, and we were very anxious to seehim do it,and stepping to the side of the logcabin inwhich we were he scratched one of thelittle sticks on the side of a beech log that hadthe bark peeled off, and ina moment he showedit to us all on fire.

This was what was then called a "locofoco

"match, and it was the first friction match

we had ever seen, and it seemed very wonderfulto us at that time.

Before the invention of friction matches, ifthe fire in the house went out from any cause,the housewife had to send to a neighbor and getsome "live coals" to renew her fire for cookingpurposes.

This Iremember to have done sometimesfor my aunt when her fire had gone out.

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The settlers in northeastern Ohio wereprincipally

"Connecticut Yankees," and were a

hardy and industrious race ofmen and women.To illustrate the courage, the stamina and

the hardihood of the latter, the following inci-dent is inserted here :

In the township of Johnson, which is tenmiles south ofWayne, lived a familyby the nameofTyrrell. A son of the family came to Wayne,and taking up a piece of land in the "woods,"about a mile and' a half west of Uncle Pliny's,built him a cabin and commenced clearing hisland preparatory to making a home for himself.

Soon after he came there we often used tosee his mother trudging by our house on foot onthe way to visither son.

She generally passed by in the forenoonand returned in the afternoon, thus making hertrip a journey of twenty miles when she reachedher home on her return. One day late inNovember, just at dusk, when a thick snowstormwas raging, the family saw old Mrs. Tyrrellgoby on her way to visit her son. At that timethere was no regular road from the county roadthrough the woods to his place

—only a trail

which in a storm like that then raging wouldsoon be obliterated by the snow.

It was remarked by some member of thefamily as she went by that "old Mrs. Tyrrellmight get lost in trying to findher son's placein such a snow storm and on such a night asthis."

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Uncle Pliny kept an ear out so as to nearthe old lady if she should get lost and should"

holler." Sure enough, in about half an hourwe all heard a series of weird and unearthlyyells coming from the dark and otherwise silentwoods. Uncle Pliny lighted a lantern, and put-ting on his mittens, started out for the edge ofthe timber about a quarter of a mile away. Theold lady continued her "hollering," and Iwellremember withwhat thrills we (the younger mem-bers of the family)heard her calls coming throughthe wintry air, and we thought how dreadful itmust be to be lost in the woods on sucha night as that, and we wondered whetherher son could hear her as well as we could,and ifhe would know by the voice ifit washis own mother. When Uncle Pliny reached theedge of the woods he began to reply to her calls,and after they had answered each other back andforth a few times, a third voice joined in thehallooing. This was her son, who at last heardthe shouting, and knowing that some one waslost, he joined in the chorus.

After a little they—

the mother and son—

began to answer each other back and forth, sothat Uncle Pliny knew that her son knew it washis mother who was in trouble, and when he wassatisfied as to that hereturned home and lefthimto extricate his mother as best he might.

This he did after a while. A day or twoafterwards we saw the old lady pass by the houseon her way home to Johnson.

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These traits of fearlessness, of hardihoodand indomitable pluck, were characteristic of thepioneer women of the early days in the settle-ment ofOhio.

There was no aristocracy of wealth in thatcommunity

—all were poor, and all were strug-

gling withthe forces of nature to make a verypoor living. Money was exceedingly scarce.To get money enough to pay the yearly taxeswas a conundrum many a poor old farmer foundit hard to solve. Nearly all the business wasdone by barter. Merchants were obliged totrust their customers, and wait for their payuntil the farmer could turn off his butter, hischeese, some fat hogs in the fall,or else takegrain, wheat or corn, in payment for his goods.

Bvery farmer tried to raise everything hisfamily consumed, so far as could be done. Innearly every town there were grist mills, thatwere run by water power, where the farmerscould take their grain, wheat, corn and rye, andhave the miller return him flour or meal, aftertaking out his legal allowance for "toll." Manya time have Iridden a horse to millwith a bag ofgrain, and having obtained a promise when itwould be done, have had to go after itand get itona certain day.

Postage was then 25 cents a letter, and waspaid by the party who received it. Letters didnot flyaround the country in those days as theydo now. Itcost too much cash to indulge oftenin the delights of a social correspondence with

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absent friends, and a letter from friends once ayear was quite as often as it was desirable tohear from them.

There were no ready-made shoes or clothesto be had, and in the fallof the year the localshoemakers had many a growl from youngsters,who were without shoes, when the snow waslying deep on the ground, when he had failed tohave shoes that he had promised to have finishedon

"Saturday night," and had lamentably failed

to keep his promise.The home-made clothes, made by the women

folks, were marvels of style and finish,but thiscan be said of them, that they were generallylarge enough to cover the person for whom theywere intended.

When Iarrived at Uncle Pliny's he hadalready become quite distinguished forhis enthu-siasm for the culture of good fruit,having oneof the best orchards in the county at that time,composed of the finest varieties obtainable ofapples, peaches, pears, plums and cherries.

Before the original timber on the soil hadbeen largely cut off in the clearings, fruit grewvery finely in that part of Ohio.

This was no doubt owing to the properingredients for the growth of fruit trees in thesoil, and the absence of all noxious insects andworms which, inlater years, have been the baneoforchard culturalists allover the country. Hewas quite an adept in the art of budding andgrafting different kinds of fruit. He had apples

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and pears growing on the same trees, and Iremember at one time he had an apple tree whichproduced fruit,one side of which was sour andthe other side sweet.Ithink this was done by taking a bud from

a sour-apple tree, and a like bud from a sweet-apple tree, and by carefully splitting them andplacing them together, and then ininserting thebud as a graft on the bough of a thrifty tree.The apples had a thin line around them longi-tudinally, showing the line of the two differentacids in the fruit.

They were a curiosity, but of no practicaluse, only to show what could be done withDameNature ifone is disposed to try.

In the spring of 1844 Uncle Pliny sold hisfarm in Wayne and bought another one aboutten miles away, inthe town of Greene, Trumbullcounty, and moved his family there in April,1844. In the month of June following, mymother and my sister Sarah, Mrs. Isaac Hall,came to Ohio on a visit to my uncle and aunt.While they were there it was arranged betweenmy mother and Uncle Pliny that when Ibecame16 years of age Ishould be sent to NewYork, as she wished me to learn a trade.

During the years of 1845-46, and the earlypart of '47,1lived withUncle Pliny and assistedhim in his farm work during the summermonths, and attended the district school in thewinters.

In the spring of1847 mv mother wrote that

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slie wanted me to come to New York to com-mence to learn the trade she had concluded Ishould learn

—the ship-smithing trade

—of Mr.

Hall.In JulyIwas sent to Buffalo, N. V., in the

care of two young men who were going to Con-necticut from Greene.

We leftConneaut, Ohio, on a steamboat oneSunday morning, and went down Lake Brie, andarrived at Buffalo that evening. Irememberwithwhat surprise Inoticed the elegant clothesworn by the people whomIsaw upon our arrival,andIwas struck with astonishment whenIsawa man connected with the hotel take from hispocket a handful of silver coin to pay one forsomething. Ithought it was wonderful that aman could have so much money at one time.

From BuffaloIwent to South Wales, abouttwenty-five miles from Buffalo, to meet mymother, who was then visiting her brother,Daniel McCoun.

We remained there several weeks, and untilmother was ready to return to New York,whichshe did in August, accompanied by my brother,William S. Phelps. We left Wales— mother,Williamand myself

—and went to Buffalo, from

thence to Niagara Falls, where we spent theafternoon, and from there we went to Lewiston,on Lake Ontario, where we took a steamboat forOswego, arriving there the following morning.

Remaining there over night, the next daywe started for Rochester by canal boat. We had

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passage on what was called a "packet," whichtraveled at the rate of five miles per hour, beinghauled by three horses, hitched tandem, anddriven on the

"tow-path

"by boys or young

men.

These packets were built so as to carry asmany passengers as possible, with one longroom in the bow of the boat, and the kitchen inthe stern, the table, at meal time,being set downthe middle of the room, and at night berths weremade up along the sides of the cabin, inwhichthe passengers were carefully stowed away intheir littlebunks.

Upon our arrival inRochester we were trans-ferred to a like packet on the great Brie Canal,and went from thence on to Schenectady . Ithinkwe were nearly five days making that distance.From Schenectady we were carried by railroadto Albany, a distance of eighteen miles.

This was my first railroad ride, and whileIcannot remember very much about the construc-tion of the cars or the engine, Iknow that theywere very different from what they are now ;butIdo remember that we went at what we thoughtwas a very rapid rate, making the distance toAlbany in about one hour. From Albany wetraveled down the Hudson by steamboat, andarrived in New York in the afternoon, and goingat once to the house of Mr.Hall,Isaw my sis-ters. Soon after arriving there Iwas set towork in the ship-smith shop ofMr.Hall. Ihad

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not tlien attained my growth, and the work wasrather hard for me.Iworked but a short time whenIwas taken

very sick with dysentery.During my sickness Ibecame very home-

sick to return to Ohio, and after my recovery

my mother concluded to let me go back,and in November Iwas permitted to returnthere, accompanying two of my Uncle DanielMcCoun's sons from New York to Buffalo, andafter visiting at Uncle Daniel's house a few daysIwent on to my destination alone, going upLake Erie by boat, and landing at Fairport,Lake county, and thence to Uncle Pliny's bystage and wagon.Iwas received by my Aunt Aurelia with

great affection upon my return, and became oneof the family at once. Having no son of herown, she looked upon me almost as ifIwere herown boy, and she was rejoiced when Icame backto live with her. Ientered at once upon theduties of a boy upon a farm, doing such workand chores as are always to be done where thereare cattle and sheep to be cared forinthe winter,and this continued almost all of the years of1848, '49, '50, and a portion of '51, except thatIattended a select school in Greene for aboutseven and a half months during the autumns ofthose years.

In the winters of 1850 and '51, however, Itaught a small district school inColebrook, Ash-tabula county, Ohio, and earned the handsome

147

salary of $12 per month, and had the felicity to"board around" ampng the parents of myscholars.

In the summer of '51Iworked at carpen-tering with a young man by the name of LinusA.Harrington. He was a young man of greatversatility of mmd

—one of the few real humor-

istsIhave ever known.The poor fellow came to California in the

winter and spring of 1852, coming around CapeHorn in a sailing ship, but very soon after hisarrival here he was taken sick and died soonafter in the old St. Mary's Hospital on Stocktonstreet, near Vallejo. After my arrival in SanFrancisco a friend took me on a Sunday morn-ing to visit his grave, which was then in the oldYerba Buena Cemetery, situated where the CityHallof San Francisco now stands.

In the summer of 1853, in company withAunt Aurelia Case, Iwent to New YorkCity ona visit to my mother and sisters, and while thereIsaw the first World's Fair held in the UnitedStates, inNew York City.Ialso had the great pleasure to hear the

great Julien with his wonderful orchestra ofmusicians in a grand concert held in CastleGarden.

Itwas the grandest musicIhad ever heard,and the memory of the occasion has never fadedfrom my mind.

Returning to Ohio in the fall of that year,upon invitation of Uncle Alanson Phelps, I

148

visited him and his family at Franklin Mills,Portage county, Ohio, where he was then therector of an Bpiscopal Church.

After my arrival there he suggested that Itake a school in the town of Franklin Mills forthe winter months, and remain with him, andwith his assistance Iobtained a school at asalary of $22 per month. During the winterIattended a commercial school opened in the vil-lage, being a branch of Folsom's CommercialCollege of Cleveland, Ohio.

Uncle Alanson Phelps resigned the rector-ship of the parish inthe winter that Iwas there,and in May or June following he received a callto the rectorship of St. James' Church inPaines-ville, Lake county, Ohio, which he accepted,and moved his family there during the month ofAugust, 1854. The year 1854 was notablebecause of the cholera which was then ragingall over the country, and in Ohio as well. Iaccompanied my uncle's family to Painesville,as through his good officesIhad obtained a situa-tion as a clerk in the Bank of Geauga at thatplace, but owing to a severe illness, similar ineffect to that of cholera,Iwas unable to hold theposition except for a few weeks, and had to giveitup after an illness that nearly ended my life.AfterIhad recovered and was able to be around,and yet being unable to work,Ireturned to myUncle Pliny's house in Greene, and spent thewinter and spring in that town.

During a part of each of the years of 1855

149

and '56 Iwas clerking in two different countrystores, the latter year in Colebrook, Ashtabulacounty. That was a year of a Presidential elec-tion

—the year when General John C. Fremont

was nominated for President on the Republicanor Free Soil ticket, and my first vote for Presi-dent was given to him.

In the month of May, 1857, having finishedmy term of clerking in Colebrook some timeprevious to May, and in answer to a requestfrom my mother to come to New York,IleftOhio and went to New York, and spent the year1857 with my mother and sisters there. Asheretofore related, my brother Augustus returnedfrom California to New York in the spring ofthat year, and after my arrival there heurged me to go back with him to California.ThisIwould not then consent to do, asIdid notthen think that Icared to go to the PacificCoast.

After his return to California he continuedto write to me urging me to come. Inthe winterof 1857 an<i'58Iconcluded to go to California,and on the 20th day of March, 1858, Isailed forthe Pacific Coast on the steamer "Star of theWest" of the Pacific MailSteamship Line, forAspinwall. On the Pacific side we took thesteamer "Golden Age."

In these southern latitudes Isaw for thefirst time the magnificent jewels in the constel-lation of the Southern Cross.

150

On the steamer were a number of distin-guished people, among them General John C.Fremont and his family.

We arrived in San Francisco on the even-ing of April 12th, 1858, and my two brothers,Augustus and Daniel Phelps, met me at thewharf and took me to my brother William'shouse on the corner of Pacific and Jones streets.

Before my arrival my brothers had obtaineda promise of a situation for me upon my arrival,from the then existing firm ofConroy &O'Con-nor, with whom my brothers were then tradingfor iron, but after my arrival they (Conroy &O'Connor) refused to make good the promise,the result being that instead of having a situa-tion open for me Iwas without any means ofimmediately earning my living.

After a few weeks spent in the cityIwentto Sutter Creek, inAmador county, and went towork in a quartz mill for a few weeks, butreturned to the city in the latter part of July.Early inAugust Brother William informed methat he had secured a position for me in the ironhouse of Thomas H. Selby & Co., and on the10th day of August, 1858, Icommenced as aclerk at a salary of $50 per month for the firstfour months, and was then advanced to $75 permonth. Icontinued inthe house of Thomas H.Selby &Co. during all the years of the life ofMr.Selby, which ended on the 9th day of June,1875.

During the last part of the year 1858 Ifirst

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met the lady whom Isubsequently married.She was then a Mrs. S. Frederick Sargent, andwas then accompanying her husband, master ofthe bark "Jenny Ford," trading in the lumberbusiness between Puget Sound and San Fran-cisco.

During a trip to the port of PortGamble, on Puget Sound, Captain Sargentlost his life by falling overboard from avessel lying at the dock in that place.After the recovery of his body and its burialthere, his widow returned to San Francisco, andupon her arrival my brother William met herand brought her to his house, where she spent afew weeks prior to her departure to her nativeplace, Bangor, Maine, in the early spring of1859.

In the year 1862 Iopened a correspondencewith her which resulted in an engagement ofmarriage between us, and on the 18th day ofMarch she arrived here on the steamer

"Consti-

tution"

from New York,via. Panama.She was the daughter of Edward and Let-

tice Maxwell (Brown) Wiggin, and was born inEssex street, Bangor, Maine, on the 20th day ofAugust, 1834.

On the 23d day of March, 1864, AlansonHosmer Phelps and Ellen Bartlett Wiggin(widow of S. Frederick Sargent) were marriedin the house of Augustus E.Phelps, by the Rev.Edward S. Lacy, pastor of the First Congrega-tional Church of San Francisco.

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Their children were :First. Albert Alanson Phelps, born in San

Francisco, March 6th, 1867.Second. Alice Mand Phelps, born in San

Francisco, June 4th, 1869, and died March 18th,1871.

Third. Roger Sherman Phelps, born inSan Francisco, July 2d, 1876.

On the first day of May following the deathof littleAlice Maud Phelps, with my wife andlittle boy Albert, we left San Francisco on theCentral Pacific train for Ohio, New York andMaine. After visiting our friends in Ohio indifferent places for a few days, we went to NewYork, and remaining there a few days. Wethen went on to Maine, arriving in Bangor, onthe first day of June. Iremained with the par-ents of my wife six days in Bangor, and thenreturned alone to New York via. Boston,leaving my family in Bangor. After a fewdays with my relatives in New YorkIleft forCalifornia, stopping two days in AshlandOhio. My mother came on from New York,and meeting her on the train at Mansfield, Ohio,we came on together towards California via.Chicago, Denver and Ogden, where she left me,going on alone to San Francisco, whileIwentto Salt Lake City. Upon my return to SanFrancisco a few days later, Iresumed my posi-tion in the house of Thomas H. Selby &Co.

Ina few weeks Mr.Selby wished me to goto Salt Lake, and with a nephew ofhis establish

153

an office in that city for the purchase and ship-ment of lead and silver ores to his smeltingworks recently established in San Francisco.This we did, going there in August, 1871.Iremained there from August until about

the middle of November following when Ireturned to the latter place, accompanied by mywife and son, who had returned fromMaine inOctober.

Upon my return Iwas at once permitted toresume my old position in the store of Mr.Selby.

In the fallof 1865 Ibought of Dr. SamuelMerritt the lot on Jones street, San Francisco,137 feet and 6 inches south of the southeastcorner ofPacific and Jones streets, and built myhouse thereon inthe summer of 1866, and movedinto it in the early part of October of the sameyear.

In that house all of my children have b©enborn.

Inthe winter of1865 Alanson H.and EllenB.Phelps were admitted to membership in theGreen Street Congregational Church of SanFrancisco, and continued members thereof untilthe summer of 1878, when they withdrew fromit, and in the spring of 1880 they were bothconfirmed in the Grace Episcopal Church, SanFrancisco, by the Right Reverend WilliamIngraham Kip, Bishop of California, and wehave been members of the Episcopal Churchever since. Under the rectorship of Rev. Wil-

154

Ham H.Platt, D.D.,Iwas elected a vestrymanof Grace Church on April 18th, 1881, and washonored with a re-election every year from1881 to 1894, and was continuously a delegateto the Diocesan Convention from said parishfrom 1885 to 1895, and was also a delegate fromsaid parish to the special convention of the dio-cese called for the election of an assistant bishopto Bishop Kip, who had become superanuated,held inTrinity Church, San Francisco, inFeb-ruary, 1890, and voted for the successful candi-date, the Rev. William Ford Nichols, D.D., ofSt. James' Church, Philadelphia.

In March, 1895, for reasons satisfactory tomyself,Iresigned the offices of vestryman (andjunior warden of Grace Church, -which officeIhad held continuously since April 21st, 1884),and in March, -1*896, with my wife, we weretransferred from Grace Church to St. Luke's, inS'kTL Francisco. At the Easter election of dele-gates to attend the Annual Convention of theDiocese ofCalifornia to be held inGrace ChurchinMay of 1896, Iwas elected a delegate to saidconvention, from St. Luke's, and served in thatcapacity.

In the winter or spring of the year 1862,with my brother, Augustus K.Phelps, Ijoinedthe First California Guard (light artillery) andserved in the ranks for about one year. Whenthe San Josd and San Francisco Railroad wascompleted and opened first for traffic, the peopleof San Jos£ had a celebration in honor of the

155

opening of the road, and the California Guardwere invited to go to San Jose* and participate inthe festivities. We went there on the first reg-ular passenger train that ever ran over the roadbetween San Jose* and San Francisco, and car-ried our guns, and fired a salute at the openingof the road inFebruary, 1864.

Inthe month ofJune, iB7s,Bdward Wiggin,the father of Ellen Bartlett Phelps, died inBangor, Maine, and in November of the sameyear her mother, Mrs. Edward Wiggin, came toCalifornia and made her home withher daughteruntil her death on the 13th day of February,1893.

Upon the death of Thomas H. Selby inJune, 1875, the opportunity came for me toenter into business for myself, with Mr. HenryS. Austin and Mr.Edward Hammer as generalpartners, and withMrs. Thomas H. Selby as aspecial partner, by the purchase of the goods andgood willof the late firm of Thomas H.Selby &Co., and we carried on the business at the oldstore, 116 California street, for over six years,when there was a change on the Ist day of Jan-uary, 1883, by the purchase of the interest ofMr.E. H. Hammer by the three other partners.The business was continued two years moreat the same place under the same name.

On the Ist day of January, 1885, the inter-est of Mrs. Thomas H.Selby was purchased byMr. Henry S. Austin and Alanson H. Phelps,and was then removed to Nos. 220 and 222 Mis-

156

sion street, where tlie business was carried on bythe two gentlemen above named under the nameof Thomas H.Selby &Co. until the first day of1887, when it was changed into the firm nameof Austin &Phelps, and was continued underthat name until the tragic death of Mr.HenryS. Austin by a railroad accident in OaklandCreek on the 30th day of May, 1890.

In the month of February, 1877, the gen-eral agency for the Pacific Coast of the Hazard(Sporting) Powder Company was very unex-pectedly tendered to the firm of Thomas H.Selby &Co., and was accepted by them, and wascontinued and carried on by them successfully,and by their successors.

After the death ofMr.Henry S. Austin, andthe settlement ofhis estate in the spring of1891,

the business was continued under differentauspices, including the agency of the HazardPowder Company, until the 31st day of March,1896, when, having disposed of nearly all myinterest in the. business at Nos. 220 and 222Mission street, Iretired from the firm andaccepted the sole agency of the above companyfor the Pacific Coast on AprilIst, 1896.

Owing to the undermining of my health,caused by too close application to business, Iwasadvised by my physicians to take a long restand vacation from business, and on July 13th,1881, 1left California withmy wife and young-est son for the eastern States.

We visited Ohio, Niagara Falls and Sara-

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toga Springs; Manchester, Vt., Portland andBowdoinham, Maine, and finally reached NewYork and Brooklyn in October. During thevisitImade a flying trip from New York toPhiladelphia, Washington and Mount Vernon.

On our return we visited Pittsburgh, Pa.,and Painesville, Ohio, and arrived home in SanFrancisco, December 4th, 1881.

In 1886 Iwas cheerfully and cordiallyinvited to visit New York by the Hazard Pow-der Company at their expense, whichIas cheer-fully and cordially accepted, and on June 3d myeldest son and myself started for New York,going by the Central Pacific and Denver andRio Grande Railways.

While away we visited Newport and Provi-dence as the guests of the Hazard Powder Com-pany. We also visited Keyport, Ocean Grove,Long Branch and Blberon, N.J., as the guestsofDr. Joseph B.Brown of Brooklyn.

On our return we visited Pittsburgh, Pa.,Greene, Trumbull county, and Painesville, Ohio,and reached home on August Ist, 1886.

In response to a subpoena issued to me by theUnited States Marshall for the Northern Districtof California, it became my duty to appear inthe U. S. District Court on the 15th day ofFeb-ruary, 1895, whenIwas sworn in as a memberof the United States Grand Jury to serve for theterm commencing on that date.

After having been sworn as a member of saidjury, Judge William W. Morrow then did me

158

the honor to appoint me as Foreman of the jnryand Iwas then sworn again to act in that capac-ity.

The jury convened immediately for business,and during the term we were in service Ipre-sided at 38 sessions of the jury,and we werefinally discharged on the 3d day of July, 1895.

Who can explain the inexplicable? Whatmetaphysician who has written the ablesttreatise ever produced by man, upon the powersof the human mind, has been able to explain themysterious forces which control our souls? Isthere a connection of the material forces of thisworldwiththe spiritual forces of the world whichlies beyond the vision of these mortal eyes ? Doangels and the spirits of those who have precededus to the hidden world around us have thepower, when our minds are in a receptive andcongenial state, to flash to us across the abyssthat divides the immortal from the mortal world,some slight snatches of the knowledge they pos-sess, and are we permitted to receive, by aglance, as it were, intelligence from them, andare we constituted so that we can use such intel-ligence in intellectual forms ?

Have they power to fillour souls with sub-lime and lofty thoughts of great originality andbeauty

—thoughts that take complete possession

of us and dominate us and compel us to do andto act as we never before have acted in all ourlives ? Ifsuch experiences do come to us incer-tain states of our minds, may we not justly

159

believe that there is a connection between earthlysouls and the angels of light, or with the soulsof those who are in Paradise, and may not we

rationally assume that God has endowed some

human souls with the capacity to receive and toappropriate such revelations or inspirations fromthe world above?

The writer knew a man a few years ago whoapparently had passed through such an experi-ence. One Sunday morning while at divineservice this message was instantaneously flashedinto his mind: "You can write in poeticalmeasures." It was an overwhelming surpriseto him, and it found him utterly unprepared, byhis modes of thought, and by the structure ofhis mind, to attempt anything in a rythmicalform, and yet the message was so real to himthat he determined to try, and to see what hecould do by an actual test, and ifhe didpossessany powers of versification. He was a businessman who, for many years, had devoted all hisattention to the details of his constant business.He was a comparatively illiterate man, havinginhis youth been favored withbut slight educa-tional advantages, and when this message cameto him it found him with a mind entirely una-dapted to the higher modes of thought requisitefor literary work, even ifhe possessed the orig-inality of mind to produce anything any one inthe world would care to read, and he was loth toattempt the task. He had already passed his

160

54th birthday, and lie had never suspected thathe possessed any poetical powers.

The influence of the message, however,continued with him constantly ; itdid not fadeaway as he thought it would do, but it grewstronger as the days went on, and he became soimpressed with the idea in his mind that hemade an attempt at writing a few lines in ryth-mical form.

His first effort was very crude, as might beexpected, because he had no practical knowledgeof the construction of poetical feet —

no knowl-edge of the accent that ought to be given insuchwritings, and had a poor knowledge as well ofthe rules of grammar. He had nothing of thefelicity ofexpression that is required in the pro-duction of beautiful poetry. His mind was abarren field upon which the flowers of rhetoricand poetical feeling had never been suffered orencourage to grow.

He had read some of the works of the greatpoets of the century, and of the older poets, buthe did not have an overshadowing love forpoetry.

Without any real conception of what he wasgoing to do he groped along uncertain as to whatit allmeant, until in a few days there began toappear in his mind groupings of words in sen-tences, and finally completer lines ofremarkableimport to him.

Thoughts that were absolutely new to himcame to him in his daily business, or when

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walking to and from his business, and in thesilent night, until there began to appear a regi-ment of new and beautiful thoughts which hesaw needed to be marshaled in a metrical andpoetical form. This he slowly attempted to dobut he found it exceedingly difficult to arrangethem inpoetical measures.

The lines would not come out right—

somewere too long and some too short

—and his first

efforts were very discouraging, but he wasinduced, perhaps by a higher power, topersevere,and at last he saw that the matter forming inhismind was tobe a poem relating to the worldabove,although when he commenced it he had no ideawhere it would lead him, or of its final comple-tion, because he did not think or imagine thathe had the ability to write on such a profoundsubject.

One night he was awakened about half-pasttwo o'clock with a rush of overpowering andtumultuous thoughts

—thoughts such as he had

never experienced before. They came inregularorder, inlines of a certain length and measure,and he was so impressed with them, with theirconstruction, with their felicity of expression,that he arose from his bed, and lighting hisrqpm, took a pencil and paper, and at once wrotethem off just as they had first appeared inhismind.

The lines were a portion of a poem that hesubsequently composed, and the effusionwas shortly afterwards published in a religious

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newspaper in San Francisco, the title of thepoem being "ADream of Heaven." The lineshe wrote on that night of his life never-to-be-forgotten by him, were as follows:

The gates of pearl swing outThe Golden streets appear,Isee the homes of Paradise

Domed in the air.

WithinIsee my friendsIknew onearth while here,

Conscious of their felicityThey wish me there.Isee mine own child there,

Eyes innocent of tears,

Clad incelestial textures,Now, a crown she wears.

They signal me to comeWithin the City walls,

Communion sweet with me toholdEre my evening falls.

There every hope and wishFull gratified must be,

To all who have attained untoThat blest Eternity.

Inconsonance with their wishInciting me to come,

A cymbal rings inecstacy

To win me home.

Isee, Ihear the call,Iyearn to enter there,

While yet my vile mortalityDoth bind me here.

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These lines came to the house of his soulwhen there was no expectancy ofreceiving suchguests, and no preparation had been provided fortheir entertainment.

They came to his soul and they found itlikea seed of a rare and exquisite plant whichby some misfortune in its youth had been castout ofits natural home in the garden ofa Prince,and had been swept away, far away, where ithadfallen into the dry and sterile soil of a desert,where it had striven to obtain a precarious life

—where ithad been twisted, and bent and gnarledand dwarfed by the dessicating winds of thefierce sirrocos that beat upon its life; there itlived outcast and alone, untilone day the Princehimself was crossing the desert, when he saw thelittleplant liftingup its humble head in the aridwastes.

He at once recognized it; he knew itsheredity ; he knew that ifit were transplantedto a fertile and generous soil it would, in duetime, withits wealth of beauty, repay the toilofits transference from the desert to his garden.He called one of his retinue of servants anddirected him to take the plant and carefullycarry it home to his garden; to plant it in agenerous place, where the sun and the air wouldfructify it; to enrich the soil about it with fertil-izing wealth ; to straighten its crooked stem bytraining it to stand upright; to prune away allof its knotty protuberances ; to cut away allofits dead limbs and leaves ; to watch it day by

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day as it began to unfold a new crown inthe air,and that some morning he would come, when loand behold ! there would appear upon its stem ablossom of supetnal beauty, fresh withthe bloomand the odors of Eden.

DANIELTOWNSEND PHELPS

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CHAPTER XX.

DANIEL TOWNSEND PHELPS, THE EIGHTHGENERATION.

Daniel Townsend Phelps, the sixth childand fourth son of Asa Hosmer and Margery(McCoun) Phelps, was born in the city of NewYork,April21,1835. His father died a few monthsafter he was born. He attended some of the littleschools inNew York Cityinhis early years, andwhen he was 9 years ofage his mother sent himto South Wales, Brie county, New York, to livewith and be brought up by his maternal uncle,Daniel McCoun, after whom he was named.

Here, when he became old enough, heworked around the farm of his uncle during thesummer months, and attended the district schoolinthe winter. When hebecame older he assistedhis uncle in his sawmill work, and also fre-quently drove a team of horses with wagonsloaded withlumber to Buffalo, N. V., where Mr.McCoun sent large quantities of ash and hem-lock for sale, the distance being about twenty-five miles.

When Daniel had reached his 17th year hismother made arrangements withher son-in-law,Isaac Hall, to take him as an apprentice inhis

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shop to learn the ship-smithing trade, and hethen went to New York, and entering the shopofMr.Hall,commenced to learn the trade, mak-ing his home with his employer all the time hewas working as an apprentice.

After he became master ofhis trade he con-tinued to work for Mr.Hall for wages until thespring of 1857 when, at the solicitation of hisbrothers in San Francisco, he started for Cal-ifornia, by the Isthmus route, having beenoffered a position in the shop of his brothers.

He arrived in San Francisco early in thespring of the year above mentioned, and imme-diately entered the shop ofhis brothers as jour-neyman ship-smith, boarding with his brotherAugustus until his marriage, and a short timetime after his marriage.

On the 23d ofNovember, 1864, he was mar-ried in the First Baptist Church in San Fran-cisco, by the Rev. Dr.D. B. Cheney, to MissEliza Jane Donnellan. She was the seconddaughter of Benjamin Crockett and Eliza (DeGuerre) Donnellan, and was born inlowa, April14th, 1846.

They have had no children.On June 27th, 1870, Daniel Townsend

Phelps was admitted as a member of AbouBen Adhem Lodge, I.O. O. F., in San Fran-cisco, and has maintained his membership inthat lodge ever since, and inhis lifehas followedthe motto ofhis lodge, as follows:

"Writeme as one who loves his fellow men."

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He is a man of quiet and unassuming life,a hard-working, steady man, and has always hadthe respect and esteem of his neighbors andacquaintances.

For many years he lived in the immediatevicinity of the homes of his brothers in SanFrancisco, but a few years since he purchased ahome on Dorland street, near Eighteenth, andthere he is spending the later years of his life.

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CHAPTER XXI.

A TRADITION OF THE FAMILY.

The following tradition was sent to thewriter of this book in the year 1888 by R. T.Servin, Esq., of Lenox, Mass.

The relationship of the writer of the tradi-tion to our branch of the family being that offirst cousin to Grandfather Eliphalet Phelps :

"A short narrative of our ancestors, ashanded down to us from our forefathers; notby any authentic records, but verbally, from gen-eration to generation down to the writer's owntime, and as received from my father, who liveduntil he was about 95 years of age, and in ameasure retained his reason to the last.

"About the year 1616, when King James I.was on the throne of England, there had arisena religious sect, called by some Nonconformists,by others Puritans. This sect refused to makeuse of all the ceremonies and fooleries, as theytermed them, which were made use of in thereligious meetings of the established church,which was Episcopalian.

"For this they were persecuted to such adegree that the Rev. Mr. Robertson, with most ofhis congregation, removed to Holland and settled

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themselves in tlie cityofLeyden. Inthis societwere two young men by the name of Phelps,and it appears that these two brothers were theancestors ofall of this name that have ever beenor are now in America; for we have neverlearned that any other one of our name has setfoot upon American ground. After a very fewyears this company found themselves in nobetter situation than when inEngland, and theydetermined once more to rid themselves of theirpersecutors, and this by crossing the AtlanticOcean, and seat themselves down in the wilds ofAmerica, where they could worship God accord-ing to the dictates of their own consciences,without any one to molest or make them afraidin religious matters. Itwas agreed that only apart of the company should go first and preparefor themselves and those that remained, the bestaccommodations in their power, and this lastsquad should join the first company the nextyear. The society hired a Dutchman as captain,together with a ship called the "May Flower,"to transport these first emigrants to the mouthof the North River (where the cityofNew Yorknow stands), but on account of many hindrancesthey did not hoist sail for this voyage until thesixth day of September, one thousand six hun-dred and twenty. On account ofthe lateness ofthe season and rough weather on their passage,they did not reach America untilDecember, andeither through ignorance or treachery of thecaptain, the first land they made was Cape Cod,

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far north of the Hudson River, where he landedhis passengers, and immediately left them totake care of themselves.

liHere they were in a wilderness country,and winter having already set in, with snow onthe ground, not a white person to be seen exceptthemselves, but surrounded by wild Indiantribes."

These emigrants kept up worshiping Godon the Sabbath, as also morning and eveningprayers while on board ship, likewise after land-ing at the Cape. There seemed tobe a particularProvidence in preparing the Indian chief thatwas in this neighborhood for the reception ofthis handful of whites. By giving him a fewpresents of English manufacture which, beingof littlevalue, notwithstanding were consideredof great value by him, and these, with some fewothers, obtained his friendship during his longlife."

The chief's name was Massasoit, and hehad command of all the tribes that surroundedthese pilgrims. He not only assisted them withhis own hands, but directed his subjects to givethese strangers all the assistance that was intheir power; and, in fact, many of these nativesdid assist these whites inbuilding their tempo-rary huts, or wigwams."

In the winter and spring these Indianshelped these strangers to provisions, etc., and,indeed, had itnot been for the help they receivedthrough the influence of this good and great

v

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chief, it is thought by many, that they musthave perished withhunger.

v Several of these Englishmen were takensick before they left the ship, and after landingothers were taken down ; and not long after thesick began to die, and the disease raged to sucha degree that by the middle of May followingnearly one-half of their number were in theirgraves. From this time forward the sicknessabated, and soon after entirely stopped. Whenthe spring opened they fixed on Plymouth Rock(so called) for their permanent settlement.They were now more prosperous in whateverthey undertook. Their number, to be sure,was reduced nearly one-half, and they could notcount more than thirty-five or six.

"This year they built better habitations,cleared land, planted Indian corn and pumpkins,also a large garden inwhich were raised beets,carrots, parsnips, cabbage, etc.; likewise a largepatch of turnips, all of which yielded them aplentiful harvest in the fall."

Between one and two years from the timethat these pilgrims landed on the Cape, theremainder of the Rev. Mr.Robertson's congre-gation crossed the ocean and joined them atPlymouth. They had left their beloved pastorbehind, who had died ofsickness inHolland."

With this last party that arrived came thetwo brothers, that were of the same name asmyself. The elder one was married, and the

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younger one married soon after lie arrived inAmerica.

cc The mode of worship that was practiced bythese Nonconformists was the same as practicedat the present time by Congregationalists andPresbyterians. At least the narrator has notbeen informjed, or been able to discover, anyessential difference.

"Our information willnow be principallyconfined to the line of descendants from whichthe children of the younger brother, who is myancestor, came. From about this time forwardand for many years, emigrants were flockinginto this country, not only by hundreds but bythousands, yearly, and were making settlementsinvarious places along the coast, from Plymouthto Carolina, as also up the large rivers.

"The two brothers remained at Plymouth,but how many children each had Ihave notlearnt, further than that the elder brother hadmany and the younger few, and that theyounger had a grandson named Silas Phelps,and this Silas was my great grandfather."

It is handed down to us that all alongdown to the present time, the descendantsof the elder brother multiplied very fast, but notso with the descendants of the younger, whomultiplied, but very slowly.

"From this it appears that the principalpart of the Phelps' that are now in the countrydescended from the elder brother. The grand-son mentioned above had a son named Jedediah

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who, after having a small family, together witha number of his neighbors, removed from Ply-mouth, through the wilderness, to ConnecticutRiver, where they seated themselves down at aplace called Northampton. This JedediahPhelps was my grandfather.

"He lived several years at Northampton,when he sold his possessions and purchased atract ofland in the town of Lebanon, inwhat isnow the State of Connecticut, on to which heremoved with his family.

"He had three sons: Jacob, Jedediah, andSilas, which last was my father.

"Before my remembrance my grandfatherand my two uncles died with lung fever. Mygrandmother lived several years longer, ofwhomIhave some faint remembrance. My fathersurvived and lived on the farm my grandfathergave him. He had six children

—five sons and

one daughter —Kliphalet, Anna, Silas, Jedediah,Joseph and Jacob. These all lived to havesmall families. The narrator has one son andtwo daughters ; he has likewise fourteen grand-children, and eleven great grandchildren. Myfather, mother, brothers and sisters have allgone to their long homes, and to add to myafflictions, God in his providence has seen fit totake from me my beloved wife, who died verysuddenly on the 29th day of March, 1841."

She was 85 years old, and had been mywife for about sixty-four years. Myown age isnearly 90;yetIhave great reason to be thank-

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fillthat in some measure Iretain my reason,andIam still able to read and write.

"It is my desire that as soon after mydecease as may be, that this instrument ofwritingbe handed over to mygrandson, JedediahPhelps, and my request to him is that he leaveitwith such one of his descendants as he maythink proper ; and ifour descendants are faith-ful to the trust reposed in them, they willkeepthis instrument of writing going onward fromone generation to another, by copying andre-copying down to the latest period of time.

"Town of Barre, Orleans county, State ofNew York, the 20th day of May, one thousandeight hundred and forty-four.

"Jedediah Phelps."

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CHAPTER XXII.

SOME REMINISCENCES OF THE FAMILY IN

ENGLAND AND AMERICA.

The following excerpts are taken from aletter dated at Vevay, Switzerland, October 17th,1881, written to Rev. Alanson Phelps of Paines-ville, Ohio.

"Italways gives me the greatest pleasureto afford any information in my power on thesubject of my maternal ancestors,

—the Phelps

family, of Twining near Tewksbury,—

a familynow broken up, but to whose affection Ioweeverything, and whose representative Iconsidermyself to be. They were not among the greatof the land, but people of good standing andlanded property, long established at Tewksburyand its environs as you may see from an excel-lent history of Tewksbury, now out

'of print,but of which Iprocured a copy for JudgePhelps."

The oldest entry on the register ofbirths atTewksbury now extant is the baptism of JamesPhelps; among his descendants a dispersionseems to have occurred when some, includingWilliamPhelps, emigrated to the United States,then a BritishColony, and another of the family

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Edward, remained at home. In him continuedthe elder branch of the family and possessionof the property."

Certainly the original Coat of Arms wassimply the black lion,of whichIsend you someimpressions. Ipossess the Seal which is verysimple but antique.

"A member of the family served underCromwell and received a grant of land from himin Ireland, with probably a Coat of Arms, (Ihave seen it,) and his decendants occupy a highstanding."

Other branches went toSalisbury, and oneof them was John Phelps, who, with AndrewBroughton, (buried in St. Martin's Church atVevay,) held the office of clerk at the trial ofCharles First, and his likeness may be seen onan old picture at the BritishMuseum.

"In the parish of Twining near Tewksburyone of the hamlets bears the name of

"Phelps,"

but Ido not know how it passed out of thefamily."

The entailed estate was at Twining, called'Packrup House.'

1fIwas born there. Mygrandfather WilliamPhelps had two sons, William and Frederick,with three daughters. The youngest daughter,Mary, my mother, alone had issue. My uncleWilliam Law Phelps, the eldest son, being un-married and in consideration of a sum of money,made an arrangement with his father wherebyin accordance with the laws of England all

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entails may be cut off. This they did, and itwas the ruin of the family, as well as the lossof the estate.

"On my grandfather's death disputes oc-curred in the family. It got into the Court ofChancery during my minority, and to make along story short, some ten or twelve law suits werestarted among us until all was eaten out. Sictransit gloria mundi. Ihave been chaplain atthis place for thirty years. Ihave six sons.My age is 6j. Space fails me. Iconclude withfraternal good wishes."

Yours very sincerely,"William Phelps Prior."

William Walter Phelps of New Jersey andCharles A.Phelps of Massachusetts have causeda memorial stone to be erected at the grave, inVevay, Switzerland, of their ancestor JohnPhelps.

It bears the inscription on the followingpage.

178

INMEMORIAM.

Of Him Who, Being with Andrew Broughton,

Joint Clerk of the CourtWhich Tried and Condemned Charles the First

Of England,Had Such Zeal to Accept the FullResponsibility,

Of His ActThat He Signed Each Record withHisFull

Name,

JOHN PHEIrPS.He Came to Vevay and Died, LikeHis Associates

Whose MemorialsAre About Us, AnExilein the Cause of Human

Freedom.This Stone is Placed at the Request ofWilliam Walter Phelps of New Jersey andCharles A.Phelps of Massachusetts,

Descendants From Across The Seas.

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The following excerpts are taken from anold letter of Mrs. Wyntop, no date given :

"Judge John Phelps, third generation from'Auld William,' resided at Stafford Springs,Tolland County, Conn. It was natural, as thefamily had hailed from Staffordshire, England,for him to name the town

'Stafford,'

"Judge John Phelps married MaryRichard-son, the only child of Lady Abigail Richardsonof Scotland, a widow residing in the rural townof Sumeld, a few miles from Windsor :

"Lady Richardson was a splendid and beau-tifulperson, sat ina great square pew at church,and always carried a

*posie,' which was a bunchof flowers tied to a long stick with a blue rib-bon.

"This, with a sprig of fennel, was alwaysgiven to the favorite grandchild inmeeting. Shewould not sanction the marriage of her accom-plished young daughter of 15 to Mr. JohnPhelps, aged 19."

This was the ostensible reason ; othersguessed her Scotch pride had something to do inthe matter

—her young, very beautiful and

highly-toned daughter ought to command thevery best match in the land.

"At this the maiden rebelled. She wasshut up inher room untilpermission should be"given for her release. The young people, how-ever, managed well. The dwelling had a lean-toroof, which caused the windows in the rear tobelow. 'Mammy Kitty,' a slave, was active in

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carrying notes to the distressed swain, and acteda clever part in the transaction.

"One moonlight evening after the villagebell had tolled the honr of nine (bed-time) andthe good mother was hushed in slumber, Johncomes, the bundles of clothing went down, thencame the young girl,Mary, who cast herself intothe arms of her lover."

They went immediately to the parson, ashad been previously arranged, where the nup-tial knot was tied. After this he escorted hisbride to his own home. It is affirmed that forsix months they lived on pork and beans, cornand hasty pudding."

The mother made the best of it,saying itwas owing to the extreme youth of the partiesthat she opposed the marriage."

She lived to see them surrounded withevery earthly comfort, and her aspirationsrealized, and died at an old age.

"My mother always spoke of her as astately personage. She (her name Abigail) washer favorite grandchild.

"Judge John Phelps died having an exaltedname as a Christian gentleman. He was afriend of Washington. He was often solicitedto enter public lifeinPhiladelphia, but declinedthe excitement of its responsibilities and honor,and was happier in the retiracy of his family.

"He used his influence in his own State ofConnecticut, where he won its honors and re-ceived its gratitude.

181

"For a number of years lie represented the

State in its General Assembly, and retired asone of its judges. His investment in his ironmines yielded him a large income. His daugh-ters were fair and accomplished."

They were educated in Boston at the onlyboarding school then inNew England. Learn-ing to play the piano was thought an uncommonaccomplishment at that time. Toobtain a thor-ough knowledge of it,it was thought necessaryat each lesson to be accompanied by a flute andbass viol to preserve the time, and requiringthree teachers instead of one."

Esther, the eldest daughter of Judge JohnPhelps and Mary Richardson, married ElijahAustin, a merchant of New Haven. Mary, thesecond daughter, married Deacon Nathan Beers,and lived to great age, only lacking eighteenmonths of a century.

"Abigail Richardson (the youngest child)married Judge Isaac Mills, and died aged 83years. Daniel Phelps lived inConnecticut. Hisson, Judge Phelps, of Painesville, Ohio, wasgreatly respected.

"His daughter, Mary Phelps, married hercousin, Peleg Phelps Sanford, son ofEsther andher second husband. Timothy Phelps marriedJanet Broome. His second wife was HenriettaBroome, sister ofJanet.

"Their father was commissioned by theBritish Crown as Governor of the American col-onies. He was cousin of Sir Admiral Peter

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Parker and Lord Elgin—nephew of WilliamPitt,Karl of Chatam."

To the courtesy of WilliamSchuyler Moses,Esq., of San Francisco, Cal. (whose ancestorswere cotemporaries of our ancestors in Windsorand its vicinity),the editor is under obligation forthe following historical sketch of two relics ofgreat antiquarian value, which have come downto him through his ancestors of "ye oldentyme."

As the readers of this book willreadily see,Mr. Moses possesses an original mind, and is aman of scientific attainments as well:

"San Francisco, June 26th, 1896."Alanson H.Phelps, Esq."

Dear Sir—

Your request at our interviewa few days since, that Ishould give you a his-tory of a few heirlooms, that have been trans-mitted to me from my ancestors of 1640 andlater, who were cotemporaries with your ownfrom the early settlements at Canton, Simsbury,Barkhamstead and Hartford, to about the year1808, willnow be acceded to, so far as Iam ableto do. You must remember that inthe two hun-dred and fiftyyears that have elapsed, much thatis known to us now is largely traditional, asaccess to records, even if they were right, isdifficult, and in most cases impossible; but inthis case Ihave the articles to show.

"First—

Is the copper spoon moulds, in

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which were cast the leaden or pewter spoonsused by the early settlers. Inmy own remem-brance, over sixty years ago, it was the customof my grandfather, on a stormy day, to gatherup all the broken, bent and worn-out spoons,and with the big ladle at the old fire-place, castanew the pewter spoons for the family use duringthe winter. These spoon moulds, family tradi-tion says, were brought to Dorchester, Mass., byJohn Moses in1632."

Second—

The calumet, or pipe ofpeace, isidentical in shape and ornament with a cut ofone on page 317 of a "Pictorial History ofAmerica," by John Frost, LX.D., in print inPhiladelphia, 1854."

This pipe was possibly used at the signingof the deed to John Moses and George Abbet, bythe Massacoe Chiefs Pacatoco, Pamatacount, andYoungcowet, on the 28th of June, 1648, whenthe above three chiefs of the Massacoes sold thelands of the town of Simsbury, Conn.

"The original of that deed Ihave seen andread, and it was at the old homestead as late as1855, and as all bargains at that time with theIndians were always closed with a smoke ofpeace and good will,it is not impossible thatthis calumet was used at that time. Or it ispossible that it came from a later period, viz.,

1672 to 1675, when John Moses was a soldier inthe King Philip war, where he lost two sons,Thomas aged 22 years, and William aged 19years. After the death of King Philip, peace

184

was made with the remnants of the Pequot tribe,and as John Moses was present then, the pipemay have come from them; at any rateIhaveknown the pipe for over sixty-five years in onrfamily. AsIfirst remember it,it was a splen-did,specimen of laborious work. The stem wascovered with feathers of many colors, and therewas attached to it two long strings of shellwampnm. •It is my intention to restore itsfeather ornaments as Iremember them nearlyseventy years ago, and, if possible, also thewampum.

vIcannot, of course, tell which of the fore-going traditions may be the correct one, but itis certain the pipe has been in our family 225 or

250 years."The bowl of the pipe is made of a hard

brown stone, and is about the size of the bowlsof ordinary clay pipes now in use, except thatthe walls of the bowl are very much thicker thanthe modern clay pipes are.

"The stem is made of ash—

a flat stem—

being one and three-quarters ofan inch inwidth,and three-eighths of an inch in thickness, andtwenty-eight inches long.

"Addenda. Ifind that Timothy Moses, mygreat great grandfather, married, as his firstwife, Sarah Phelps, who died September 12th,

"He was a man much given to marriage, for

he afterward married three other wives (wonderwhat St. Peter said to him when he called at the

185

outer gate?). Ialways thought there was somefamily tie between us, forIsometimes recognizein the family mutual characteristics.

"Myfather outlived three wives, and yourbrother has his second, and whenIdo anythingthat my conscience (what littleIhave) smites mefor,Iconsole myself with the thought, that isfrom Tim's first wife, and Iknow that whenyour brother does anything he is ashamed of,heis just as likely as not to charge it up to myaccount."

Iam as ever yours, partner inmisfortune,superior in iniquity, and fellow-traveler on theroad to eternity,

"William Schuyler Moses."Mr. Moses also has another relic of the

olden time that possesses great antiquarianinterest, especially to the family of Phelps ingeneral, in the form of an old lease, written ononly one side of a sheet of paper (which he haspermitted the editor to copy for this book), madeand executed by Benjaman Phelps ofSimsbury,Conn., to Thomas Phelps of the same place.The original of this old lease, written in the old-fashioned style of penmanship then inuse, andwith the appearance of having been written byBenjamin Phelps himself, from the similarity ofthe writing with Ijis autograph, is sacredly pre-served by Mr.Moses.

The lease is as follows:"Know all men by these presents, that I,

Benjamin Phelps ofSimsbury, in the County of

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Hartford, and Colony ofConnecticut, for a valu-ble sum of money, to-wit, Two Pounds lawfulmoney to me in hand paid received to my fullsatisfaction of Thomas Phelps of Simsburyaforesaid, Do Release, Remise and to Farm, Letunto him the said Thomas Phelps and to hisheirs, and assigns, for and during the fulltermof Nine Hundred and Ninety-Nine years nextensuing, the one half of allthe Mines, Minerals,Mettles and Oars of Mettles of what Nature,kind or quality whatsoever, that shall at anyTime hereafter During said term be found inany part, or parcels, of land, whichIhave everbought of him the said Thomas in the boundsof Simsbury in West Simsbury Society, withfullLiberty for him the said Thomas, his heirsor Assigns, at any Time or Times During saidTerm, to Enter upon the Premises, to Digg,Search for, Sink Shafts, work and Separate anysuch Oars or Mettles, and with Teams and Car-riages to carry away, all such Oars or Mettles,and Oars he or they shall find and Raise on saidLand, Only reserving to myself, heirs andAssigns at my own cost and Labour, to carry onthe One half of the business of Raising Oars,&c, as aforesaid for my own and their profit anduse. To have and to hold the said premisesand Released Premises with the appurtenancesthereof unto him the said Thomas Phelps hisheirs and Assigns, without let, suit, claim, hen-derance or Molestation from the said BenjaminPhelps my heirs Executors or Administrators,

187

or any other person or persons from by or underme. In witness whereofIhave hereunto set myhand and seal the 24th day of April,1769.

"Benjamin Phelps.11 Signed, Sealed and Delived"

inPresence of"Josiah Case,"Abraham Case."

188

CHAPTER XXIII.

CONCLUSION.

The labor of the editor is done. To thebest of his ability he has compiled and arrangedin as clear and concise a form as practicable,with the facilities to be obtained on the PacificCoast, and yet he has, as it were, only skirtedthe border land of mystery surrounding the livesof the first five generations enumerated in thisbook. He is conscious

—supremely conscious

—that there are many delinquencies in it,but heis confident that the records here enrolled willbe useful in the future to many of the name ofPhelps yet unborn.

Before he writes"

the end,"

he wishes 5 todraw a picture, which may possibly come truesometime in the coming centuries :

In the year 2196 of the Christian Bra, oneday a man of middle age carelessly saunteredinto a large and commodious public library inthe populous City of Tucson, Arizona.

He was seeking he knew not what, «. \entered the library, as the day was very warm,to finda cool and shady retreat. He entered oneof the alcoves where were stored the mostneglected and worn-out books of the whole

189

library—

books that had seen better days—

somein tattered covers showing hard and continuoususage, others so useless in themselves that noone had ever handled them except to get themout of the way.

He stepped up to the shelves and began tolook at the old books of various kinds. Amongother books which he took down was one thathad the appearance of very great age; it wascovered with the dust of many years, the bind-ing was frayed and in a dilapidated condition.He examined itcasually, but withno particularinterest ; opened itand saw the title page, read-ing,

"Genealogy of One Branch of the Family

of George Phelps."He had never seen or even heard of the

book before. He turned over a few of its leavesand saw the Chapter headed, "The Line of theFamily."

? He began tobe interested init,as he was adescendant on hismother's side (her maiden namehaving been Harriet Aurelia Phelps) of thePhelps Family long identified with the greatState of California.

Seeking an easy seat he pored over the oldbook with increasing interest from beginning toend, and ere he had finished ithe was convincedtf.^t at last he had found the "missing link"Tvhich he had been insearch of many years, thatwould enable him to prove that he was the onlysurviving heir of a grand uncle of his mother,who had died in 2155 and had left a large and

190

valuable estate inCalifornia for which no heirs

had ever been able to prove their right of in-

heritance.He.took the book to the librarian and re-

quested that he might carry it away with him.As the book never before in the history of thelibrary had been called for

—or at least in the

memory of the then librarian, who was an elderlyman who had spent nearly all his life in the

service of the library—

the request was readilygranted, with the condition, however, that it

must be returned within two months from date.

This he agreed to do, and, giving a receipt, hewas permitted to take it away. He took it at

once to an attorney who was well versed insolv-ing the riddles so often concealed in old wills,and who also had a profound knowledge of the

law relating to escheated estates, and, showinghim the book, stated to him that hebelieved thatifhe could get the matter of his great granduncle's estate re-opened in court, that he wouldbe able withit to prove his kinship to his uncle,and that he would be declared his lawful heir,

and be entitled to the estate.Together they went over the book. Many

passages initbrought smiles of derision to theirlips, because of the crude and uncultured styleinwhich the poor old editor had sought to clothe

the historical parts of the narrative.But they were forced to admit that the

records themselves—

the manner in which theywere set forth in the book, were clear and per-

191

spicacious and bore internal evidence of beingreally authentic.

The lawyer was impressed with the strengthof the case as presented in the old book, andagreed to assume charge of the case, and wouldendeavor to have it brought before the propercourt in the State of California. In due timethis was done

—the case having been assigned to

the Probate Department of the Superior Courtin the City and County of Oakland in the Stateof California, inwhich County the major portionof the landed estate was situated. The casewas brought to trial

—the plaintiff appearing

with seven of the ablest attorneys as counsel,practicing in the courts of the State; the case

was presented to the judge in open court; theold book, the principal evidence the plaintiffhadto establish his case, was offered in evidence—

was carefully examined by the learned attor-

neys representing the State and by the dis-tinguished judge on the bench, and after a fulland exhaustive hearing of the whole matter, thejudge handed down a decision that the plaintiff,Asa Hosmer Austin, was the rightful and legalheir of his Great Grand Uncle WilliamBlipha-let Phelps of Milpitas, California, and gave himthe estate.

This fanciful picture, showing what maypossibly happen in the years to come, illustratesthe necessity for the faithful keeping and thepreservation of family records, and is introducedhere to show to the descendants of our family

192

the utility of the custom of faithfully preserv-ing their own family records.

The editor commits this book to the de-scendants of the family wherever they may live,for preservation, and to the care of the InfiniteFather.

THE END.

THE PRINTER BEGAN HIS WORK ON THIS

BOOK INTHE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER MDCCCXCVII

AND FINISHED IT IN THE MONTH OF OCTOBERFOLLOWING. OF THIS BOOK TWO HUNDRED

COPIES ONLY EXIST WHICH ARE FOR PRIVATECIRCULATION. THE WORK WAS DONE IN SAN

FRANCISCO AT THE PRINTING SHOP OF THEE. D. TAYLOR COMPANY.

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