B. W. Phelps, grain merchant, was born in Chautauqua County, N.Y., Oct. 5, 1822, and was a son of Porter and Jerusha Phelps, natives of the Green Mountain State. He was reared on a farm, and received a common-school education. When twenty-two years of age he began to work as a farm laborer, and was employed on twenty-two different farms in New York. In 1854 he came west, reached Dubuque, Iowa, and from there walked to Strawberry Point. He purchased a farm of 660 acres in Cass Township, which he sold to A. Sloan in September, 1855, and returned to his native State, where he remained two years, then came again to Clayton County. He rented the farm which he had bought when he first came to the county, and cultived it two years, then removed into the town of Strawberry Point. In partnership with B. Bushee he established a butcher shop, and also handled butter and eggs. They ran a line of teams from McGregor to this place, carrying their produce to and from the markets. Mr. Philps remained in this business two years, and in August, 1862, enlisted in the United States army, being one of the four men that raised a company from this place, the other three being W. D. Crook, C. P. Heath, and Henry Howard. They drew straws to see who should fill the respective offices, Mr. Phelps being Orderly Sergeant, Mr. Heath First Lieutenant, an Mr. Howard Second Lieutenant. The latter was killed at the Battle of Black River, and Mr. Phelps was chosen Second Lieutenant, and afterward First Lieutenant, in which position he served until August 1864, when he resigned and returned to Strawberry Point. Being ill and feeble from exposure, he did not engage in active business for two years, then bought a farm in Delaware County, which he still owns. He also purchased a farm in this county, which he cultivated eight or nine years, and since then has lived in Strawberry Point. He was married on Sept. 10, 1846, to Louisa Miller, who died May 14, 1859, leaving two children--Forest J. and Charley A. He was again married on Sept. 14, 1861, to Lina Gunnung. They have four children--Mary D., Louie, Roy and Jessie. Mr. Phelps is a Mason, and in politics is a Republican. source: History of Clayton
County, Iowa, 1882, p. 700-701 |