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Delos Porter Phelps
Lawyer and U.S. Assistant Treasurer
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| Portrait of Delos Phelps. |
Hon. Delos Porter Phelps [Phelps & Servin #6408], b. near Monmouth, Ill., Nov. 16, 1837, m. April 13, 1870, Sarah Jeannette Tucker, b. Oct. 16, 1844, daughter of Rev. Anson Phelps and Caroline (Rogers) Tucker, of New York.
From The Phelps Family of America and Their English Ancestors, (Save $200 by ordering through us.) By Oliver S. Phelps and Andrew T. Servin. (Get a free, updated index here.)p. 972-973.
Mr. Phelps graduated at Monmouth College, Illinois, in 1862, in the classical department, and was the valedictorian of his class. He had already begun the study of law, but for four years was threatened with loss of sight, and went to Idaho City, Idaho, and worked in the mines. While there he raised money and built the first school house in the territory, and taught school therein. He was admitted to the bar there, but his license was burned with the city, and he returned to Illinois, where he was again admitted to the bar by the Supreme Court of that state in 1866, and became at once a leader in his profession. Entering politics he was nominated in 1868 as an elector by the Democratic state convention. In 1878 he received by acclamation the democratic nomination for Congress in the l0th congressional district of Illinois, making a most active and brilliant campaign, which caused his name to be presented before the legislature in 1878-9, a candidate for U. S. Senator.
He practiced law at Monmouth, Ill. for fourteen years, and then became vice-president, solicitor, and general manager of the Peoria and Farmington R. R. having full charge its construction and operation. He organized the Bridge Co. that bridged the Mississippi at Keithsburg, Ill., was a director of the Iowa Central R. R. Co., until 1886, was president of the Peoria Terminal R. R. Co. until 1893, and was vice-president of the Weir Plow Co. at Monmouth, Ill. for six years.
In 1891 he was made chairman of the Democratic State Central Committee, and largely through his efforts the State and National tickets were both elected for the first time in thirty-seven years in Illinois, resulting in giving the electoral vote to Grover Cleveland, and making Gen. Palmer U. S. Senator.
In 1894 Mr. Phelps removed to Chicago and began there the practice of law, and in the same year was appointed Assistant Treasurer of the United States at Chicago, by President Cleveland, and held the office until 1898.
Mrs. Phelps' grandmother, Lydia Porter, was descended from John and Rose Porter, distinguished early settlers of Mass., and direct ancestors of both President Grant and President Cleveland.
Children of Delos Porter Phelps and Sarah Jeannette Tucker
All b. Monmouth, Ill.
[P&S 10078] I. Son, b. July 9, 1871, d. in infancy.
[P&S 10079] II. Eleanor Randolph, b. 30 July, 1873, m. Jacob C. Pratt, Acting Asst. Treas. U. S. Res. La Grange, Ill.
[P&S 10080] III. Claire Marguerite, b. 30 Dec., 1877.