The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1864-05-20
For the JefTersoniun Democrat.
Hon. Alfred Phelps.


most painful illness, died at bis residonc
in Chardon, on the cath of April. II is
grateful task to pause for moment, ovor
amid tho crash of the great events tina
surround us, to say ono word in momorau
of one SO long known and so highly valued
The father of tho deceased was one OF the
most daring of the young officers of the
Revolution. IIo himself sustained that
fathers namo in tho war of 1912, while two
gallant sons, Lieutenant Commander S. L.
/ Phelps, tho second officer OF tho Flo,illa
one of tho most accomplished officers OF tho
navy aud Alfred Pholps,Jr who commands
Que OF the boats in tho same waters, were
at their posts of danger on tho days Of their
fathers decease and funeral.
! Thus threo generations of noble and for
tunate men have illustrated their devotion
to their country by fighting her battles in
every national war since tho day of her
birth. The subject of this notice was sou
of tho late Judge Seth Phelps, and was born
at Aurora, New York, in 1902. Sixty years
ago, he was present at tho erection of tho
first dwelling in Parkman, Geauga County
What u troop OF vivid and cherished memo.
ries spring cut of the graves of the buried
years at such statement; carrying one
back to the carly time, to within two years
of the formation Of The State Government.
The days Of scattered. cabins in intermna.
bio woods, of pioneer life and simple habits,
of warm hearts and strong willing hands !;
away back to tho early days of Tecumseh,
before the iiorce Indian battles that we're
to reclaim tho forests, before tho old time
sea.fght OF Perry on tho lonely lake.
believe the building referred to was the
residence Of tho late Judge Parkman, a
brother-in.law Of MIR. eholps, and the la.
borors OF that memorable occasion were
gathered from an extent OF country tha,
has since furnished two or three regiments
for this war. For that band of weather.
tanned workors Phelps was cook, and for
many years their single survivor.
| He remained with his brothor-in law
MANY years. and took churge of the COM
mssarat. He often, whom but twelve or
| ourteon years of age, travorsed aloue the
thirty miles of wilderness, of swamp, wood
and unbridged rivers between Par kman and
Paincsvile. Ho took naturally to wood
craft, was an export fisherman, bold and
mantle temperament found an ample field
! On tho breaking out of the war of 1912
ho was commissioned Lieutenant iu the
| regular service, by Mr.. Madison, and as.
signed to duty on tho Niagara frontier. He
took an active part in oil the early and un.
fortunate affairs that marked the opening
campaigns of that struggle. He was with
Scott at Queenstown. In crossing tho riv-
or, on that expedition of disaster, his boat
was driven by the current below the point
of deba,kation, and stranded at q place
where the bank was very precipitous. Ex.
posed as his party was to a storn, of mus
kerry from tho shore, young Phelps in
stantly formed his fraction OF company,
aud with fixed bayonets daringIy charged up
tho heights. He had an eyebrow shot
away, and, covered with blood, no, with
a half dozen, gained the summit. when, at
tor a hand-!o-hand struggle, lhoy wero
overpoworod and made prisoners Lie was
for many monthsa prisoner on parole, at
Albany, where he met and was known to
many Of the leading men of that time. lie
was present much of the time during the
celebrated trial of Gen. Hull before a court.
martial. do no: know at what timo he
left the army. lIe has many tunes since
met his old commander of Queenstown, by
whom no was known and esteemed. After
he left tho army, Mr. Phelps returned to
Ohio, whore he studied law with his brother-
in-law, Judge Parkman, aud commenced its
practice whom Poase, the elder Tod, tho
senior Hitchcock, Alfred Kolly, Reuben
Wood. Samue! Wheeler, Williams, Perkins,
and tho men OF that class, were in their
prime.
He had received a very thorough aca,
domic course, as believe, at his native,
dearly-loved village of Aurora.
In 1920, he was married to Ann B. Towsley.
The union vas one of rare felicity. They
became tho parents of six children, five of
whom. with the mother, survive him.
10 1924. Mr.. Phelps, as prosecuting attor-
ney of Goauga Co., convicted tho only man
ever executed in that County. In 1881, he
established tho first paper at Chardon, the
Spectator and Gazette, which he conducted
with marked ability for four years.
In lSiS, no was elected to tho Legisla-
turo, and subsequently, ro elected. Af'er
tho formation of tho prosont State Con-
stitution, he was throo times elected Probate
Judge of Geauga Co. For the last few
years, he had in measure retired from ac.
tive life, and had recently before bis death,
arranged to romove to Cleveland, to reside
with his son, Lieut.. Phelps. Mr.. Phelps
was in many respects very superior man
an intellect of high capacity bad been en-
arged and developed by early and thorough
culture; person of fine natural advantages.
inyigorated by pioneer life. and improved
by military training, upon which the ease
and grace of polished lifo sat naturally.
united to.produco in him an accomplished
gentleman. with the dignity of the old school,
and the freedom of manners of the new.
Socially, no man was moro loved by those
admitted to his intimacy, and, universally
no one was moro respected and trusted
With an integrity OF soul that would toler.
ate no talsehood or sham, his life has been
one of remarkable purity. A morbid diff
denco prevented his achieving the first hon
ors of his profession, though possessing a
mind of great vigor and clearness. In leg
islaton, his intimate knowledge of the wants
of the State, culture, and industry, made him
most valuable. The structure and habit of
his mind, refined taste, elevated sentiments
and course of reading fitted him we'll for u
successful literary career. but he was sim
gulary unambitious, alike at the bar, in
politics and private life
The surviving fragments of the broken
circle in which he longest moved, will re-
gretfully remember him as the spirited,
high souled boy, the generous and promising
youth. the daring soldier, the refined man
of various atfainments, and the real gentle
man. They will cherish him in memory, as
the wise and trusted counselor, the steady