Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1885-02-06
GEN. JOHN W. PHELPS.
IHis sudden Death at IIIs IEOhe IN
Gautlford.

EUNERAI-A WARM Tribute tkOm MILITIA
ny FRIEND.
Early last Monday morning this community
was shocked with the announcement that
Gen. John w. Phelps had been found dead
in his bed in the house in Guiford which he
had made his home, with his wife and child,
for nearly year past. Fuller particulars de-
veloped the fact that the General, who had
been alone in the house for the week previous
in the temporary absence Of his wife, had
been last seen by the neighbors on Sunday
afternoon engaged in shoveling snow, expos
ing himself TO the severe weather in shirt
sleeves while thus employed. neighboring
woman, Miss Mcclure, who had come in each
day to attend TO the household affairs, had
left him early in the afternoon in usual health
and good spirits. His light was noticed burn
ing as late as O'Clock in the evening. Mon
day morning the neighbors noticed that he
was not engaged in his usual beforelight and
before. breakfast employment Of wood-sawing,
and when the housekeeper went to attend to
her duties her knocks at the door received no
answer, aud she was unable to gain Rdmis-
sion. Becoming alarmed, she informed her
brother, Mr.. Frank Mcclure, who entered
through a window and found the General ly-
ing dead in his bed. His position was natu-
raj, one hand lay under his face, and there
was no trace of suffering on his features. The
civil huiuOElNltb WtEb uuNlhou huu Chnub "
view the body, and at once sent for DR.. Hol-
ton of Brattleboro who, after an examination
Of the body, expressed the opinion that death
had come from purely natural causes-prob-
ably from heart disease or apoplexy. There
was every reason to believe that in the early
hours of the night the General had peacefully
passed away in his sleep. Mrs. Phelps was
summoned from Northheld, where she had
been called on account of sickness in her
mothers family, and reached home with her
infant son shortly before noon. The house
bore evidences of the literary work in which
Gen. Phelps had been engaged during the
previous day. A student.lamp which stood
on the table had burned itself out. In let
ter which he had written to his wife and seal
ed ready for mailing he mentioned what the
occupations of the day had been, among them
being the reading, as was his wont, Of por
ton of the New Testament in the original
Greek. He wrote in good spirits, and sent
messages Of love to his wife and to his little
son. in whom he had great pride.
The death of Gen. Phelps removes one Of
the most notable figures in our local history
and we are sure the following sketch OF his
ancestry, life and public services will be read
with universal interest.
His Ancestry.
Charles Phelps, the great grandfather Of
Gen. John Wolcott Phelps, was q lneal de-
scendsnt of William Phelps one Of the first
settlers of Dorchester, Mass, and who after
ward removed to Windsor, Conn, where he
was man of large influence and judge OF
| the first court ever held in that state. Charles
Phelps was born in Northampton, Mass, was
educated to the profession of the law and
settled in Hadley, Mass, when the town was
almost a wilderness From there he removed
to Marlboro in this county, then a part Of
Cumberland county, New York" He was
the first lawyer who ever came to reside
! within the limits of what is now the state of
Vermont. He brought with him two sons,
Solomon and Timothy, leaving q third in
Massachusetts,. Timothy in due time came
to be prominent man, aud was made sheriff
of Cumberland county under the jurisdic-
ton of New York He stoutly upheld the
authority Of New York in the quarrel which
arose over the New Hampshire grants, -
and it is related that when the superior court
of Vermont first wont to hold a session in
Marlboro, which had been made half shire,
he entered the room and ordered them to
disperse by authority of the state of New
New York. He had two sons-John and
Charles-both of whom were lawyers.
Charles went to West Townshend, and was
the father of Hon. James II. Phelps, now a
resident of that place. John removed to
Guilford, settling first ct or near the centre
of the town, but removing afterward to Al
giers, where he built the Phelps homestead
which still stands on the left as one enters
the little village from the north Across the
street was his law-office, which also is still
standing. Whether John Wolcott was born
here, or during the familys residence at the
centre is not certain, but probably at the for.
mer place. His birth took place on Nov. 10,
1918.
1t may be added that the father of Gen.
Phelps was twice married, his first wife be-
ing Miss Lucy Lowell of Rockingham, by
whom he had eight children. or these the
General was the last survivor. By his sec
ond wife, Mrs. Almira Lincoln, the celebrated
teacher and author, whose death took place
last July at the advanced age of 81 years, ht
had two children, Charles Edward and Ell
mira, both of whom now live in Balt
more, and the former Of whom is Judge Of
one of the courts in that city.
Education and Military Career.
Young Phelps's education began in the public
schools of Guilford and Brattleboro, supple
mented by few terms of study in a selec
school taught in this village by Mr.. San
born where he was fitted for entrance to the
United States military academy at Wes
Point. Entering West Point academy il
1882 he was graduated with the rank of sec
ond lieutenant in 1886, q short time before
the outbreak Of the war with the Greek Indi
ans. Assigned to the Fourth Artillery, fol
the ensuing two years he took an active par
in the operations against the Creeks anc
Seminoles in Florida. His gallantry wal
conspicuous in the action of Locha-H utchee
in January, 1888. After the war he was put
in charge of the emigration of Indians tC
the west his quarters being with the Chero
kee nation. He had not finished this worn
when another outbreak in Florida recalled
him there, where he remained until the
trouble was over. For these services he vas
promoted to first lieutenancy and was pui
IN charge of the camp of instruction. This
peaceful detail lasted but few months. TO,
when the Canada border disturbances began
in the fall of 1889, he was sent TO Detroit
and remained on duty on the border fol
about three years. serving at Detroit, For
Mackinac, Fort Brady and Buffalo. From
1912 until 1916 he was on garrison and re
cruiting duty. He went to Mexico with The
first force sent there after the declaration OF
war, and there won the name of being one
of the bravest and most efficient artillery Of
fcers in the service. He was at the battle OF
Monterey, and was stationed before Vers
Cruz during the siege of that place In the
spring of 1847. Then, under Gen. Williams
he was atthe battle of Oerro Gordo, of Con
treras and of Moline del Rey, and was pres
ent at the assault and capture OF the CITY OF
Mexico. For gallant conduct at Contreral
and Cherubusco he was brevetted captain
but declined the nominal promotion. Three
years later, In March, 1850, he received I
regular promotion. Meanwhile he served IL
garrison and was Q member of the board an
pointed by order of Congress to devise 8
complete set of instructions for siege, Rarri
son, seacoast, and mountain artillery. Fol
eight years afterwsrd he was away from civ
ilizatiOn and had the hardest kind of border
experiences. His first detail was at For
Brown, Texas, at time when border rufian
ism was at its height. Military duty Their,
consisted of unremitting vigilance and fire.
quent raids opon sohemers and cutthroats
whose ambition looked only to the overthrow
OF government authority that they nigh
hold the newly acquired country under a rul,
terror. To this end a flibusterinR expedi
ton was organized and acquired strong head
way. Capt. Phelps distinguished himself by
moving against il with his little force enc
overthrowing it. In 1855 he marched from
Fort Brown TO San Antonio, with orders Il
suppress lawlessness along the route and a
San Antonio. This march was successful
and for few months afterward he was eiyeI
a respite as a member OF the Artillery Boart
at Fortress Monroe. In 1867, however, h,
went again on frontier duty at Fort Leayen
worth, and accompanied the Utah expedition
- o.