The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1913-06-19
8 I
J.J. PHELPS,
PIONEER, IS
NO MORE

con avenue, about o'clock Tuesday
afternoon following a brief illness.
The announcement of his death was
q great surprise 10 the people OF the
community as but very few OF them
knew that he was sick as only last
week he was about on the streets as
usual.
Mr.. Phelps was born In New York
state. but there is some disagreement
among his friends as TO whether he
would have been eighty-six or eighty
seven years Of age ON his next birth
day anniversary. which would have oc-
CURED on the sixteenth Of July. al
though the probabilities are that "a
was In his cighty-seventh year at the
time OF hls death. He moved with his
parents from New York to Illinois
when n young man and lived at Le-
mont. Cook county. In the latter state
for n number OF years Mr.. Phelps
was a veteran OF the Civil war. having
enlisted as a private I'm Company y.
One Hundred and Thirty Second Ilil-
nois infantry In March. 1864. and was
mustered oat OF the military service
AZ Springfield. Illinois. In June fol-
lowing. He Was an active member G.
Greenrood Post 40. 10. Grand Army o.
the Republic. OF this city and was
highly esteemed by his comrades OF
that organization
Mr.. PHELPS crossed the plains Eve
times By means oa the or team before
the era of railroads west of the Mia
souri, river: settling the first time IN
Colorado at Black Hawk in 0iipin
county. where he engaged In mining.
and. later. on Garden park In FIRE.
mont county where he desoted him
self to the cattle business He came
10 Canon City In isss. and. from that
time until his death. was a resident
of this community. Mr.. Phelps amass-
ed a competency In the stock raising
industry In this county. but BY un-
fortunate Investments In enterprises
after coming here that he believed
would help the town and ifs sur
roandipgs iost the greater part OF his
financial accumulations. He is said
10 have put something like $4,000 in
TO the old smelter. now demolished.
that stood at the foot of the bill near
the river bridge on South Ninth street.
none OF which ever found its way hack
20 him.
Deceased was n man OF strong re-
iIgious convictions and for more than
sixty years was a devoted. conscien-
tious member Of the Baptist faith lie
held the Office of deacon In the Bap-
tist church here for a period longer
than the average mans lifetime. and.
I on that account, was given the title
that clung to him as long as he lived.
As n younE man he contemplated en-
tsring the ministry and making IL a
life work. but In the changes and vi
cissitudes OF his early manhood wss
led into other directions that diverted
his ambitions In that respect Mr..
Phelps was a man Of kindly. generous
impulses, and. those who knew him
best agree that the world is better for
his having lived In II.
In association with @. X. Tanner. w.
II. Mcclure. Rev. Baldwin and a Mr..
Cook he was n member OF the build
ing committee of the First Baptist
church here at the time OF the erec-
tion OF its present handsome place OF
worship at tho southwest corner of
Seventh street and Macon avenue. He
was At all times a supporter and
counsellor In tho church and will live
in its- chronicles N one Of its distinct
~ useful members. n14
M. Phelps was hrpt married abeut
sixty years ago to Miss Roslila Fas-