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Saturday, September 6, 2014

Captain John M Phelps 1821-1884 of Virginia

  
John M Phelps born 1821 son of Oliver Phelps and Caroline Simpson. John married Mary Loudin---Gilmer County, West Virginia. they had three children all born in Virginia: Oliver Phelps (born 1845), Cordelia Phelps (born 1846), and William Phelps (born 1849). Mary died in February or March 1853 in Harrison County, West Virginia.  

Oliver Phelps, son of John M. Phelps. Captain, 9th West Virginia Infantry. Photo U.S. Army Military History Institute Mustered in as 2nd Lieutenant at organization of the 9th West Virginia Infantry. He was promoted to 1st Lieutenant 2 May 1863 and was promoted to Captain 1 Sept 1864, upon the resignation of William Engleman. He continued as Captain when the 9th and the 5th West Virginia Infantries consolidated to form the 1st Veteran Infantry. Following the war, in the spring of 1866, he was commissioned 1st Lieutenant in the 19th U. S. Infantry. He married Minnie McBrien, daughter of Henry and Jane McBrien. Info from Jim Comstock and See Page by Linda Fluharty.

Oliver Phelps married 2nd married Susan Jane Hagerman at Malden, Kanawha County, West Virginia. They had two children: Charles Phelps (born 1857), and Thomas Phelps (born 1859). Oliver served in the Civil War, and was promoted to commissioned a Captain of E Company on May 6, 1862, 1st Lieutenant on March 5, 1862,, and was made Captain of B Company on February 1, 1864. Below United States Census, 1850


United States Census, 1870



Captain John Phelps died August 26, 1884 at Point Pleasant, Mason County, West Virginia of a "chronic inflammation of the stomach and bowels and internal hemorrhoids," and illness he had contracted during the Civil War. He was buried at Lone Oak Cemetery, Point Pleasant, West Virginia. According to his physician, Andrew R. Barbee, John M. Phelps had been ill since his military service. This affidavit is contained in the WIDOW'S PENSION APPLICATION of Susan Jane Phelps:
A. R. Barbee, M. D. Member of the State Board of Health
Pt. Pleasant, W. Va., June 8th 1889
Hon. James Tanner
Commissioner of Pensions,
Washington, D. C.
Dear Sir.--
In response to enclosed returned letter, respectfully submit -- That I became acquainted with Captain John M. Phelps, on or about the middle of May 1865 immediately after the close of the late war. At the time, he was not in good health, was complaining with his stomach and bowels. Saw the said Capt Jno. M. Phelps frequently on from date above given, through the remainder of year 1865, on through 1866, 1867 & 1868, and during the Presidential campaign of the late Gen. Grant saw him and was frequently with him. Heard him on many occasions complain of indigestion, pain in stomach & bowels with diarrhea & sometimes would prescribe for his relief as best we could in the County in a heated campaign. Capt Phelps was a most effective and able political speaker, and the best political organizer in the State, hence the duties imposed upon him by the Repub. Ex. Com. were so arduous, and he so ardent, determined & deeply earnest that his physical condition had let down smartly when I took professional charge of him, soon after taking up my residence in this City (the home of said Capt Phelps) the latter part of 1868 or early part of 1869. At this time I found his physical condition pretty much as I had seen it and known through latter part of 1865, through 1866 and on through 1867 & 1868, tho some what worse than formerly. His appetite was very variable, digestion greatly impaired bowels loose & a frequent sufferer with hemorrhoids. I treated the said late Capt John M. Phelps from early 1869 on at intervals of a day, week or month or two through the years of 1870-71-72-73-74-75-76-77-78-79-80-81-82-83, till date of death - the latter part of August 1884. The disease for which I so long treated the said soldier, the late John M. Phelps, and which disease was the immediate cause of his death, was Chronic Inflammation of the Stomach and Bowels and Internal Hemorrhoids. For a year or more before the death of said soldier, his digestion was so impaired, the diarrhoea so exhausting that he became emaciated to a bare skeleton. Remedial agents seemed to have lost all therapeutic effect and it might be said that literally he starved to death by reason of disease & want of tone of gastro-enteric canal. This case, from the outset deeply impressed me - the late soldier & self had met & crossed swords on many battle fields - immediately at close of war we met & came home together - became warm social and political friends - which extends beyond the grave. I knew him as a gallant soldier & he frequently told me, as he repeated on his death bed, that his disease (from which he died) was incurred while in the Service. Surviving, is an afflicted, helpless poor widow. Have the honor to be, very Respectfully, Yr Obt Servt.
Andrew R. Barbee, M.D., U.S. Exg. Surg.
Susan Jane (Hagerman) Phelps was receiving a government pension of $20 per month at the time of her death 16 Oct 1893. Her attorney throughout the pension application process was her son, Charles W. Phelps.


In 1861, John Phelps became a delegate to the First Wheeling Convention from Mason County. The purpose of the convention was to separate and vote to succeed from the state of Virginia.
From West Virginia State Archives and Loyal West Virginia from 1861 to 1865: With an Introductory Chapter on the Status of Virginia for Thirty Years Prior to the War. He was elected as the first President of the West Virginia State Senate which first convened in Wheeling on June 20, 1863. The session lasted for six months. He served in the State Senate until 1865 and again from 1869-1870. On February 4th, 1865 he voted for the abolishment of slavery in West Virginia.

In 1870, Phelps was elected as the fifth Secretary of State and served until 1873. Phelps died on August 26, 1884 in Point Pleasant, West Virginia. He is buried in the Lone Oak Cemetery in Point Pleasant. John M. Phelps mustered in as Captain of Company " E " 9th West Virginia Infantry  Captain, Company "E" 9th West Virginia Infantry
Chaplain, 9th West Virginia Infantry
First President, West Virginia State Senate
Secretary of State, West Virginia

Mason County, W.Va. Republican. Member of West Virginia state senate 7th District, 1863-65,
1869-70; President of the West Virginia State Senate, 1863; secretary of state of West Virginia, 1871-73.
From Yale Review
In Mason County, the ex-Confederates held a meeting a few days before the Legislature of 1870 met and petitioned that body to remove the disabilities. A State Senator, John M. Phelps, a "liberal" Republican, was present and made an address to the meeting. 
See John M Phelps & Oliver Phelps
From Acts of the Legislature of West Virginia 1872
Also See Delegates to the First Wheeling Convention

THE CLARKSBURG GAS COMPANY. I, John M. Phelps, Secretary of the State of West Virginia, hereby certify that an agreement duly acknowledged and accompanied by the proper affidavits, has been this day delivered to me; which agreement is in the words and figures following: The undersigned agree to become a corporation by the name of “ The Clarksburg Gas Company,” for the purpose of establishimg gas works in the town of Clarksburg for lighting said town with gas, and to lay pipes and other necessary fixtures and machinery in the streets and alleys of said town, and to hold such property as may be essential to the successful operations of said gas works in the manufacture of gas from coal and other substances for the use of said town and the citizens thereof, and to manufacture such articles and material, purchase and sell the same as may be necessary in the working of said gas company, on the terms ordained by the mayor and common council of said town of Clarksburg by an ordinance passed by them on the 13th day of March, 1871, which corporation shall keep its principal oflice or place of business at Clarksburg in the county of Harrison, and is to eXpire on the 13th day of March, 1891. And for the purpose of forming the said corporation, we have subscribed the sum of twenty thousand dollars to the capital thereof, and have paid in on said subscription the sum of two thousand dollars; and desire the privilege of increasing the said capital by sales of additional shares from time to time, to fifty thousand ($50,000) dollars in all. The capital so subscribed is divided into shares of one hundred dollars which are held by the undersigned respectively, as follows, that is to say:
By Benjamin F. Shuttleworth, of Clarksburg, twenty shares;
By Joseph F. Osborn, of Clarksburg, ten shares ;
By Richard T. Lowndes, 0f Clarksburg, twenty shares;
By Nathan Goff, Jr., of Clarksburg, forty shares;
By Ashbel G. Smith, of Clarksburg, ten shares ;
By Burton Despard, of Glarksburg, fifty shares ;
By Notley A. Shuttleworth, of Clarksburg, twenty shares ;
By Lloyd Lowndes, of Clarksburg, twenty shares ;_
By Edwin Maxwell, of Clarksburg, ten shares;
And the capital to be hereafter sold to be divided into shares of the
like amount. Given under our hands this 15th day of March, 1871.
(sigma) B. F. SHUTTLEWORTH, Wherefore, the corporators named in the said agreement, and who have signed the same, and their successors and assigns, are hereby declared to be,from this date until the thirteenth day of March, eighteen hundred and ninety-one, a corporation by the name and for the purpose set forth in said agreement.Given under my hand and the Great Seal of the said State, at the city of Charleston, this 20th day of March, eighteen hundred and seventy-one. WHEELING TOW BOAT AND BARGE COMPANY.
I, John M. Phelps, Secretary of the State of West Virginia, hereby certify that an agreement duly acknowledged and accompanied by the proper affidavits, has been this day delivered to me ; which agree— ment is in the words and figures following :The undersigned agree to become a corporation by the name of Wheeling Tow Boat and Barge Company, for the purpose of carrying on a transportation business with steam boats and barges upon the western rivers, which corporation shall keep its principal office or place of business at Wheeling in the county of Ohio, and is to expire on the first day of April eighteen hundred and ninety one (1891). And for the purpose of forming the said corporation we have subscribed the sum of seven thousand dollars to the capital thereof, and have paid in on said subscription the sum of seven thouSand dollars, and desire the privilege of increasing the said capital by sales of additional shares from time to time to five hundred thousand dollars in all. The capital so subscribed is divided into shares of one hundred dollars each which are held by the undersigned respectively, as follows, that is to say:
By Edwind Hornbrook, of Wheeling, W. Va., twenty shares;
By Wm. M. List, of Wheeling, W. Va., ten shares ;
By John S. Trimble, of Wheeling, W. Va., ten sh‘ares;
By Jacob Hornbrook, of Ohio county, fifteen shares;
By Thomas Hornbrook, of Wheeling, W. Va., five shares;
By George K. Wheat, of Wheeling, W. Va., ten shares; And the capital to be hereafter sold is to be divided into shares of like amount.
Given under our hands this first day of April eighteen hundred and seventy-one (1871.) Wherefore, The corporators named in the said agreement, and who have signed the same, and their successors and assigns, are hereby declared tobe, from this date until the first day of April, eighteen hundred and ninety one, a corporation by the name and for the purpose set forth in said agreement. Given under my hand and the Great Seal of the said State, at the city of Charleston, this fourth day of April, eighteen hundred and seventy-one. JOHN M. PHELPS, Secretary of the State. ‘ KANAWHA MANUFACTURING COMPANY.
I, John M. Phelps, Secretary of the State of West Virginia, hereby certify that an agreement duly acknowledged and accompanied by the proper affidavits, has been this day delivered to me; which agreement is in the words and figures following: The undersigned agree to become a corporation by the name of the Kanawha Manufacturing Company for the purpose of manufacturinglumber, building material, furniture, boats and barges, which corporation shall keep its principal oflice or place of business at Charleston, in the county of Kanawha, and is to expire the first day of April, A. 1)., 1891. And for the purpose of forming the said corporation we have subscribed the sum of twenty thousand, $20,000 dollars, to the capital thereof, and have paid in on said subscriptions the sum of twelve thousand 312,000 dollars, and desire the privilege of increasing the said capital by sales of additional shares from time to time, to one hundred thousand, ($100,000) dollars in all. The capital so subscribed is divided into shares of one hundred, ($100) dollars each, which are held by the undersigned, respectively, as follows, that is to say:
By J. Brisben Walker, one hundred and seventy-eight (178) shares
By James Ritchie, ten (10) shares;
By George Ritchie, Sr., ten (10) shares;
By John C. Bailey, one (1) share;
By A. J. Vosburgh, one (1) share.
Given under our hands and seals this 3d day of April, A. D., 1871.
Wherefore, The corporators named in the said agreement, and who have signed the same, and their successors and assigns, are hereby declared to be, from this date until the first day of April, eighteen hundred and ninety-one, a corporation by the name and for the purpose set forth in said agreement.
Given under my hand and the Great Seal of the said State, at the city of Charleston, this fifth day of April, eighteen hundred and seventy-One. 

JOHN M. PHELPS, WV Secretary Of the State. THE ALDEN CHEMICAL COMPANY.
I, John M. Phelps, Secretary of the State of West Virginia, hereby certify that an agreement duly acknowledged and accompanied by the proper affidavits, has been this day delivered to me; which agreement is in the words and figures following :
The undersigned agree to become a corporation by the name of “ The Alden Chemical Company,” for the purpose of mining andshipping coal, manufacturing and shipping salt and iron and manufacturing and shipping alkali soaps and lumber, and for manufacturing and dealing in any or all articles made in part, or altogether, of either salt, wood or iron ; also, for the purpose of insuring against all marine risks, and against any damage or loss by fire, or by any other liability casualty or hazard, upon any and every kind of property, real, personal, or mixed, to make insurance on lives, to grant annuities, to lend money upon personal or real security, and all other things deemed necessary to carry on a general insurance business, which corporation shall keep its principal office, or place of business at Alden city, in the county of Kanawha, and is to expire on the 1st day of April, 1891.
And for the purpose of forming the said corporation we have subscribed the sum of six thousand dollars to the capital thereof, and have paid in on said subscription the sum of six hundred dollars; and desire the privilege of increasing the said capital by the sale of additional shares to one million dollars in all. The capital subscribed is divided into shares of one hundred dollars each, which are held by the undersigned respectively, as follows, that is to say:
By Edwin A. Thomas, of the city of Philadelphia, Pa., twenty shares;
By Henry C. Dickinson, of Charleston, W. Va., ten shares;
By Edwin T. J aques, of New York city, N. Y., ten shares;
By E. B. Knight, of Charleston, W. Va., ten shares;
By Alanson B. Tallman, of Alden city, ten shares;
And the capital to be hereafter sold is to be divided into shares of the like amount.
Given under our hands this 8th day of April, A. D. 1871.

Wherefore, The corporators named in the said agreement, and who have signed the same, and their successors and assigns, are hereby declared to be, from this date until the first day of April, eighteen hundred and ninety-one, a corporation by the name and for the purpose set forth in said agreement.
Given under my hand and the Great Seal of the said State, at the city of Charleston, this 12th day of April, eighteen hundred and seventy-one.   G. S. JOHN M. PHELPS, Secretary of the State.

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