John E. Phelps

As printed in 1883

COL. JOHN E. PHELPS.

This gentleman, who was an active participant on the Union side during the civil war, is a native of Greene county, born April 6, 1839. He was the first born of five children of Gov. John S. Phelps, whose biography is given at length in this volume. There were two sons and three daughters of these children, of whom John E., and Mrs. Mary Montgomery, of Portland, Oregon, still survive. Those deceased were, Thomas H. B., Lucy Jane, and a second Lucy Jane, born after the death of the first of that name, and christened in honor of her memory. Col. John E. Phelps was educated partly at Payetteville, Arkansas, completing his course at the private school of Charles Carleton at Springfield. He began business for himself at the early age of 13, when he made quite a speculation on a cattle trade, selling his purchase to Indian Agent A. J. Dorn, at a profit of $1,500. He continued in the cattle trade, and driving mules to the Southern market till 1859, when, in partnership with A. J.

Dorn and J. L. French, he went into the wholesale grocery business, and was the first commercial traveler (" drummer ") that represented a Springfield house and he carried his samples in his saddle bags, his mode of locomotion being on horseback. This business he continued till cleaned up by the Confederates after the battle of Wilson's Creek. He then proceeded to Rolla, and did scouting duty for Gen. Curtis, furnishing his own horse, and receiving no compensation. At the battle of Pea Kidge, he was a volunteer Aid on the staff of Gen. E. A. Carr. Subsequently, he received an appointment as second lieutenant in the regular army, and went to Helena, Arkansas, and reported to Gen. Carr as Aid on his staff. He served eighteen months of that staff, partly in St. Louis and partly on the campaign in the rear ofVicksburg. He was then ordered home on account of physical disability, and arrived there July 4, 1864. The very next day he began organizing a volunteer regiment, which was mustered in March 18, 1864, as the second Arkansas Cavalry, and was ordered to Memphis, Tennessee, which place they reached by an overland march of forty-two days, reaching there January 25, 1865. There the regiment did duty till May, when it was ordered to Lagrange on out-post duty. There Col. P. was mustered out at his own request, his rank then being Brevet Brigadier General of volunteers; and the board of examiners pronounced him physically incompetent. He requested to be sent on frontier duty at Port Laramie, but instead of having his request granted, he was ordered to his regiment at Little Rock. This was the 3d regiment U. S. regulars, in which Phelps held the rank of first lieutenant, and brevet captain, major, and lieutenant colonel. He was then at home, sick and disgusted with scenes of war, and so closed his military career by tendering his resignation, which was accepted in September, 1865. Since then, he has lived in private life, except being for a time receiver of the U. S. land office, under President Johnson. At this writing he is traveling for the machine house of D. M. Osburn & Co., Auburn, N. Y. Col. Phelps was married July 21, 1864, to Margaret J., daughter of William White, of Greene county. They have two daughters and one son, who are at school in Springfield. Politically, Col. Phelps is a Democrat, and during the war fought to save the Union — not to free the negro. Few men have done more public service for a less compensation than Col. John E. Phelps.

As printed in History of Greene county, Missouri, ... including a history of its township, towns, and villages, together with a condensed history of Missouri ... biographical sketches and portraits of prominent cit (1883). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.