BIO of Hon. Forrest I. Phelps; formerly of Chautauqua Co NY

submitted by Nancy Grubb (nancyg@theofficenet.com)

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From "The History of North Washington" Published 1904
Stevens County, WA Biographical Sketches

Transcribed by: Nancy Grubb (nancyg@theofficenet.com)

HON. FORREST I.PHELPS
    Hon. Forrest I. Phelps. In 1889 there came to Spokane, Washington, a young
man, thirty-six years of age, who had traveled extensively in this and
adjoining countries. Eighteen months later he settled in Stevens county, five
miles west of Springdale, where he now lives surrounded by all that
contributes to the comfort of a farm life. This was Forrest I. Phelps whose
name initiates this sketch.
   Born in Fredonia, New York, July 10,1853, he is the son of Barney A. and
Lousia N.(Miller) Phelps, the father a native of Vermont. The mother of New
York. Although the father was of Irish ancestry, they had, many generations
ago, been banished from England. The forebears of the mother were connected
with some of the most notable people of Scotland. In the early days the
parents of our subject removed to Iowa, taking with them a colony of New York
people who settled in Clayton county. At that period the father was a surveyor
in the government employ. By his first wife, Barney A.Phelps had three
children. In 1860 she passed away, and in 1861 he remarried, three children
being the fruits of this latter union. During the Civil War he entered the
army from Iowa, as a major, served four years and was mustered out as a
lieutenant colonel.
   The biography of our subject, Forrest I, Phelps, ia a record of business
enterprises and hustle. He obtained a practical education in the public
schools of New York, Iowa, and Colorado. He crossed the plains in 1864 at the
age of ten years, locating first at Central City, Colorado. For several years
he was employed in freighting in the territories. At seventeen he entered the
stock business, and later was connected with the building of irrigating
ditches. Subsequently he drove stock from Colorado to Montana, pushed on to
California, thence to Old Mexico, back to Colorado, and in 1889, he found his
way to Spokane. Here, for eighteen months he was engaged in the agricultural
business, following which he settled in Stevens county. At present Mr. Phelps
owns four hundred and eighty acres of land, two hundred which are under
cultivation.
   Aside from his handsome residence he has over a dozen other buildings on
his place, adapted to the demands of an extensive western farmer. Altogether
it is the finest agricultural property in Stevens county. He cuts three
hundred tons of hay annually.
   In 1889 he was married to Mrs. Jennie Slawson, of Iowa, daughter of Robert
and Emily (Schofield) McCullough. The latter was a cousin of General
Schofield. They have one child, Naomi, residing with her parents.
   Mr. Phelps is an enthusiastic Democrat. In 1895 he was nominated by the
Populists for state representative, against W.B. Ayers, a Democrat of Kettle
Falls, and Paul Atkins, a Republican. Mr. Phelps was elected by a plurality of
two hundred and eighty. In 1897 he was nominated for representative by the
Populists, against McMillan, on the Democratic ticket, and C.H. Montgomery,
candidate of the Republicans. He was again successful by a handsome plurality.
During his terms in the state legislature he drafted what is known as the
public road bill, which became a law; he was also a member of the committee
that drafted the general laws. During his second term he was chairman of two
committees. He is a Knight Templar and member of the K.O.T.M. He is a member
of the Episcopal chruch, his wife of the Congregational.