Dudley C. Phelps Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1495-1496 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. II (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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	DUDLEY C. PHELPS is an enterprising farmer and successful stock 
raiser of Custer county, living on a beautiful and well-improved ranch, 
about seventeen miles from Hermosa, which has been his home since the 
year 1899. Dudley C. Phelps was born in Ashmore, Coles county, Illinois, 
July 22, 1865, and spent the first eight years of his life in his native 
state. At that age he was taken by his parents to Vernon county, 
Missouri, where he grew to maturity and received his education, 
remaining there as his father's assistant on the farm until 1885, when 
he returned to Illinois, thence, about one year later, went to Fletcher 
county, Nebraska, where, with an uncle, he engaged in cattle raising. 
After remaining in the latter state until 1890 Mr. Phelps came to South 
Dakota, and during the ensuing nine years rode the range in various 
parts of the country, principally among the Black Hills, and in that 
time became thoroughly experienced in every detail of the great cattle 
industry. Leaving the trail in the spring of 1899, he purchased his 
present beautiful ranch, on Battle creek, where he has since devoted his 
time and attention to agriculture and stock raising, and, as already 
indicated, he has forged rapidly to the front in his two-fold vocation, 
being at this time one of the most enterprising and well-to-do men of 
the community in which he resides. Mr. Phelps has made many improvements 
on his place in the way of buildings, has a comfortable and attractive 
home and is well situated to enjoy the large measure of material 
prosperity with which his efforts have been crowned. Mr. Phelps' 
character is above reproach, his integrity unsullied and his relations 
with his fellowmen have been eminently honorable, his name wherever 
known having all the sacredness of a written obligation. 

	Mr. Phelps was married in the town of Hermosa, August 21, 1898, to 
Miss Jessie Steffing, of Minnesota, and is now the father of two 
interesting children, a daughter by the name of Dorothy and a son, 
Walter.