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Notable Phelps Family Members
Oliver Seymour Phelps, Genealogist and Author
Oliver Seymour Phelps (January 12, 1816-July 31, 1902) was born in Ludlowville, New York, the son of Oliver Phelps (1779-1851), a leader in the Welland and Erie Canal Projects. When Oliver S. was about 10 years old, his father moved the family to St. Catherines, Ontario, Canada, where they remained for 43 years. Oliver S. Phelps first married Hester Anne Dexter (February 16, 1816-January 26, 1849; daughter of Arnold and Elizabeth Dexter) of Lockport, New York on May 6, 1838. She had no children. (3)
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| Judge Oliver Seymour Phelps, author with his son-in-law Andrew T. Servin of "The Phelps Family in America." |
Oliver S. married again, to Eliza Rebecca Lawton (August 27, 1831-January 20, 1880; daughter of Job Mount and Lucine (Pritchard) Layton), also of Lockport, on July 31, 1850. While living in St. Catherines, he briefly entered politics. After returning to the United States, he for a time controlled a large portion of grain shipments along the Erie Canal. Oliver S. and Catherine had one son, Frank Orson Phelps, b. December 1, 1860, who married Emma W. Dingham. In 1869 he moved his family to Portland, Oregon.
Oliver S. was engaged in the grocery business, before becoming a Justice of the Peace for two terms. He was very interested in this family history and corresponded for many years with members of the Phelps family in the United States and England.(1)
After Eliza died, Oliver S. married a third time to a Mrs. Kitterman in 1893, and they moved to Viola, Clackamas County, Oregon. Oliver S. died at age 86. He was well known in Portland in the ‘70s and the early ‘80s. He died at home at Viola and his funeral was held in Portland on July 31, 1902.
His widow Mrs. Kitterman and his son Frank Phelps, of San Francisco, survived him."(2)
(1) Excerpted in part from The Phelps Family of America and Their English Ancestors, (Save $200 by ordering through us.) By Oliver S. Phelps and Andrew T. Servin. (Get a free, updated index here.)Vol. II, p 989.
(2) Oregon City Enterprise (weekly), August 1, 1902
(3) Oliver Seymour Phelps Papers Mss Coll. 143, St. Lawrence University Library