Bureau County Biographies 1885
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Bureau Bios 1885 > George R. Phelps

History of Bureau County - Biographical Sketches 1885

p. 618

GEORGE R. PHELPS, Princeton, the gentleman whose name heads this paragraph, is of an old English family. William Phelps, his lineal ancestor, came from England to Dorchester in 16.0, and removed  to Windsor in 1635 or 1636, and died there July 14, 1672. His widow died in 1689. He and his wife were members of Mr. Washam's church in Dorchester and Windsor. Mr. Phelps was here a Magistrate and leading man for many years. His children were: William, Nathaniel, Samuel, Joseph, Timothy, Mary and Sarah. Nathaniel Phelps, the son of William Phelps, married Elizabeth Copley, September 17, 1650. He removed to Northampton, Mass., in 1650 and died there May 27, 1702. She died December 6, 112/  He was a Deacon in the church, and the father of the following children: Mary, Nathaniel, Abigail, William, Thomas and Mary. Nathanial Phelps, the son of the first Nathaniel, was born April 2, 1653, and died June 20, 1719.  He married Grace Martin August 27, 1676. She died August 2, 1727. She was a native of England, and a woman of strong will and excellent character. Her children were: Grace and Nathaniel, both of whom died in infancy; Samuel, Lydia, Grace, Elizabeth, Abigail, Nathaniel, Sarah and Timothy. Nathaniel Phelps was born February 13, 1692. He died October 13, 1747. He was a son of the second Nathaniel. He married Abigail Burman, who died June 12, 1727. He then married Mrs. Catharine Heacock, May 25, 1730. The children of the first wife were: Charles, Anne, Nathaniel and Martin. Of the second wife were: Catharine, Lydia, John and Nehitable. Nathaniel Phelps, son of the third Nathaniel, was born December 13, 1721, and died October 29, 1789. He married Elizabeth Childs, of Deerfield, Mass., in 1750. She died July 28, 1769. In 1773 he married Mrs. Rebecca Childs. Their children were: Burnham, Elizabeth, Abigail, Nathaniel, Elijah (who died in infancy), Elijah, Ann and Rufus. Nathaniel Phelps, a son of the fourth Nathaniel, was born June 5, 1757 and died March  4, 1833.   He was married to Lucy Strong, June 5, 1781. She died in 1834.  Her children were: Diana, Burnham, Ebenezer S., Nathaniel, Lucy (who died in infancy), Adelia, Lewis, Lucy, Lucinda and Charles. The latter was born October 24, 1802, in Northampton, Mass. He died July 2, 1874, in Princeton, Ill. He was married June 10, 1824, to Mary Strong, who was born December 24, 1801. She died December 2, 1877. She was the mother of eight children, viz.: Maria, George R., Harriet N., Ebenezer S., Mary E., Charles P., Elijah P. and Lucy A. George R., our subject, was born February 20, 1827, in Northampton, Mass. He came to Bureau County with his  cousin, Julia R. Phelps, who was born November 19, 1828. She is a daughter of Lewis and Asenth (Wilder) Phelps. This union was blessed with one child, that is now living, Grace Martin. She was born June 29, 1873. Mr. and Mrs. Phelps are members of the Congregational Church. He is a demitted member of the A.F. & A.M. in political matters he has been a Republican.

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