from grandmother West's scrapbook Leon Journal-Reporter Barry West (old dr. was at the birth of my fathers baby sister that died) Still active at eighty-one Celebrated Birthday by delivering Twin Girls to Mr. and Mrs. Wendell Turner of Near Van Wert Late that NIght. By Idavee Crouse Father Time's stoplight still flashes green for Dr. M. Phelps of Van Wert, who celebrated his eighty-first birthday Monday by delivering twin girls to Mr. and Mrs. Wendell Turner, who live near that town. He observed his birthday in a celebration that marked his fity-fifth year as a physician. The community club of Van Wert feted their only doctor with a public dinner held at the town hall on his birthday anniversary. Over 200 residents of the Van Wert community attended the dinner and heard the doctor relate how he almost left that town within six days after his arrival. "I arrived in Van Wert on Thanksgiving day 53 years ago," Dr. Phelps stated. "Six days later I received my first call to the country. It was six miles west of Van Wert. Pretty dark but I could follow directions. "My team pulled terribly hard over the mud ruts in those hills. I could hear a thump, then my buggy would spring forward. I thought I would never get to my patients. I had to stay all night and travel home the next morning over frozen ruts which were very deep. "If I's had the money in my pocket, I would have taken the first train out,. I wouldn't have stayed here another day." But dr. Phelps liked Van Wert which was much larger town when a railroad division center was located there, than it is today. Dr. Phelps began his career at Harlan, Iowa, where he practice for two years. He has practiced at Van Were since 1893 with the exception of two years he spent out west. "Yes, I started practicing in this area in the horse and buggy era." he related. "I used to know all the cow paths in this part of the country. I harnessed my horses three times in one night back in the early days on my practice." Horse and buggy Doctor The folks who listened to Dr. Phelps Monday night chuckled when he told how he used to drive two-wheeled carts over the hills to his patients. "I've had some rather trying experiences," he confessed. "I was going down a steep hill one night returning from a trip about eight miles out in the country, when the neckyoke broke, the tongue of my buggy went into the ground and the team pulled loose. I was left in the middle of the road with my medicine case and grips. This was borrowed team I had secured at the livery stable. My wife became pretty worried when the man who owned the livery barn telephoned my wife and asked what had become of me, that the team of horses I had been driving had shown up at 2:00 a. m. without the buggy. I had a long six-mile walk with those grips. My wife hardly recognized me. I was mud all over. "I guess I've delivered more than a thousand babies in these parts. I used to pull a lot of teeth, too, when I first started in practice here, because there was only one dentist in the county that I knew about." But the past years has found Dr. Phelps riding with someone in their car to see his patients. Leo Boatman, mail carrier, acted as master of ceremonies at the banquet MOnday night and Owen Bulkeley gave the tribute. Bassett Mallatt, who served as chairman of the dinner, spoke briefly to the group and presented the good doctor with a cash gift of $75.00 on behalf of his friends. He praised the physician who had mended so many broken bones, delivered so many babies and saved so many lives in that community. Dr. Phelps attended the University of Iowa and was graduated with the class of 1891. His father the late Rev. Stephen Phelps, of the Presbyterian church, was at one time a president of Coe College. Will celebrate golden wedding Dr. Phelps has stood his 81 years in fine shape. Working side by side with him for the past 49 years has been his faithful wife. They will celebrate their golden wedding anniversary May 6. His voice is still firm and his step light. His hearing is very good. His warm, friendly smile radiates hi fine disposition. Tears of joy gathered when he accepted the gift from his townspeople which was presented to him by Mr. Boatman Monday night. The doctor arrived home at 10:20 p.m. after the dinner held in his honor. Within five minutes he received the call to go to the Turner home west of Van Wert and it was the genuine Pleasue he delivered the twin daughters to Mr. Mrs. Turner.