P. 338-339 - Second Souvenir MISCELLANEOUS BIOGRAPHY OF THE PHELPS FAMILY I take a pleasure in placing the following biography of the Phelps family on record in my SOUVENIT. It is not enough for me to say of Levi M. Phelps that I loved him. He helped me much in my lifetime, and God only knows how much he helped me on that never-to-be-forgotten occasion, when he knelt down and prayed for me in the old State Road Church on January 10, 1851. I loved Levi M. Phelps before than as a man and a friend, but from that day forward I loved him as a man, a true friend and as a father of the church until his death. And I yet love him, and cherish his precious memory with sincere reverence. It was his son, Nathan, who led me to the altar where I was converted, so it may not be wondered at that I love the Phelps Family. Levi M. Phelps was born August 3, 1803, in Maryland, and died March 31, 1857 in Minnesota. When he was but four years old his father died, and the boy was reared without education or any chance of improvement. He was a good father, a man who impressed all with whom he associated with the right, and was looked up to as a leader. He was for many years exhorter, steward, class leader and trustee of his church; was several times school and town officer. He died as he had lived. Shortly before he passed away he said: "I thought religion was good, but I never expected such a triumph. All joy, all peace, all Heaven!" (in italics) And though dead, he yet speaketh. His wife, Phebe M., was born July 28, 1808, in Allegany County, N.Y., and died July 29, 1875 in the town of Marion, Minn. She always despised wrong, looked with contempt on anything unchaste or dishonorable. She instructed her children in the right, and left a salutary impress on all she had to do with, and died in the faith. The children of Levi M. and Phebe M. Phelps were as follows: (1) Nathan S. born February 23, 1826, in Steuben County, N..Y., married Margaret Waldron February 18, 1870 and has three children, all girls. He resides in Olmstead, Minn., a wealthy farmer and a man of prominence in church and municipal affairs. (2) Eleazer C., born April 28, 1829, in Steuben County, N.Y., married Electa A. Rorman in September, 1750 (my note, must be 1850, no mention in the errata and emmandatins of a correction) in Crawford County, Penn., and has four daughters married. He is now a resident of Rochester, Minn. (3) Thomas W., born April 28, 1829, in Steuben Co., N.Y., married August 29, 1858, at Faribault, Minn., to Eliza Jane Hooner, and has four daughters and one son--Sadie P., Mina E., Thomas L., Emma B., and Jennie L., all living and well to do. He resides in Chester, Olmsted Co., Minn. [At page 340 will be found a brief autobiographical sketch of Thomas W. Phelps--F. C. W.] (4) Sarah J. born October 15, 1850, in Steuben Co., N.Y., has never married. She has taught school nearly 30 years, commencing in `848 in Crawford County, Penn. She is also a resident of Olmsted County, Minn. (5) Mary A., born April 15, 1832, in Potter County, Penn; is married and has four children. She was the first of a family of eleven children converted at the meetings held at State Road Church, Crawford Co., Penn., in 1850-51. She now lives in St. Clair County, Mo. (6) Sylvester N., born September 17, 1833, in Potter County, Penn.' is married and has one child, a daughter. He was converted in December, 1850, at the State Road Church, attended Allegheny College in Meadville, PEnn., and moved to Minnesota in September, 1844. Joined the Conference in 1856. and preached nearly twenty years. He owns a very fine farm. (7) Letita P., born August 15, 1835, in Steuben County, Penn is married and has three children living, all girls. He resides in Rochester, Minn. (my note - I wonder about this info - Is there a Steuben Co. PA??) (8) Loretta P., born August 8, 1837 died in April, 1874, in Marshall County, Iowa, leaving two children living--one son and one daughter. (9) Margaret E., born February 18, 1840, in Crawford Co., Penn.; married in 1858, and had two children by first marriage; in August, 1864, she lost her husband in the was, and in 1879 she again married, bu which union she had three daughters. She died February 9, 1887. (10) Amelia S., born July 26, 1846, in Crawford County, Penn.' is married, and resides in Marshall County, Iowa. (11) Emma, born in February, 1848, in Crawford County, Penn.; is married and has one child living. She resides at Crook City, Dak. More to follow