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John S. Phelps | |
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| 23rd Governor of Missouri | |
| In office January 8, 1877 – January 10, 1881 | |
| Lieutenant | Henry C. Brockmeyer |
| Preceded by | Charles Henry Hardin |
| Succeeded by | Thomas T. Crittenden |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromMissouri | |
| In office March 4, 1845 – March 3, 1863 | |
| Preceded by | James Madison Hughes |
| Succeeded by | Austin Augustus King |
| Constituency | At-large (1845–1847) 5th district (1847–1853) 6th district (1853–1863) |
| Member of theMissouri House of Representatives | |
| In office 1840-1844 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1814-12-22)December 22, 1814 Simsbury,Connecticut |
| Died | November 20, 1886(1886-11-20) (aged 71) St. Louis,Missouri |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Mary Whitney |
| Profession | Attorney |
John Smith Phelps (December 22, 1814 – November 20, 1886) was an American politician and Union soldier during theAmerican Civil War, and the23rd Governor ofMissouri.
John Smith Phelps, the son ofElisha Phelps, was born inSimsbury, Connecticut. He attended common schools and then studied law atTrinity College inHartford, Connecticut, graduating in 1832. He was admitted to the bar in 1835 and commenced practice in Simsbury. After his marriage toMary Whitney on April 20, 1837,[1] he moved toSpringfield, Missouri, and quickly became one of the leading lawyers in southwest Missouri.
Phelps was elected to theMissouri House of Representatives in 1840. Four years later, on March 4, 1845, he was elected as aDemocrat to theTwenty-Ninth Congress, and to eight succeeding Congresses (March 4, 1845 – March 3, 1863). During his 18-year term, he served as Chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means (Thirty-Fifth Congress) and came to be regarded as a champion of government bounties to soldiers, aid to railroads, and inexpensive postage.[2]
Phelps was popular in Washington, D.C. and at home. In 1857 Missourians honored him by naming the newly created county ofPhelps after him.[3] He was not a candidate for renomination in 1862.
At the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861, Phelps returned to Springfield and enlisted as aprivate in Captain Coleman's Company of Missouri Infantry (Union). He was promoted tolieutenant colonel on October 2, 1861 and tocolonel December 19, 1861. Following theUnion defeat at theBattle of Wilson's Creek, Mary Phelps cared for the body of GeneralNathaniel Lyon, killed during the battle, while her husband retreated with the Union army toRolla. By special arrangement with PresidentAbraham Lincoln, Phelps organized aninfantryregiment which bore his name, Phelps’s Regiment, Missouri Volunteer Infantry. The regiment spent most of the winter of 1861—62 as the garrison of Fort Wyman at Rolla. In March 1862, Phelps led his regiment in the fierce fighting atPea Ridge inArkansas. He was mustered out May 13, 1862. In July 1862, he was appointed by President Lincoln as Military Governor of Arkansas, but he resigned the position due to ill health.[4]
Phelps returned to Springfield in 1864 to resume his law practice. He was anunsuccessful candidate for Governor of Missouri in 1868, but in1876 was elected to the position as the only candidate who could successfully lead Northern and Southern factions in the state. During his tenure as governor, Phelps supported currency reform and increased support forpublic education. He retired in 1881, praised as one of Missouri’s best governors.
John Smith Phelps died inSt. Louis, Missouri. He rests in Hazelwood Cemetery in Springfield, Missouri.[5]
| Party political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Democratic nominee forGovernor of Missouri 1868 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Democratic nominee forGovernor of Missouri 1876 | Succeeded by |
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromMissouri's 5th congressional district 1845–1853 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by None | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromMissouri's 6th congressional district 1853–1863 | Succeeded by |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Governor of Missouri 1877–1881 | Succeeded by |
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