Timothy G. Phelps | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of theCalifornia State Assembly from the52nd district | |
| In office January 7, 1895 – January 4, 1897 | |
| Preceded by | James Thomas O'Keefe |
| Succeeded by | S. G. Goodhue |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromCalifornia'sat-large district | |
| In office March 4, 1861 – March 3, 1863 | |
| Preceded by | John Chilton Burch |
| Succeeded by | Cornelius Cole |
| Member of theCalifornia State Assembly | |
| In office 1855–1857 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Timothy Guy Phelps (1824-12-20)December 20, 1824 Oxford, New York, US |
| Died | June 11, 1899(1899-06-11) (aged 74) nearSan Carlos, California, US |
| Resting place | Cypress Lawn Memorial Park |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Sophronia J. Jewell Josephine A. McLean |
Timothy Guy Phelps (December 20, 1824 – June 11, 1899) was an American politician, businessman, and government official. He was the first president of theSouthern Pacific Railroad from 1865 until 1868 and saw the railroad build its first tracks south ofSan Francisco, California.
Phelps was born inOxford, New York, and completed preparatory schooling there and then moved toNew York City in 1845 where he worked in mercantile for a short time, then returned toChenango County to study law.[1][2]
As soon as word of the mid-century gold finds in California reached New York, Phelps took a boat to the west coast.[1] He arrived in San Francisco, California, viaPanama, on December 14, 1849[2] and he moved toTuolumne County, California, where he tried his hand atmining.[1] Failing to find a fortune in gold, he moved toSan Francisco to resume a career in the mercantile,[1] starting a merchant house in August 1850.[2]
Phelps's business losses were substantial inthe great fire of May 1851, but Phelps rebuilt and soon recovered his loss.[2] It was during this period of recovery that he purchased 3,500 acres (1,400 ha) of land in what is nowSan Mateo County, California.[citation needed] He used the land for farming and soon decided to make the area, now the city ofSan Carlos, his home.[3]
Living in San Carlos, in 1851 Phelps became involved in the localvigilance committee in an effort to uphold the law.[3]
Following a failed state assembly bid in 1854, when he ran with Col. E.D. Baker,[2] Phelps was elected to theCalifornia State Assembly in 1855 and served until 1857[2] as the firstRepublican fromSan Francisco andSan Mateo Counties.[1] During his term, he served on the firstGrand Jury on August 1, 1856.[3] He introduced "An Act to reorganize and establish theCounty of San Mateo" in March 1857.[3]
He then was served in theCalifornia State Senate from 1858 to 1861.[2] During the 1859 Republican California state convention, his name was advanced as a potential nominee for governor, but he withdrew in favor ofLeland Stanford.[2]
In a subsequent 1861 Republican state convention, he ran for the Republican nomination for governor, but was defeated by Stanford, 197 votes to 104.[2]
Following the 1861 convention, he was elected to the37th United States Congress where he served from March 4, 1861, until March 3, 1863.[1] When theSan Francisco and San Jose Railroad was built in the 1860s, the right of way from Redwood City to Belmont was granted from Phelps's land.[3]
His next job was in real estate until 1870 when he became the customs collector for the port of San Francisco (until 1872).[1] In 1875, he won the Republican nomination forGovernor of California, but he was defeated by the Democratic candidateWilliam Irwin,[1] in part aided by disgruntled Republicans who ranJohn Bidwell as an independent candidate.[2] In 1888, Phelps ran for Congress again, but was defeated by the DemocratThomas J. Clunie.[4]
He also served as aregent of the University of California at Berkeley from 1878 until his death.[1][3]
He married Sophronia J. Jewell (born Nov 13, 1824), ofGuilford, New York, on September 13, 1853.[5] Sophronia died on September 12, 1869(1869-09-12) (aged 44)[6] and Phelps was remarried to Josephine A. McLean in 1870.[3]
He died at age 74 on June 11, 1899, nearSan Carlos, California, after he was struck by two boys on atandem bicycle.[1][2] The cyclists turned themselves in after learning of his death,[7][8] and charges against them were dropped on June 20, 1899, after they related their account of the crash.[9]
| Party political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Republican nominee forGovernor of California 1875 | Succeeded by |
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromCalifornia's at-large congressional district 1861–1863 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
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| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
