Timothy Guy Phelps

Timothy Guy Phelps
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's at-large district
In office March 4, 1861 – March 3, 1863
Preceded by	John Chilton Burch
Succeeded by	Cornelius Cole
Member of the California State Assembly
In office 1855-1857
Personal details
Born	December 20, 1824 Oxford, New York
Died	June 11, 1899 (aged 74) near San Carlos, California

Timothy Guy Phelps (December 20, 1824 – June 11, 1899) was an American politician, businessman and government official. He was the first president of the Southern Pacific Railroad from 1865 until 1868 and saw the railroad build its first tracks south of San Francisco, California.

Biography

Early years

Phelps was born in Oxford, New York, and completed preparatory schooling there and then moved to New York City in 1845 where he worked in mercantile for a short time, then returned to Chenango County to study law.^[1] As soon as word of the mid-century gold finds in California reached New York, Phelps took a boat to the west coast.^[2] He arrived in California, via Panama, in December 1849 and he moved to Tuolumne County, California where he tried his hand at mining.^[3] Failing to find a fortune in gold, he moved to San Francisco to resume a career in the mercantile.^[4]

Career

Phelps' business losses were substantial in the great fire of 1851, but Phelps rebuilt and soon recovered his loss. It was during this period of recovery that he purchased 3,500 acres (14 km²) of land in what is now San Mateo County, California. He used the land for farming and soon decided to make the area, now the city of San Carlos, his home.

Living in San Carlos, in 1851 Phelps became involved in the local vigilance committee in an effort to uphold the law.

Following a failed state assembly bid in 1854, Phelps was elected to the California State Assembly in 1855 and served until 1857 as the first Republican from San Francisco and San Mateo Counties.^[5] During his term, he served on the first Grand Jury on August 1, 1856. He then was served in the California State Senate from 1858 to 1861 when we was elected to the 37th United States Congress where he served from March 4, 1861 until March 3, 1863.^[6]

His next job was in real estate until 1870 when he became the customs collector for the port of San Francisco (until 1872).^[7] In 1875 he again ran for Governor of California, and he was again defeated, by William Irwin.^[8]

He also served as regent of the University of California at Berkeley.^[9]

Personal life

He met and married Sophronia J. Jewell, of Guilford, New York in 1853. He died at age 75 on June 11, 1899 near San Carlos, California after he was struck by two boys on a tandem bicycle.^[10]

References

1. Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, Phelps, Timothy Guy. Retrieved August 1, 2014.
2. Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, Phelps, Timothy Guy. Retrieved August 1, 2014.
3. Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, Phelps, Timothy Guy. Retrieved August 1, 2014.
4. Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, Phelps, Timothy Guy. Retrieved August 1, 2014.
5. Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, Phelps, Timothy Guy. Retrieved August 1, 2014.
6. Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, Phelps, Timothy Guy. Retrieved August 1, 2014.
7. Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, Phelps, Timothy Guy. Retrieved August 1, 2014.
8. Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, Phelps, Timothy Guy. Retrieved August 1, 2014.
9. Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, Phelps, Timothy Guy. Retrieved August 1, 2014.
10. Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, Phelps, Timothy Guy. Retrieved August 1, 2014.

• Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, Phelps, Timothy Guy. Retrieved January 13, 2005.
• San Mateo County Biographies - Timothy Guy Phelps. Retrieved January 13, 2005.

External links

Timothy Guy Phelps at Find a Grave