Elnathan Phelps

1799 - 1870  (71 years)

 Set As Default Person

• Name	Elnathan Phelps  [1, 2]
  Born	16 Jan 1799	Pittsfield, Berkshire, Massachusetts, USA   [1, 2, 3]
  Gender	Male
  Reference Number	197
  Residence	1870	Pontiac, Oakland, Michigan, USA   [1]
  Died	5 Dec 1870	Pontiac, Oakland, Michigan, USA   [4]
  Person ID	I197	FelsingFam
  Last Modified	16 Feb 2024

  
  

  Father	Benjamin Phelps,   b. 27 Jan 1762, Pittsfield, Berkshire, Massachusetts, USA ,   d. 16 Aug 1828, Pittsfield, Berkshire, Massachusetts, USA  (Age 66 years)
  Relationship	natural
  Mother	Sarah Smellage,   b. 1761,   d. 1850  (Age 89 years)
  Relationship	natural
  Family ID	F28	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Clarissa Colt,   b. Abt 1800, Pittsfield, Berkshire, Massachusetts, USA ,   d. 21 Oct 1832, Pittsfield, Berkshire, Massachusetts, USA  (Age ~ 32 years)
  Children	+ 1. Helen Phelps,   b. 7 Apr 1828, Pittsfield, Berkshire, Massachusetts, USA ,   d. 26 Dec 1907, Pontiac, Oakland, Michigan, USA  (Age 79 years)  [natural]   2. Edwin Phelps,   b. 7 Apr 1828, Pittsfield, Berkshire, Massachusetts, USA  [natural]
  Last Modified	16 Feb 2024
  Family ID	F33	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Event Map

  Born - 16 Jan 1799 - Pittsfield, Berkshire, Massachusetts, USA Residence - 1870 - Pontiac, Oakland, Michigan, USA Died - 5 Dec 1870 - Pontiac, Oakland, Michigan, USA  = Link to Google Earth

  
  

• Photos		1870 United States Federal Census Database online. Pontiac, Oakland, Michigan, post office Pontiac, roll 695, page 422, image 109.
  		1850 United States Federal Census Database online. Pontiac, Oakland, Michigan, roll M432_359, page 105, image 207.

  
  

• Notes

  Among the glories of the old Bay State are truly numbered the Berkshire hills. Lying along the western border of the State, they form a boundary between it and the Empire State, as magnificent as it is marked. Italy, under her sunny skies and beside her blue waters, hath no more beautiful scenery than the Berkshire hills reveal when clothed in the beautiful garments of June, or arrayed in the gorgeous raiment of the Indian summer. Even amid the bleak, howling winds of winter, when the feathery flakes are driven furiously down the gorges of the mountains, or lie piled upon the numerous spurs that lie along the main ridge; even then there is a grandeur that looms up from the white-robed clearings, set in the dark surroundings of the hemlock and pine forests that still crown their summits, though one hundred years have passed since the axe of the settler first resounded through their dim recesses. Amid these surroundings, in the beginning of the last year of the eighteenth century (January 16, 1799), Elnathan Phelps, the subject of our sketch, was born in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. He was one of ten children-four boys and six daughters born to Benjamin and Sally Phelps. He was familiar with the hardships and privations of a farmer's life among the hills, where, in those days, the greatest luxury, almost, the larder afforded was a pie, with one crust of rye and one of wheat flour, and that provided only on a Sunday; and he therefore determined to go where the country, though less beautiful, was more productive. When he was twenty years, he gave his father one hundred dollars for his time, and went on foot to western New York, where he worked for a time, getting together thereby some money, when he returned to Pittsfield, where, in 1826, he married Clarissa Colt, who bore him two children, --Edwin and Helen (twins). His wife dying October 21, 1832, he was left alone with his two children, and in the spring of 1833 he removed to Michigan, where he settled on the farm now owned and occupied by his son, Edwin Phelps, in the township of Pontiac. In 1837 he was united in marriage to Elizabeth Smith, who died in 1842, and Helen, his daughter, then fourteen years of age, took charge of the household. In 1852 he brought another companion to cheer his loneliness, Jane Butler, who survives him. About that time he sold his old homestead, reserving but a small portion, on which he erected a new house, near the old one, in which he resided until his death, which occurred December 2, 1870. He was a member of the Congregational church, which he united with soon after he came to the county. He afterwards united with the Presbyterian society, and after his last marriage attended the Baptist church. He lived a consistent Christian life, avoiding the law; and having no political ambition, he secured the respect of all who knew him, and was blessed with the affection of his family and love of his friends. He survived all of his father's family save one, his brother, Alfred Phelps, who now resides in Troy, Michigan, who, at the ripe age of seventy-seven years. sheds a genial atmosphere on all who approach him. The old homestead is a lasting monument to its founder, in its elegant improvements and beautiful trees which adorn its spacious area. Maple Place, Pontiac Twp, Oakland Co. Mich. Another site of interest is the familiar Phelps home at 1370 Doris Road, The property was named "Maple Place" by its primary resident, Edwin Phelps, who made use of the many maples surrounding the homestead each spring when the sap ran. The original 160 acre parcel was purchased in 1833 by Elnathan Phelps. Tax and tract records indicate the purchase was made from Jerome Galloway, whose brother, Alexander, probably originally purchased the parcel in 1821 from the government. The Galloways were early settlers in this area (1819-21) and purchased heavily throughuot the county. A spring-fed lake included in the quarter-section purchase bears the name Galloway. Elnathan Phelps, son of Sarah (Smellage) and Benjamin Phelps, was born in 1799 in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. Prior to his move to Oakland County, his primary concern was woolen manufacturing, but his interest turned to agriculture once he settled here. In 1826, he married Clarissa Colt. They had two children, twins Edwin and Helen (Reeves). Elnathan died on December 2, 1870. Prior to his death, he sold what appears to be nearly all his land to his son. Biographical sketches for Oakland County for 1877, 1891 and 1903 include Edwin Phelps among the areas's prominent residents. An 1891 reference suggests Edwin Phelps had "furnished his dwelling with substantial and tasteful appointments, and made many arrangements for the comfort of his family." Beginning in 1868, Edwin Phelps Jr. acquired the land. He apparently sold the homestead to W. Smith, possibly Walter Smith, his sister, Claras's husband. Walter Smith (and others) sold off various portions of the original homestead, including the later purchase of Elnathan Phelps, until the 1.51 acre parcel was defined as it stands today. P. Smith, listed for the last time in 1966, may be the last direct family member to own this particular parcel. Taken from: Pontiac Township- End of an Era; book at Auburn Hills Library, AH, Michigan.

  
  

• Sources

  [S4] 1870 United States Federal Census, Ancestry.com, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2009;), Database online. Pontiac, Oakland, Michigan, post office Pontiac, roll 695, page 422, image 109. Record for Elnathan Phelps 1870 United States Federal Census Database online. Pontiac, Oakland, Michigan, post office Pontiac, roll 695, page 422, image 109. [S17] 1850 United States Federal Census, Ancestry.com, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2009;), Database online. Pontiac, Oakland, Michigan, roll M432_359, page 105, image 207. Record for Elnathan Phelps 1850 United States Federal Census Database online. Pontiac, Oakland, Michigan, roll M432_359, page 105, image 207. [S24] Published Genealogies, Portrait & Biographical Album of Oakland County. [S39] Oakland County, Michigan Death Ledger, Phelps, Elnathan. 12/5/1870 Elnathan Phelps mw mar POD Pontiac old age POB NY Farmer parents Benjamin & Sally Phelps of Massachusetts