Byron S. Phelps

PHELPS, FORBES

Posted By: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs (email)
Date: 5/13/2009 at 15:38:19

1889 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF SHELBY AND AUDUBON COUNTIES, IOWA
W. S. DUNBAR & CO., PUBLISHERS
113 ADAMS STREET, CHICAGO

pages 704 & 709

BYRON S. PHELPS, of the firm of Nash,
Phelps & Green, attorneys at law, Au-
dubon, Iowa, is a native of the State of
Vermont. He was born in Milton, Chitten-
den County, in November, 1854, and is the
ninth of eleven children, eight of whom sur-
vive. William E. Phelps, the father of Byron
S. Phelps, is a native of Vermont, and was a
farmer by occupation; he is now retired,
living in Milton, in his eighty-fourth year;
the mother, Ursula Phelps, is also still living.
Byron S. Phelps passed his early boyhood in
Milton where he received his first lessons in
the common schools; he then entered the
Underhill Academy, and afterward went to
Plattsburg, New York, at which place he
spent one year in school. In 1873 he came
to Atlantic, Iowa, and entered the law office
of his brother, with whom he read law for
three years. He was admitted to the bar of
the circuit court, Judge Stockton presiding.
in 1877 he removed to Stuart, Iowa, and
started what was called the Stuart Bank in
company with E. 0. Chapman; he continued
the banking business until the fall of 1878,
when he sold his interest in the bank. In
June, 1878, he went to Exira, and on the
starting of the town of Audubon came to
that place; having formed a partnership at
Exira with John A. Nash, both gentlemen
removed to Audubon, where they have done
a large and prosperous business in law, real
estate, loans and insurance. In 1886 Mr.
Green was taken into the firm, thus making
up the firm of Nash, Phelps & Green. Mr.
Phelps was married June 9, 1886, to Miss Sallie
Forbes, a daughter of James Forbes, a promi-
nent merchant of Audubon. Mrs. Phelps
was born in North Carolina, and was brought
to her western home when a little girl. They
have one child -- Lucia, born February 22,
1889. Mr. Phelps owns two good farms,
which he rents. He started out for himself
with limited means, but by industry and
hard work he has accumulated a considerable
property. He owns a business house, and
his residence, which stands upon a high spot
commanding a fine view of the town.