Hiram Phelps (1847-1933)

PHELPS, GEARHEART, MURPHY, FORCE, SPRAGUE, THOMAS, CASEY, WELLS, WHITTIER, PETERSEN, GODWIN, JENSEN, BAKER, GREGERSEN, JESSEN

Posted By: Ken Akers (email)
Date: 11/4/2013 at 20:32:27

Audubon County Journal (IA)
Thursday, Dec. 21, 1933, pg 1

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Hiram Phelps,
Civil War Vet,
Died Saturday

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Was Last Veteran Residing
in Exira and One of Four
in Audubon County

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Hiram W. Phelps, a veteran of
the Civil war, died Saturday eve-
ning at the home of Mr. and Mrs.
Joe Gearheart where he had made
his home the past three years. Mr.
Phelps had been exceptionally rug-
ged until about three years ago
when the infirmities of age sapped
his strength and made it rather dif-
ficult for him to get about without
aid, and a good share of the time he
had been bedfast.

Mr. Phelps was the last surviving
Civil war veteran in Exira and
only three of his comrades survive
in the county.

Born in Illinois

Hiram W. Phelps was born at
Princeville, Illinois, on January 26,
1847, and was aged 86 years, 10
months and 20 days at time of his
death. At the age of 19 years he
enlisted in Company A Regiment of
Illinois Volunteer Infantry at Prince-
ville, the date of enlistment being
February 14, 1865. After serving in
the Civil war he was honorably dis-
charged at Springfield, Illinois, on
February 8, 1866, and returned to
his home at Princeville.

He was united in marriage at
Princeville to Miss Emily Murphy
on February 27, 1868, and the cou-
ple moved to a farm in that com-
munity. To this union were born
five children, four of whom survive,
one daughter, Mrs. Mattie Force, be-
ing deceased. His wife died Septem-
ber 16, 1895. The surviving chil-
dren are Marion Phelps of Colora-
do, Mrs. Iona Sprague of Canada,
Mrs. Laura Thomas of Glendale,
California and Mrs. Mary Casey of
Chelsea, Iowa.

Moved to Audubon County

Mr. Phelps came to Audubon
county about 40 years ago and
worked at contract work as long as
his health permitted. He was mar-
ried to Mrs. Mary Wells at Audu-
bon on January 24, 1915, and they
made their home in Exira, where the
second wife died January 19, 1930.

For many years Mr. Phelps had
been a member of the G. A. R. and
will be missed by the remnant of his
wartime comrades of many years
ago. Many hearts are saddened be-
cause of the passing of this father,
this citizen and soldier, this friend,
neighbor, and comrade.

Funeral Held Monday

Funeral services were held at the
Christian church Monday afternoon
at 2 o'clock with the Rev. A. G.
Whittier officiating. Members of
Ballou Post of the American Legion
formed a military escort for the fun-
eral cortege. Tommy Petersen, local
high school student, played "Taps"
at the grave to carry out a request
made by Mr. Phelps. Burial was in
Exira cemetery. Pallbearers were
Tom Godwin, Ben Jensen, Escol Ba-
ker, Escol Gregersen, Elvin Petersen
and Peter Jessen.

Audubon County Journal (IA)
Thursday, Dec. 21, 1933, pg 8
Card of Thanks
We desire to express our sincere
thanks to all for their kind help and
expressions of sympathy at the time
of the death of our father, Hiram
Phelps. We wish to especially thank
the American Legion boys, the sin-
ers, Tommy Petersen and all those
who sent floral tributes.
The Family