Phelps, Matthew 1843-1882

PHELPS, WORKS

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 10/14/2012 at 17:27:03

The Grinnell (IA) Herald; Dec. 5, 1882

OBITUARY-MATT. PHELPS.

On Thursday evening, Nov. 30, 1882, at the residence of his father, L.C. Phelps, Grinnell, Iowa, MATTHEW PHELPS died from internal injuries received in a railroad accident in January, 1881. He was aged 39 years.

North of Chicago, near Lake Michigan, thirty-nine years ago, Matt Phelps was born. Twenty-eight years since, with youthful aspiration and glee, wreathing flowers by the way, he accompanied his parents to Iowa, they being of the first of the pioneer families in Grinnell. Here he was a viacious lad in the first organized Sabbath and day school, developing an apt academic scholar, and in 1867 graduating in Iowa College and later in the Michigan Law School at Ann Arbor, becoming a successful practitioner and an eloquent advocate. Repeatedly elected city recorder, and honored as confidential commercial agent and local attorney of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway, he was entering on a brilliant career, when, two years ago, in the company's employ, by a railway casualty, was brought to death's door, never recovering from spinal and internal injuries, which ended his life at 9 o'clock P.M. on the 30th of November.

Mr. Phelps bore the honored name of his grandfather, who, as an educated gentleman, was of the front rank in the state of Vermont, distinguishing himself as an officer in the U.S. army at the battle of Plattsburgh, and for whom there were awaiting high civil honors, when called away before manhood's prime. L.C. Phelps, Esq., and wife, are the estimable parents of the deceased, who have been so actively and heroically identified with every good plan and purpose of this city in its government, education and the church from its founding, and have won such hearty esteem that in their bereavement the citizens of Grinnell sympathetically share with deep emotion.

Lameness from childhood and an heir to perpetual suffering, did not repress the inherent dash in his organization, and exuberance of spirit which, combined with a cultivated taste and native ambition, gave prominence in affairs, and made him in the society and lodge room, not less than at the professional bar, attractive to clients by his suavity and zeal; a hall boon companion and a man of mark. How generous! Moved to respond to the tales of suffering, he disregarded himself, forgetting the maimed limb in nights of toil and voluntary expatriation, soliciting material aid in another state for the sufferers by our late devastating cyclone.

Apart from his professional life there was an independent disregard of mere conventionalities, and a strict adherence to a party or a creed was not esteemed a virtue. Hence a liberal in politics and religion, yet not obnoxious as a disorganizer or a disbeliever in fundamental religious tenets. Calmly in his later years he trusted One revered and acknowledged by his ancestry for many generations.

In the home and domestic circle there was rare devotion to parents, and by death a bright link in the family chain is rudely sundered, which had lovingly clasped an accomplished wife and mother, whose untimely decease cast a dark shadow in a home where there is a full orphaned daughter of five years. The remaining members of the family are Mrs. H.D. Works, Mr. L.C. Phelps, Jr., a merchant of this city, Mr. L.A. Phelps, the eminent musical professor of Chicago, and Benjamin, of Grinnell, a family in whose circle the spoiler has for the first time entered, to silence the leader, bereaving the family and an entire community, in love with energy, nobility and generosity. None but these traits placed railway trains at the disposal of friends to attend the funeral, and caused the whole community to be stirred with emotion and to mingle in the largest procession which ever followed one of our dead to their sepulture. Exquisite floral wreaths and devices from fair hands and warm hearts decorated the casket.

Farewell, brave and devoted son, husband and father, with not an enemy and legions of friends, worthy of them all, one to rest from a pilgrimage of pain, to leave and wait for the weeping who tarry but for a night.
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In addition to the above tribute to the memory of Mr. Phelps, written by one best qualified through long years of acquaintance and friendship, something should be spoken of the funeral services and ceremonies. By his own expressed wish, the deceased was buried with Masonic rites and honors, and the funeral was one of the most imposing and impressive that has ever been known in the State. Special trains from Des Moines, Brooklyn, Ottumwa, Marshalltown and Montezuma, brought members of the fraternity. Mr.Phelps for several years past has been a member of the Oriental Commandery (Newton, Ia.) of Knights Templar, and there were in attendance the Commanderies from Des Moines, Newton, Oskaloosa. Ottumwa and Marshalltown. It is estimated that there were, in all, from 150 to 200 Knights present. In addition to the Knights, the Lodges of Grinnell, Montezuma, Brooklyn, Malcom, Newton and Kellogg attended in body, and members from the Colfax and Gilman Lodges were present. In all, there was from 500 to 600 Masons in the funeral procession. They were attended by the 1st Brigade Band, of Brooklyn, and the C.R.I. & P. Band of Newton.

The gathering at the Congregational church was perhaps the largest ever assembled there. The five hundred Masons occupied the center seats in the main room, and neighbors and friends filled side seats and standing room, and three or four hundred occupied the adjoining lecture-room, which was thrown open. Probably thirteen hundred people heard the discourse, and there were large numbers outside the church. Dr. Sturtevant, Mr. Grinnell, and Dr. Murphy occupied the platform. Mr. Grinnell made brief remarks in honor of the dead, recalling events in his life and praising the warm and noble traits of his character. The sermon, by Dr. Sturtevant, was from II. Samuel, XIV., 14, "For we much needs die." The singing, by a double quartet consisting of Mrs. Christian, Mrs. Etta Holyoke, Mrs. Susie Hassell and Miss Emma Crary, and Messrs. S.H. Herrick, W.A. Shaw, John Walker and Mark Jamieson, was very beautiful and appropriate.

The procession to the grave was exceedingly impressive. The Commanderies of plumed Knights followed by the aproned Lodges marching to the dirge of the band, made a long and solemn array. Then came the hearse, followed by many carriages of mourners, friends and neighbors. At the grave the services were conducted by Judge Winslow, of the Newton Commandery. All was perfectly quiet and decorous, and the arrangements were carried out without any break or jar to mar their full and impressive effect. John T. Scott, Esq., of Brooklyn, was chief marshal of the day. The pall bearers were Mayor C.N. Perry, Hon. C.H. Spencer, W.S. Leisure, K. Joy, D. Vanderveer, F. Wyatt, S. Needham and G.H. Onthank.

Besides all the family and relatives resident here, Mr. L.A. Phelps of Chicago, Mrs. Sylvester Paige of Belmont, Mr. Clayton Harrington, of Des Moines, and Miss Bertie Hoag of Iowa Falls, were present. The Rock Island R.R. Co. was represented by Mr. T.S. Wright, the General Solicitor. Many other friends and aquaintances from neighboring towns, besides the members of the fraternity, were in the large congregation.

The fraternity from abroad were received by the Grinnell Lodge, and were escorted to the Opera Hall, where they dined. Immediately after returning from the cemetery they took their respective trains and returned home.

CARD OF THANKS

The family and friends of Mr. Phelps desire to express their thanks for the honor shown to the dead and the courtesies and sympathy extended to the living, in their recent bereavement. To townsmen, to gentlemen of the Masonic fraternity, to the Railroad authorities and to others by whom kindness was shown, they would express their sense of gratitude and appreciation.