Biographies For Muscatine County Iowa 1889

Source: Portrait and Biographical Album, Muscatine County, Iowa, 1889, page 404
JOSEPH P. PHELPS, photographer and proprietor of Phelps' Lightning Enameling Process, was born in Muscatine, April 1, 1848, and is a son of Capt. Clark and Pascolina ( Paul ) Phelps. His father was born in Hartford Conn., in 1816, and his mother in Natchez, Miss. They were married in the latter city in 1842. His father was a steamboat captain, and was master of various steamboats on the Mississippi River. Prior to 1855 he was engaged in merchandising in Mississippi. After spending many years on the river he retired on account of old age, and spent the last ten years of is life at Cairo,Ill., where his death occurred in November, 1885. His wife died in October, 1881.

Joseph P. Phelps was reared in Muscatine and educated in the public schools. In 1862 he began learning photography, and in 1865 bought out his former employer, and has connected with this line of business ever since. He was married at Natchez, Miss., in June, 1871, to Miss Louisa Walter, a native of Natchez, and a daughter of Jeremiah Walter. Five children have been born of their union---Florence, Effie, Ruth, Vivian and Laura. Mrs. Phelps is a member of the Presbyterian Church. Politically, Mr. Phelps is a Democrat. Since 1886 he has devoted his time to handling his lightning enameling patents, of which he has made a great success.

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