Timothy G. Phelps, US Congress

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timothy_Guy_Phelps

Timothy Guy Phelps (December 20, 1824 – June 11, 1899) was an American business executive and politician. He was the first president of the Southern Pacific Railroad from 1865 until 1868 when the railroad was purchased by members of The Big Four, and saw the railroad build its first tracks south of San Francisco, California.

Early years

Phelps was born in Oxford, New York, and completed his elementary schooling and then moved to New York City in 1845 where he worked in mercantile for a short time, then took time to study law. As soon as word of the gold discoveries in California reached New York, Phelps was on the boat to the west. He arrived in California, via Panama, in December 1849 and he moved to Tuolumne County, California where he tried his hand at mining. Failing to find a fortune in gold, he moved to San Francisco to resume a career in the mercantile.

Career

Phelps' business losses were substantial in the great fire of 1851, but Phelps rebuilt and soon recovered his loss. It was during this period of recovery that he purchased 3,500 acres (14 km²) of land in what is now San Mateo County, California. He used the land for farming and soon decided to make the area, now the city of San Carlos, his home.

Living in San Carlos, in 1851 Phelps became involved in the local vigilance committee in an effort to uphold the law.

Following a failed state assembly bid in 1854, Phelps was elected as the first Republican from San Francisco and San Mateo Counties the following year and served until 1857. During his term, he served on the first Grand Jury on August 1, 1856. He then went on in 1858 to serve in the state senate until 1861 when he ran for Governor of California. Instead of that post, he was elected US Senator for California. His US Senate term lasted from March 4, 1861 to March 3, 1863.

Phelps chose not to run for reelection in 1862, instead he returned to California. His next job was in real estate until 1870 when he became the customs collector for the port of San Francisco (until 1872). In 1875 he again ran for Governor of California, and he was again defeated, by William Irwin.

He also served as regent of the University of California at Berkeley.

Personal life

He met and married Sophronia J. Jewell, of Guilford, New York in 1853. He died near San Carlos, California after he was struck by two boys on a tandem bicycle at 75.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/7253944/timothy-guy-phelps

Timothy Guy Phelps BIRTH 20 Dec 1824 Oxford, Chenango County, New York, USA DEATH 11 Jun 1899 (aged 74) San Carlos, San Mateo County, California, USA BURIAL Cypress Lawn Memorial Park Colma, San Mateo County, California, USA PLOT Section D, Lot 21 MEMORIAL ID 7253944 · View Source

MEMORIAL PHOTOS 4 FLOWERS 11 US Congressman. A native of New York, Phelps first moved to California in 1849 following the Gold Rush. In 1855 he was elected to serve in the California State Assembly until 1857, when he was elected to the state Senate. In 1861, after turning down a nomination to campaign for Governor of California, he was elected to the United States House of Representatives serving until 1863. He would later make an unsuccessful campaign for Governor of California in 1875 against William Irwin. With the coming of the Civil War, he became close friends with President Abraham Lincoln and would serve as an advisor to the president on the West Coast. In 1865, he helped to found the Southern Pacific Railroad and would serve as its first president until 1868. He also served as collector of customs in San Francisco from 1870 until 1872 and again from 1890 until 1893.

Bio by: G.Photographer

Family Members Parents Photo Joel Phelps 1783–1851

Photo Huldah Dean Phelps 1791–1855

Spouse Photo Josephine Amelia McLean Phelps 1845–1910

Siblings Photo Charlotty Phelps 1822–1840

Photo Mark Yale Phelps 1825–1889

Photo Mahala Phelps 1829–1832

Timothy Guy Phelps BIRTH 20 Dec 1824 Oxford, Chenango County, New York, USA DEATH 11 Jun 1899 (aged 74) San Carlos, San Mateo County, California, USA BURIAL Cypress Lawn Memorial Park Colma, San Mateo County, California, USA PLOT Section D, Lot 21 MEMORIAL ID 7253944 · View Source

MEMORIAL PHOTOS 4 FLOWERS 13 US Congressman. A native of New York, Phelps first moved to California in 1849 following the Gold Rush. In 1855 he was elected to serve in the California State Assembly until 1857, when he was elected to the state Senate. In 1861, after turning down a nomination to campaign for Governor of California, he was elected to the United States House of Representatives serving until 1863. He would later make an unsuccessful campaign for Governor of California in 1875 against William Irwin. With the coming of the Civil War, he became close friends with President Abraham Lincoln and would serve as an advisor to the president on the West Coast. In 1865, he helped to found the Southern Pacific Railroad and would serve as its first president until 1868. He also served as collector of customs in San Francisco from 1870 until 1872 and again from 1890 until 1893.

Bio by: G.Photographer

Family Members Parents Photo Joel Phelps 1783–1851

Photo Huldah Dean Phelps 1791–1855

Spouse Photo Josephine Amelia McLean Phelps 1845–1910

Siblings Photo Charlotty Phelps 1822–1840

Photo Mark Yale Phelps 1825–1889

Photo Mahala Phelps 1829–1832