John M Phelps

Political and military service

On May 13–15, 1861, John M. Phelps was a delegate from Mason County to the First Wheeling Convention held in Wheeling, West Virginia. The purpose was to separate themselves from the rest of Virginia who had voted to secede from the Union, an unpopular sentiment in western reaches of the state. They were particularly upset that many of their votes in the succession election had not been counted.

John M. Phelps mustered in as captain of Company "E" 9th West Virginia Infantry upon its organization on February 28, 1862. Three months later, on May 2, 1862, he became the chaplain. Less than a year later, he resigned on March 18, 1863 "on account of business and family affairs."

He was elected as the first President of the West Virginia State Senate, which convened in Wheeling on June 20, 1863 and adjourned six months later on December 11. He served in the Senate from 1863 to 1865 and again from 1869 to 1870. On February 4, 1865, he voted for the abolishment of slavery in West Virginia. He was elected as Secretary of State in 1870 and served 1871–1873.

Family life

John Phelps married Mary Loudin prior to 1845 in Gilmer County, West Virginia. they had three children all born in Virginia: Oliver (born 1845), Cordelia (born 1846), and William (born 1849). Mary died in February or March 1853 in Harrison County, West Virginia. Oliver also served in the Civil War, and was promoted to commissioned a captain of E Company on May 6, 1862, first lieutenant on March 5, 1862, and was made captain of B Company on February 1, 1864.

Phelps then married Susan Jane Hagerman at Malden, Kanawha County, West Virginia. They had two more children: Charles (born 1857), and Thomas (born 1859). Phelps died August 26, 1884 at Point Pleasant, Mason County, West Virginia of a "chronic inflammation of the stomach and bowels and internal hemorrhoids," and illness he had contracted during the Civil War. He was buried at Lone Oak Cemetery, Point Pleasant, West Virginia.