Читать книгу History of Westchester County, New York, Volume 2 - Группа авторов - Страница 33

Glenellen, the beautiful home of Henry Delafield Phelps, is located at New Rochelle. It stands in the midst of spacious grounds, a palatial residence whose interior furnishings and exterior adornments are all that a refined taste could suggest regardless of expense. The owner is a prominent capitalist of Westchester county to whom success has come as the reward of untiring energy, combined with excellent executive ability, sound judgment and keen discrimination in the management of his commercial interests. As a business man he is considered one of the most successful in the county, and at the same time he possesses those social qualities which endear him to his acquaintances and win him a large circle of friends.

Mr. Phelps was born in the city of New York, September 8, 1836, and is the only child of Henry and Catherine (Wilkins) Phelps, natives of the metropolis. The paternal grandfather, Henry Phelps, was a native of England, and coming to America was prominently identified with the manufacture of iron goods. For many years Henry Phelps, Jr., father of our subject, was successfully engaged in merchandising in New York city, and possessed excellent business qualities. He died about 1880 in his native city.

Martin Wilkins, the maternal grandfather of our subject, was born in Westchester county and represented one of the old families of the Empire state. His father, Isaac Wilkins, was familiarly known as " Parson Wilkins," having for thirty years served as rector of St. Peter's church, in Westchester county. When the war of the Revolution broke out Parson Wilkins remained loyal to the crown and fled to England, where he remained until the cessation of hostilities. Returning then to this country, he re-purchased his old homestead, " Castle Hill," which had been confiscated by the government, where he continued to reside until his death, at the advanced age of over ninety years. Rev. Wilkins married Isabella Morris, a sister of Lewis Morris, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. In tracing the genealogy of our subject we find that he is descended from a long line of sturdy, intelligent and honorable ancestors, and that in both the lineal and collateral branches representatives have been prominent in the history of the nation. Mr. Phelps is a grand-nephew of Gouverneur Morris, who was a minister at the court of France during the reign of terror and was a stanch friend of the rights of man. He lived until his death at the old manor in Morrisania, which has been the family seat for two hundred and thirty years. This old homestead of five thousand acres was a grant memorial from the king. Here on one occasion Gouverneur Morris entertained Louis Phillipe and William Henry, Duke of Clarence, with a full service of gold.

Henry Delafield Phelps acquired his early education in a private school in White Plains, taught by Doctor Harris, and afterward matriculated in Trinity College, in Hartford, Connecticut, where he was graduated with the class of 1855. He then entered Columbia College, and was graduated in the law department of that institution with the class of 1859. On leaving that school he was admitted to the bar, and soon after associated himself in business with Walton W. Evans, of New Rochelle. The partnership between Mr. Phelps and Mr. Evans continued for fifteen years and was crowned with a very high degree of success. The former then turned his attention to small farming. He is the owner of very valuable property and his real-estate holdings are extensive. He has property on what is known as the Davenport Neck on Long Island sound, and is the owner of a number of very fine residences for sale and rent. He had made judicious investments in real estate, and his sagacity and energy have been rewarded with a high measure of prosperity, so that he has long since left the ranks of the many to stand among the successful few.

Mr. Phelps was married in his twenty-second year to Miss Catherine Morris, daughter of Robert Rutherford and Hannah (Edgar) Morris, and great-great-granddaughter of Lewis Morris, who was the first governor of New York and New Jersey, from 1738 to 1746. They now have two sons and one daughter: Edgar Morris, Gouverneur Morris; and Helena Van Courtlandt, wife of Robert Temple Emmet, of New Rochelle, a graduate of West Point, who served with distinction in the United States army, fighting Indians on the western frontier for a number of years. Mrs. Phelps is a lady of culture and refinement, possessing many qualities of a high order, and over her beautiful home she presides with gracious and charming hospitality. Their residence commands a splendid view of Long Island sound and is situated most advantageously in its proximity to New York city and also the ocean.

While the business interests of Mr. Phelps have been extensive and of a very important character, he has yet found time to devote to the welfare of New Rochelle and withholds his support from no movement or measure which he believes will result to the public good. He has served six terms as supervisor of Westchester county, and for several terms as trustee of New Rochelle. In manner he is pleasant and genial, in disposition is kindly, and the high regard in which he is uniformly held is well deserved.