William Walter Phelps (August 24, 1839 - June 17, 1894), the son of a successful New York City merchant and financier, was born in Dundaff, Pennsylvania. At the height of a successful banking career in Manhattan, he settled in the thriving hamlet of Teaneck, across the Hudson River in New Jersey. August 24 is the 236th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (237th in leap years), with 129 days remaining. ... 1839 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... June 17 is the 168th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (169th in leap years), with 197 days remaining. ... 1894 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... New York City (officially named the City of New York) is the most populous city in the United States, the most densely populated major city in North America, and is at the center of international finance, politics, entertainment, and culture. ... State nickname: The Keystone State Other U.S. States Capital Harrisburg Largest city Philadelphia Governor Ed Rendell (D) Official languages None Area 119,283 km² (33rd)  - Land 116,074 km²  - Water 3,208 km² (2. ... Manhattan Borough,highlighted in yellow, lies between the East River and the Hudson River. ... Teaneck is a township located in Bergen County, New Jersey, which is a suburb of New York City. ... View of the Hudson in the 1880s showing Jersey City The Hudson River, called Muh-he-kun-ne-tuk in Mahican, is a river running mainly through New York State but partly forming the boundary between the states of New York and New Jersey. ... State nickname: The Garden State Other U.S. States Capital Trenton Largest city Newark Governor Richard Codey (D) Acting Senators Jon Corzine (D) Frank Lautenberg (D) Official languages None defined Area 22,608 km² (47th)  - Land 19,231 km²  - Water 3,378 km² (14. ...

Early History

Young Phelps' first school experience was at Mount Washington Institute in New York. He was described by contemporaries as a round-faced, rosy-cheeked boy, with sparkling dark eyes; active though not physically strong. Phelps then attended private school at Golden Hill near Bridgeport, Connecticut, where his academic advancement was so rapid that he was fully prepared for college at the age of 15. Bridgeport (41n10, 73w12 EST) is the largest city by population in Connecticut, and is located in southeastern Fairfield County, Connecticut. ...

He graduated from Yale University in 1860 with high honors and toured Europe extensively before receiving his degree from Columbia College Law School (now Columbia Law School), where he was recognized as the valedictorian of his class. Phelps married Ellen Maria Sheffield of New Haven, Connecticut in 1861. For other uses, see Yale (disambiguation). ... 1860 is the leap year starting on Sunday. ... Jerome L. Greene Hall, home of the Arthur W. Diamond Library. ... City nickname: The Elm City Location in the state of Connecticut Founded April 24, 1638 County New Haven County Mayor John DeStefano, Jr. ... 1861 is a common year starting on Tuesday. ...

Following his family career in banking and industry, Phelps served as a director for the National City Bank, the Second National Bank of New York, the United States Trust Co., the Farmer's Loan & Trust Co. and nine railroad firms.

After the birth of his two sons, he bought a summer home in Bergen County an old-fashioned Dutch farmhouse on the "Teaneck Ridge," an area of Teaneck now adjacent to Route 4 that had been the Garret-Brinkerhoff House in Revolutionary days. Phelps extensively renovated the old homestead, converting it into one of the most beautiful and celebrated mansions of its time. The Phelps family made this their permanent residence and their youngest child, Marion, was born in the house. Location in the state of New Jersey Formed 1683 Seat Hackensack Area  - Total  - Water 606 km² (234 mi²) 33 km² (13 mi²) 5. ... New Jersey State Highway 4 is a state highway in New Jersey, United States. ...

Congressman

Combining eloquence with an interest in politics, Phelps, a Republican, sought and won a seat in the United States House of Representatives in 1872 at the age of 34. During his first term in Congress. Phelps was considered by his colleagues to be a serious, well-versed and mature public servant - a successful young lawyer, ambitious, with money and energy who was expected to make his mark on politics and statesmanship. The Republican Party, often called the GOP (for Grand Old Party, although one early citation described it as the Gallant Old Party [1]), is one of the two major political parties in the United States (the other being the Democratic Party). ... Seal of the House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives is one of the two houses of the Congress of the United States, the other being the Senate. ... 1872 was a leap year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ...

Phelps failed in his first bid for reelection, in 1874. After his term ended, Phelps returned in 1875 to his Teaneck home, where he spent hour upon hour planning the improvements - to the homestead and looking for additional land investments nearby. In the next year, he embarked upon a European tour, partly to regain his health which had suffered from a bout of typhoid fever. While abroad, Phelps investigated institutions of learning and art in England, France and Germany, and enjoyed the society of scholars, authors and scientists. 1874 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... 1875 was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... Royal motto (French): Dieu et mon droit (Translated: God and my right) Englands location within the UK Official language English de facto Capital London de facto Largest city London Area - Total Ranked 1st UK 130,395 km² Population - Total (mid-2004) - Density Ranked 1st UK 50. ...

Arborculturist

Returning to the United States, Phelps spent most of his time resting and working on his most important hobby -- his estate. His great passion was trees and the woods; he was a devotee of arboriculture. Between 1875 and 1880 Phelps was responsible for planting and seeing to maturity approximately 600,000 trees of numerous varieties. 1875 was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... 1880 was a leap year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ...

In 1880 Phelps was selected to manage the Republican Presidential campaign but he was unable to complete the assignment because of feeble health. In 1881, President James A. Garfield named Phelps as Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Austria-Hungary, but he held this post for only a few months, resigning after Garfield was assassinated. 1880 was a leap year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... 1881 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... The President of the United States (often abbreviated POTUS) is the head of state of the United States. ... James Abram Garfield (November 19, 1831 – September 19, 1881) was the 20th President of the United States (1881), and the second U.S. President to be assassinated. ... Austria-Hungary, also known as the Dual monarchy (or: the k. ...

Still active in politics, Phelps was re-elected to Congress in 1883, [[1885] and again in 1887. 1883 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... 1887 is a common year starting on Saturday (click on link for calendar). ...

Art collector

In 1886 the Phelps mansion was completed. At Christmas time the family held a glorious celebration with people from all over the country viewing the mansion for the first time. Phelps' favorite room was a gallery which he had designed himself to hold his priceless collection of art treasures from the ends of the earth. 1886 is a common year starting on Friday (click on link to calendar) // Events January 18 - Modern field hockey is born with the formation of The Hockey Association in England. ...

It was nearly midnight on April 1, 1888 when Phelps, returning to his apartments in Washington, D.C. after an evening with friends, found on the table in his bedroom two telegrams which told him that his mansion in Teaneck, where his family then was, had been totally destroyed by fire, with a loss of nearly all its valuable contents. He disturbed no one upon receiving this startling news, but very early in the morning awakened his secretary, told him what had happened, and said that he was going to take an immediate train for New York. He left on the train without once alluding to the great calamity. April 1 is the 91st day of the year (92nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 274 days remaining. ... 1888 is a leap year starting on Sunday (click on link for calendar). ... Washington, D.C. is the capital city of the United States of America. ...

The mansion, once the most beautiful in the area, became known as "Phelps' Ruin" and local residents picnicked near the destroyed home, marveling at what it once had been. Phelps immediately began renovation of the house.

German Ambassador

In 1889, Phelps was appointed by President Benjamin Harrison as Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Germany. On October 11, 1889 William Phelps was presented to the German Empress at a gala performance at the Royal Opera House, given in honor of the Czar of Russia. Phelps remainined in the post for one year until a case of homesickness prompted his request for a short leave of absence. He sailed for America in September of 1890. Phelps returned to Germany a year later, remaining in this post until January 1893 when his health began to suffer due to the climate. 1889 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... The President of the United States (often abbreviated POTUS) is the head of state of the United States. ... This article is about the President. ... October 11 is the 284th day of the year (285th in Leap years). ... 1889 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... Tsar, (Bulgarian цар�, Russian царь; often spelled Czar or Tzar in English), was the title used for the autocratic rulers of the First and Second Bulgarian Empires since 913, in Serbia in the middle of the 14th century, and in Russia from 1547 to 1917. ... 1890 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... 1893 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ...

State Judge and Final Days

While Phelps was vacationing, Governor George T. Werts of New Jersey appointed him Judge of the State Court of Errors and Appeals. Turning over the affairs of the legislation to his success, Phelps again returned to the United States to be sworn into his judicial role on June 20, 1893. June 20 is the 171st day of the year (172nd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 194 days remaining. ... 1893 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ...

In February of 1894, Phelps' throat began to trouble him seriously, and the illness confined him to his home for days. He continued to try to keep up with his work and in fact was present until the adjournment of the term. A few days later he traveled to the Hygeia Hotel at Old Point Comfort in Virginia, a resort that in the past had been a place of rest for him. 1894 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... State nickname: Old Dominion Other U.S. States Capital Richmond Largest city Virginia Beach Governor Mark R. Warner (D) Senators John Warner (R) George Allen (R) Official languages English Area 110,862 km² (35th)  - Land 102,642 km²  - Water 8,220 km² (7. ...

Phelps became withdrawn and quiet, an attitude brought on by his physical inability to converse. The last entry in his diary is dated April 10, 1894. Phelps moved himself to Hot Springs, West Virginia, where he enjoyed a temporary return of strength. Finding no lasting improvement in his health in Hot Springs, Phelps returned to his home in Teaneck on May 18. By May 31 he was bedridden, and in June he lapsed into a coma. He died June 17, 1894. April 10 is the 100th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (101st in leap years). ... 1894 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... State nickname: Mountain State Other U.S. States Capital Charleston Largest city Charleston Governor Joe Manchin (D) Senators Robert Byrd (D) Jay Rockefeller (D) Official languages English Area 62,809 km² (41st)  - Land 62,436 km²  - Water 376 km² (0. ... May 18 is the 138th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (139th in leap years). ... May 31 is the 151st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (152nd in leap years), with 214 days remaining, as the last day of May. ... June 17 is the 168th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (169th in leap years), with 197 days remaining. ... 1894 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ...

Hundreds of people lined the streets of Teaneck and Englewood to honor his funeral procession. The trees he had planted himself lined the path of this final journey. At the time of his death, Phelps owned half of what is presently Teaneck. Map highlighting Englewoods location within Bergen County. ...

External Links

• Teaneck Public Library Virtual Village Website
• Congressional Biography