Phelps, John Smith
lawyer, state legislator, congressman, governor, born Dec. 28, 1814, in Simsbury, Conn. In 1840 he was chosen by the people of Greene county, Mo., to represent them in the legislature. Having been appointed brigadeinspector in 1841, he has since borne the title of major. In 1844 he was elected a representative to the twenty-ninth congress, serving in that position until the close of the thirty-sixth congress, and was a member of the select committee of thirty-three on the rebellious states. He was also re-elected to the thirty-seventh congress; served as colonel of volunteers in 1861, and in 1862 he was appointed military governor of Arkansas. In 1876 he was elected governor of Missouri. He died Nov. 20, 1886, in St. Louis, Mo.