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Phelps, William Franklin

educator, author, was born Feb. 15, 1822, in Auburn, N. Y. He received the rudiments of his education in the public schools, and at Auburn academy, and the State Normal school of Albany. He has been president of the State Normal schools in New Jersey, Minnesota, and Wisconsin for nearly quarter of a century, and for four years was superintendent a In of public schools of Winona, Minn. 1875-76 he was president of the National Educational association, and in 1876 he was president of the first international congress of educators. He has been secretary of the Chambers of Commerce at St. Paul and Duluth for nearly five years, and for six years was secretary of the board of trade of Winona. He organized the movement in behalf of the Sault Ste.

Marie canal enlargement, a deep waterway from the great lakes to the sea, in 1877; was temporary chairman and permanent secretary of the convention held at Sault Ste. Marie, which inaugurated that movement, and was on the special committee sent to Washington to secure the largest appropriation ever made up to that time for the canal enlargement.