Anson Greene Phelps
Encyclopedia
Anson Greene Phelps was a co-founder of mining company Phelps Dodge
, which he founded in 1833 along with his son-in-law William E. Dodge
.
in 1781, his mother died when he was 12 years old, after which he was raised in the house of the minister of Simsbury. He was descended from the early American Colonial Governors Thomas Dudley
, John Haynes
and George Wyllys
. On 13 October 1799, he chose Thomas Woodbridge Phelps as his guardian. On 5 May 1799, Thomas Woodbridge Phelps and Anson Greene Phelps were admitted to the Congregational Church
in South Canton, Connecticut
led by Reverend Jeremiah Hallock. In his early adulthood, he left Simsbury and settled in Hartford, Connecticut
.
and began doing business with Elisha Peck under the firm name of Phelps, Peck & Co. They dealt in metals, including iron, brass, and others.
Fellow businessman Sheldon Smith persuaded Phelps to invest in the growing town of Derby, Connecticut
, in an area that came to be known as Birmingham. Unable to grow his business in his efforts to expand his business farther north, Phelps instead selected a location on the east bank of the Naugatuck River
in what is now downtown Ansonia
. Ansonia was first settled in 1652 and named in honor of Anson Phelps. The state chartered Ansonia as a borough of Derby in 1864, and later as a separate town in 1889. In 1893, Ansonia incorporated as a city, consolidating with the boundaries of the town.
Phelps' business continued to prosper and he accumulated a large fortune. His original firm was dissolved in about 1828, and Phelps organized the Phelps Dodge
Company in 1833 together with his son-in-law William Earl Dodge and other family members.
, the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, the American Home Missionary Society, the Colonization Society
, the Blind Asylum of New York City, and served as the president of each at some point during his life. He also contributed to many other societies and charitable institutions both while he lived and in his estate. He gave his native town of Simsbury, Connecticut
US$1000 to aid the poor. Among his other philanthropic activites was the creation of the Anson G. Phelps lecture series on early American history at New York University
.
, daughter of Elihu and Elizabeth Egleston, on 26 October 1806. He and Olivia had nine children: Elizabeth, Melissa, Caroline Olivia (died in infancy), and Caroline, all born in Hartford, Connecticut; and Harriett, Anson Green Jr., Olivia Egleston, and Lydia Ann, all born in New York City. His grandsons included Anson Phelps Stokes
and William Earl Dodge Stokes
, and a great-grandson, a well-known philanthropist also named Anson Phelps Stokes
.
, on 30 November 1853 at age 73. He was eulogized by a Mrs. Sigourney in writing:
In his will, he left instructions to his heirs that characterized his life:
He was buried in his family vault in the New York Marble Cemetery
, and was later re-interred in the Green-Wood Cemetery
.
Phelps Dodge
Phelps Dodge Corporation was an American mining company founded in 1834 by Anson Greene Phelps and William Earle Dodge, Sr.. On March 19, 2007, it was acquired by Freeport-McMoRan and now operates under the name Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc.-History:...
, which he founded in 1833 along with his son-in-law William E. Dodge
William E. Dodge
William Earle Dodge, Sr. was a New York businessman, referred to as one of the "Merchant Princes" of Wall Street in the years leading up to the American Civil War. Dodge was also a noted abolitionist, and Native American rights activist and served as the president of the National Temperance...
.
Early life
Born in Simsbury, ConnecticutSimsbury, Connecticut
Simsbury is a suburban town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 23,234 at the 2000 census. The town was incorporated as Connecticut's twenty-first town in May 1670.-Early history:...
in 1781, his mother died when he was 12 years old, after which he was raised in the house of the minister of Simsbury. He was descended from the early American Colonial Governors Thomas Dudley
Thomas Dudley
Thomas Dudley was a colonial magistrate who served several terms as governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Dudley was the chief founder of Newtowne, later Cambridge, Massachusetts, and built the town's first home...
, John Haynes
John Haynes
John Haynes , also sometimes spelled Haines, was a colonial magistrate and one of the founders of the Connecticut Colony...
and George Wyllys
George Wyllys
George Wyllys or Wyllis served for a year as one of the early governors of the Connecticut Colony.Born at the manor of Fenny Compton in Warwickshire, England, to Richard and Hester Willis, part of an old, wealthy family. His first cousins Thomas and Richard, were baronets of Fen Ditton,...
. On 13 October 1799, he chose Thomas Woodbridge Phelps as his guardian. On 5 May 1799, Thomas Woodbridge Phelps and Anson Greene Phelps were admitted to the Congregational Church
Congregational church
Congregational churches are Protestant Christian churches practicing Congregationalist church governance, in which each congregation independently and autonomously runs its own affairs....
in South Canton, Connecticut
Canton, Connecticut
Canton is a rural town, incorporated in 1806, in Hartford County, Connecticut. The population was 8,840 at the 2000 census, and has grown to 10,292 as of the 2010 census. It is bordered by Granby on the north, Simsbury on the east, Avon and Burlington on the south, New Hartford on the west, and...
led by Reverend Jeremiah Hallock. In his early adulthood, he left Simsbury and settled in Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford is the capital of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The seat of Hartford County until Connecticut disbanded county government in 1960, it is the second most populous city on New England's largest river, the Connecticut River. As of the 2010 Census, Hartford's population was 124,775, making...
.
Career
After moving to Hartford, Phelps began manufacturing saddles and shipping them to the South. His business grew rapidly and he was able to build a large brick building on North Main street that became known as the "Phelps Block." In 1812 he moved to New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and began doing business with Elisha Peck under the firm name of Phelps, Peck & Co. They dealt in metals, including iron, brass, and others.
Fellow businessman Sheldon Smith persuaded Phelps to invest in the growing town of Derby, Connecticut
Derby, Connecticut
Derby is a city in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 12,391 at the 2000 census. With of land area, Derby is Connecticut's smallest municipality.The city has a Metro-North railroad station called Derby – Shelton.-History:...
, in an area that came to be known as Birmingham. Unable to grow his business in his efforts to expand his business farther north, Phelps instead selected a location on the east bank of the Naugatuck River
Naugatuck River
The Naugatuck River is a river in the US state of Connecticut. It carves out the Naugatuck River Valley. The river flows from northwest Connecticut southward into the Housatonic River in Derby, Connecticut. One of the river's main uses is hydropower, which is used to power industrial plants...
in what is now downtown Ansonia
Ansonia, Connecticut
Ansonia is a city in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States, on the Naugatuck River, immediately north of Derby and about northwest of New Haven. The population was 19,249 at the 2010 census. The ZIP code for Ansonia is 06401. The city is serviced by the Metro North railroad...
. Ansonia was first settled in 1652 and named in honor of Anson Phelps. The state chartered Ansonia as a borough of Derby in 1864, and later as a separate town in 1889. In 1893, Ansonia incorporated as a city, consolidating with the boundaries of the town.
Phelps' business continued to prosper and he accumulated a large fortune. His original firm was dissolved in about 1828, and Phelps organized the Phelps Dodge
Phelps Dodge
Phelps Dodge Corporation was an American mining company founded in 1834 by Anson Greene Phelps and William Earle Dodge, Sr.. On March 19, 2007, it was acquired by Freeport-McMoRan and now operates under the name Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc.-History:...
Company in 1833 together with his son-in-law William Earl Dodge and other family members.
Philanthropic interests
Phelps continued to be an active member of the Congregational Church, and he took an interest in a number of philanthropic causes. He contributed heavily to the American Bible SocietyAmerican Bible Society
The American Bible Society is an interconfessional, non-denominational, nonprofit organization, founded in 1816 in New York City, which publishes, distributes and translates the Bible and provides study aids and other tools to help people engage with the Bible.It is probably best known for its...
, the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, the American Home Missionary Society, the Colonization Society
American Colonization Society
The American Colonization Society , founded in 1816, was the primary vehicle to support the "return" of free African Americans to what was considered greater freedom in Africa. It helped to found the colony of Liberia in 1821–22 as a place for freedmen...
, the Blind Asylum of New York City, and served as the president of each at some point during his life. He also contributed to many other societies and charitable institutions both while he lived and in his estate. He gave his native town of Simsbury, Connecticut
Simsbury, Connecticut
Simsbury is a suburban town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 23,234 at the 2000 census. The town was incorporated as Connecticut's twenty-first town in May 1670.-Early history:...
US$1000 to aid the poor. Among his other philanthropic activites was the creation of the Anson G. Phelps lecture series on early American history at New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
.
Family
Anson married Olivia EglestonOlivia Egleston
Olivia Egleston was the daughter of Elihu and Elizabeth Egleston and the wife of businessman Anson Greene Phelps, co-founder of the Phelps Dodge Company. She was the mother of Melissa Phelps and Anson G. Phelps, Jr. Melissa's husband, William E. Dodge, was the other co-founder of the company....
, daughter of Elihu and Elizabeth Egleston, on 26 October 1806. He and Olivia had nine children: Elizabeth, Melissa, Caroline Olivia (died in infancy), and Caroline, all born in Hartford, Connecticut; and Harriett, Anson Green Jr., Olivia Egleston, and Lydia Ann, all born in New York City. His grandsons included Anson Phelps Stokes
Anson Phelps Stokes
For other men with the same name, see Anson Phelps Stokes Anson Phelps Stokes was a merchant, banker, publicist, philanthropist, and became a multimillionaire. Born in New York City, he was the son of James Boulter and Caroline Stokes; brother of William Earl Dodge Stokes and Olivia Eggleston...
and William Earl Dodge Stokes
William Earl Dodge Stokes
William Earle Dodge Stokes was an American multimillionaire responsible for developing much of New York's Upper West Side.-Early life:...
, and a great-grandson, a well-known philanthropist also named Anson Phelps Stokes
Anson Phelps Stokes (philanthropist)
Anson Phelps Stokes , was an American educator, clergyman, author, philanthropist and civil rights activist.Stokes was one of three men of the same name; his father was multimillionaire banker Anson Phelps Stokes, and his son was the Bishop Anson Phelps Stokes, III, an Episcopal bishop.He was born...
.
Death and bequests
He died at his residence, formerly the Coster place on the East RiverEast River
The East River is a tidal strait in New York City. It connects Upper New York Bay on its south end to Long Island Sound on its north end. It separates Long Island from the island of Manhattan and the Bronx on the North American mainland...
, on 30 November 1853 at age 73. He was eulogized by a Mrs. Sigourney in writing:
In his will, he left instructions to his heirs that characterized his life:
He was buried in his family vault in the New York Marble Cemetery
New York Marble Cemetery
The New York Marble Cemetery is an historic cemetery founded in 1830, and located in the interior of the block bounded by East Second and 3rd Streets, Second Avenue, and The Bowery, in the East Village neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City. It is entered through an alleyway with an iron gate at...
, and was later re-interred in the Green-Wood Cemetery
Green-Wood Cemetery
Green-Wood Cemetery was founded in 1838 as a rural cemetery in Brooklyn, Kings County , New York. It was granted National Historic Landmark status in 2006 by the U.S. Department of the Interior.-History:...
.