Orson James Phelps
Encyclopedia
Orson James Phelps was an Ontario
merchant and political figure. He represented Simcoe West
from 1883 to 1886 and Simcoe Centre
from 1886 to 1890 in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
as a Liberal member.
He was born in New York
state in 1820 and came to Grantham Township in Upper Canada
with his family in 1833. In 1844, he married Jane Meade. Phelps served in the local militia during the Upper Canada Rebellion
. From 1845 to 1852, he served as government inspector during the building of harbours at Port Dalhousie
and Port Colborne
. He was a lumber merchant and built a sawmill
in Flos township in 1870; the community that developed nearby became known as Phelpston. Phelps served as reeve for Grant and Flos townships and was warden for Simcoe County
in 1881. He ran unsuccessfully for the provincial seat in Simcoe West in 1879; he was elected in the general election of 1883. That election was declared invalid after an appeal but he was reelected in the subsequent by-election. In 1890, he was named sheriff for Simcoe County, serving until 1894.
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
merchant and political figure. He represented Simcoe West
Simcoe West
Simcoe West was a provincial electoral district in the Canadian province of Ontario, active from 1875 to 1926 and from 1987 to 1999.-Members of Provincial Parliament:...
from 1883 to 1886 and Simcoe Centre
Simcoe Centre
Simcoe Centre was a federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1988 to 1997. This riding was created in 1987 from parts of Grey—Simcoe, Simcoe South and Wellington—Dufferin—Simcoe ridings....
from 1886 to 1890 in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
Legislative Assembly of Ontario
The Legislative Assembly of Ontario , is the legislature of the Canadian province of Ontario, and is the second largest provincial legislature of Canada...
as a Liberal member.
He was born in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
state in 1820 and came to Grantham Township in Upper Canada
Upper Canada
The Province of Upper Canada was a political division in British Canada established in 1791 by the British Empire to govern the central third of the lands in British North America and to accommodate Loyalist refugees from the United States of America after the American Revolution...
with his family in 1833. In 1844, he married Jane Meade. Phelps served in the local militia during the Upper Canada Rebellion
Upper Canada Rebellion
The Upper Canada Rebellion was, along with the Lower Canada Rebellion in Lower Canada, a rebellion against the British colonial government in 1837 and 1838. Collectively they are also known as the Rebellions of 1837.-Issues:...
. From 1845 to 1852, he served as government inspector during the building of harbours at Port Dalhousie
Port Dalhousie, Ontario
Port Dalhousie is a community in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada. It is known for its waterfront appeal. It is also home to the Royal Canadian Henley Regatta and is historically significant as the terminus for the first three routes of the Welland Canal.The city's most popular beach, on the...
and Port Colborne
Port Colborne, Ontario
Port Colborne is a city on Lake Erie, at the southern end of the Welland Canal, in the Niagara Region of southern Ontario, Canada...
. He was a lumber merchant and built a sawmill
Sawmill
A sawmill is a facility where logs are cut into boards.-Sawmill process:A sawmill's basic operation is much like those of hundreds of years ago; a log enters on one end and dimensional lumber exits on the other end....
in Flos township in 1870; the community that developed nearby became known as Phelpston. Phelps served as reeve for Grant and Flos townships and was warden for Simcoe County
Simcoe County, Ontario
Simcoe County is located in central portion of Southern Ontario. The County is situated just north of the Greater Toronto Area stretching from the shores of Lake Simcoe in the east to Georgian Bay in the west...
in 1881. He ran unsuccessfully for the provincial seat in Simcoe West in 1879; he was elected in the general election of 1883. That election was declared invalid after an appeal but he was reelected in the subsequent by-election. In 1890, he was named sheriff for Simcoe County, serving until 1894.