Person Record
Metadata
Name |
Phelps, Timothy Guy |
Notes |
San Carlos was nearly named Phelpsville after the politician, businessman and farmer who was the first to develop the townsite. Timothy Guy Phelps was born in New York. The lure of the gold rush brought him to California in 1849. As with most of the miners, he was not successful at getting much gold. He settled in San Francisco and went into the mercantile business. He became a grain buyer, traveling around the area including the Peninsula. In 1853 Phelps bought 200 acres of Rancho de Las Pulgas. Later Phelps purchased more acreage and then still more, until he owned about 3500 acres in total. He operated a large-scale farm and dairy. In 1854, Phelps ran for the legislature, but lost. He was described as a "fearless defender of the people's rights," a Union man, and an adherent to Republican principles. He was also described as a powerful, magnetic speaker with a good memory for statistics and anecdotes to make his points. He had a gift for ingratiating himself in the good wishes of men. He loved labor and physical exercise. He often was seen working in the fields on his farm when he was at home. He was popular in public life. Phelps succeeded in being elected to the California Assembly in 1856. He then served two terms in the State Senate. He co-founded the Republican Party in San Mateo County in September 1860. Up until that time, political campaigns in San Mateo County were contests between Democrats. The Republican Party was considered a bunch of crackpots and abolitionist radicals. Phelps was a critic of slavery. He also stood for lower taxes and reducing the national debt. Somehow Phelps also found time to manage his successful farm, shipping agricultural products in to Australia, China and the Cape of Good Hope. He was President of the State Agricultural Society in 1860. Phelps, along with other local capitalists, formed the San Francisco to San Jose Railroad Company in July of 1860. In that same year Phelps ran for Governor of California, but lost to Leland Stanford. He ran for U. S. Senate, but lost. He was then elected to Congress and left for Washington in November 1861. While there, Phelps became an adviser to President Lincoln on matters pertaining to the West. His term was up in 1863 and he did not run for reelection. Phelps ran for other public offices, but lost each time. He became a member and sometime acting president of the Board of Regents for the University of California and he was on the Board of Lick Observatory. He served as Director of several mining companies and helped bring power from the Yuba and Feather Rivers. He helped organize and was the first president of Blue Lakes Water and Power that eventually merged into P. G. & E. He helped establish the First National Bank of Redwood City. In 1885 he made plans to develop Phelpsville, but the idea didn't catch on. Two years later developers laid out the town and named it San Carlos. They built the railroad station. In 1892 Phelps built a grand home on the present corner of Holly and Old County Road. On May 30, 1899, Phelps died as a result of injuries he received a few days before when two boys on a tandem bicycle struck him in front of his home. (Joan Levy/2003) |
Born |
Dec. 20 1824 |
Deceased |
June 11, 1899 |
Occupation |
Merchant, Farmer, Capitalist, Politician |
Titles & honors |
Assemblyman, State Senator |
Places of residence |
New York San Francisco San Carlos |
Spouse |
Sophronia J. Jewell |
Related Records
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Home of Mrs. Josephine A. Phelps - Print, Photographic
Home of Mrs. Josephine A. Phelps, early 20th century. Black and white copy print of a halftone photographic reproduction of an original photograph by Willard E. Worden. The image shows the home built by Timothy Guy Phelps for himself and his family in the mid-1800s.
Record Type: Photo
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Portrait of Timothy Guy Phelps - Portrait
Portrait of Timothy Guy Phelps by M.M. Peritt, 1892. Charcoal drawing on paper is mounted behind glass inside a brown wooden frame with ornate textured leaf motif outer border and a smooth gold and textured leaf motif gold colored inner borders. Head and shoulder portrait depicts a clean-shaven man with graying hair and wrinkles under his eyes. He is wearing a white shirt with a short upright collar, a black bow tie and a dark vest and jacket....
Record Type: Object
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Portrait Photograph of Timothy Guy Phelps Shields - Portrait
Untitled [Portrait of Timothy Guy Phelps], 1888. Black and white photograph shows a three-quarter portrait of Timothy Guy Phelps. Phelps appears with graying hair swept upward and parted on the left. He wears a dark jacket and vest, a white shirt with a high collar, and a black bow tie. Phelps was a businessman, politician, and the first president of the Southern Pacific Railroad. The photograph is mounted in a brown matt behind glass in a brown ...
Record Type: Object
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Untitled [Portrait of Timothy Guy Phelps], - Print, Photographic
Untitled [Portrait of Timothy Guy Phelps], late 19th century. Black and white halftone photographic reproduction shows a portrait of Timothy Guy Phelps. Phelps appears in profile with graying hair swept upward and parted on the left. He wears a dark jacket and vest, a white shirt with a high collar, and a black bow tie. Phelps was a businessman, politician, and the first president of the Southern Pacific Railroad.
Record Type: Photo
![Untitled [Portrait of Timothy Guy Phelps], late 19th century](https://s3.amazonaws.com/pastperfectonline/images/museum_136/059/thumbs/0000031003.jpg)