Edward Phelps (January 5, 1861 – May 12, 1931), son of Edward J. Phelps, was a seven-term mayor of

Laurel, Maryland Laurel is a city in Maryland, United States, located midway between Washington and Baltimore on the banks of the Patuxent River. While the city limits are entirely in northern Prince George's County, outlying developments extend into Anne Arunde ...

, from 1895 to 1902. He brought to Laurel "electric lights, water works, improved streets, brick pavements, nelectric railroad between Laurel and

Washington Washington commonly refers to: * Washington (state), United States * Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States ** A metonym for the federal government of the United States ** Washington metropolitan area, the metropolitan area centered on ...

, improved train service, free express delivery, telephone exchange system, three steel bridges over the

Patuxent River The Patuxent River is a tributary of the Chesapeake Bay in the state of Maryland. There are three main river drainages for central Maryland: the Potomac River to the west passing through Washington, D.C., the Patapsco River to the northeast ...

and night robe factory". As of 1908, the night robe factory was run by E. Rosenfeld & Co.

Life and family

Phelps was born in Laurel on January 5, 1861. He married Sevilla Sewall, and they had eleven children, two of whom died in infancy – Mable and Robert. His four surviving daughters were Eva Dean (married George Dean), Edna Phelps, Maude Beall (married Norris Beall), and Lillian Phelps, and his five surviving sons were Harry S., Arthur P., Charles E., Alan, and William. After Sewall died, Phelps married Helen Shaughnessy of

Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania Bryn Mawr, pronounced , from Welsh for big hill, is a census-designated place (CDP) located across three townships: Radnor Township and Haverford Township in Delaware County, and Lower Merion Township in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. It i ...

. They had no children. Phelps died in

Annapolis Annapolis ( ) is the capital city of the U.S. state of Maryland and the county seat of, and only incorporated city in, Anne Arundel County. Situated on the Chesapeake Bay at the mouth of the Severn River, south of Baltimore and about east o ...

on May 12, 1931.

The Phelps & Shaffer Co.

Phelps formed a partnership with Charles F. Shaffer, Jr., and together they founded The Phelps & Shaffer Co. The store sold everything from clothespins to pianos. At 9th and Montgomery Streets, its building later housed the Laurel Volunteer Fire Department, Laurel City Hall and Police Department, and currently the Harrison-Beard Community Center.

Laurel High School

Phelps was instrumental in the 1899 founding of Laurel High School, the first high school in

Prince George's County ) , demonym = Prince Georgian , ZIP codes = 20607–20774 , area codes = 240, 301 , founded date = April 23 , founded year = 1696 , named for = Prince George of Denmark , leader_title = Executive , leader_name = Angela D. Alsobrook ...

. When the project's low bidder failed to give

bond Bond or bonds may refer to: Common meanings * Bond (finance), a type of debt security * Bail bond, a commercial third-party guarantor of surety bonds in the United States * Chemical bond, the attraction of atoms, ions or molecules to form chemical ...

and didn't continue with the contract, Phelps assumed the risk for completion of the work at that price (ultimately losing $1000 of his own money).

Phelps Mansion

Phelps built the house at 1110 Montgomery Street in 1888, and his family lived there until March 4, 1915.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Phelps, Edward 1861 births 1931 deaths Mayors of Laurel, Maryland 19th-century mayors of places in Maryland 20th-century mayors of places in Maryland