Head of Phelps, Lewis & Bennett, largely interested in many corporations.

The position held by the Phelps family in the Wyoming Valley of Pennsylvania has been ever an important one, the Pennsylvania branches worthily following in the footsteps of their long line of distinguished New England ancestors. From Pennsylvania sons of the family have gone out and have risen to eminence in different walks of life, while those who remained have carried high the banner of progress, contributing materially to the up-building of their communities. To the latter class belongs Francis Alexander Phelps, who, although not native to the city, began and ended his valuable business life in Wilkes-Barre. He was one of the men who by loyalty, devotion. and enterprise have given Wiikes-Barre and the Wyoming Valley of Pennsylvania so proud a name, and while a great monument marks an historical happening of the Revolution, nearby the monument to Air. Phelps and the builders of Wiikes Barre is in the city itself, its prosperity and its present importance. Francis A. Phelps, second son and third child of John Case Phelps and Martha Wheeler (Bennett), Phelps, was born in New York City, May 4, 1859, and died at Laurel Run, Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, July 6, 1911. After attendance at Wilkes-Barre public schools and academy he prepared for college at Easthampton Preparatory School, then entered Wesleyan University at Middletown, Connecticut, where he completed his years of preparation for the sterner business of life. His rise in the business world was rapid, and at the close of his too short life he had gained an honorable, lofty position in Wilkes-Barre's business activity. He chose the hardware business, and as head of Phelps, Straw & Company and of its successor, Phelps, Lewis & Bennett, conducted a large and prosperous business until his death. While this business was his chief interest, Mr. Phelps was intimately connected with other corporations, and acquired large holdings of real estate. From 1892 until his death he was a valued director of the Wyoming National Bank of Wiikes-Barre, director of the Hazard Manufacturing Company, director of the Parrish Coal Company, director of the Bayliss Pulp and Paper Company of Binghamton, New York, and Canada, also having other business connections of minor importance. In the management of these corporations he was not a lay figure, but was active in their direction, and was listened to with respect by his associates in board discussions