Individual Details
Phillip Jackson Phelps
(Calc 1837 - 10 Mar 1917)
I have found two different military records for Philip. He served in a reserve unit at the beginning of the Civil War which disbanded less than 6 months later. He then served 4 years in the 8th Regiment, Missouri State Militia (M.S.M.) Cavalry, Company A. Both records showed him enlisting in Bolivar, so I have no doubt these are the same person.
I had thought this was a confederate regiment, but after more research I found that to be an incorrect assumption as records of their activities mention encounters with Rebels. Phillip's commanding officer, James Akard, was severely wounded in one battle but apparently continued his command.
According to the 1880 census, his parents were from Kentucky.
The death certificate of Philip J. Phelps shows him born Aug. 1, 1831, died March 10, 1917. This differs by a few years from what I calculated from the census (1837). It also shows him being born in Kentucky instead of Indiana. The death certificate also says he was buried in Potter Cemetery, which matches the information I already have, so I am certain this is the same person. The information on the death certificate was reported by C. M. Phelps, which I take to probably be the son Clyde Matthew Phelps. Despite these differences at least the death certificate also gives the first hint of information of Philip's parents. It says the father was John Phelps, and it says both parents were born in Ky. (Unfortunately, the handwriting on this death certificate is almost illegible. At first glance I thought it gave the mother as Darcy Knoce, but later decided it probably says "Don't Know".)
The US National Home for Disabled Veterans record positively identifies Phillip as the father of C.C. Phelps and C.M. Phelps of Leeper, Mo.
Phillip probably knew the infamous William T. Leeper who not only founded the town of Leeper but during the Civil war is alleged to have tortured and murdered captured enemies. I'm not sure that these stories are true or fair to the memory of Mr. Leeper. They are probably just ghost stories told to entertain the kids, but today they seem to be the main thing that is keeping the memory of the little town alive on the internet.
Events
| Birth | Calc 1837 | Indiana, USA | |||
| Marriage | 5 Dec 1854 | Polk, Missouri, USA - Mary Jones "Belle" Howell |  | ||
| Military | 6 Jul 1861 | Enlisted, Sergeant, Polk County Home Guards (15th Regiment USRC), Company B - Bolivar, Missouri, USA | | ||
| Military | 16 Dec 1861 | Company disbanded | | ||
| Military | 18 Dec 1861 | Enlisted, Private, 8th Regiment, Missouri State Militia Cavalry, Company A - Bolivar, Missouri, USA | | ||
| Military | 25 Jan 1865 | Mustered out | | ||
| Census | 1880 | Falling Springs, Oregon, Missouri, USA | |||
| Census | 1900 | Webb Township, Reynolds, Missouri | | ||
| Residence | 21 Nov 1904 | United States National Homes for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, Leavenworth, Kansas, United States |  | | |
| Residence | 6 May 1905 | Leeper, Wayne, Missouri, United States | | | |
| Death | 10 Mar 1917 | ||||
| Burial | Potter Cemetery, Reynolds Co., Missouri, United States | | |||
| Occupation | Farmer - Falling Springs, Oregon, Missouri, USA |
Families
| Spouse | Mary Jones "Belle" Howell (1831 - ) |
| Child | Mary J. Phelps (1866 - ) |
| Child | Charles C. "Charley" Phelps (1870 - ) |
| Child | Clyde Matthew "Matt" Phelps (1873 - 1968) |
| Child | Mark Phelps (1875 - ) |
| Child | John Phelps (1879 - ) |
| Father | John Phelps (1816 - ) |
Notes
Residence
It appears that he stayed at the Home for Disabled Veterans for less than a year. According to the record he was 5'5, had a fair complexion and gray eyes, and at the age of 70 had white hair. His closest relatives are listed as C.M. Phelps and C.C. Phelps, sons, of Leeper, MO.Residence
According to wikipedia, "Leeper is an unincorporated community in southwestern Wayne County, Missouri, United States. It is located on the Black River about seven miles (11 km) south of Piedmont at the intersection of Route 34 and Route 49. Its post office has closed and mail now comes from Piedmont."Endnotes
1. LDS International Genealogical Index internet.
2. Missouri Soldiers' Records: War of 1812 - World War I internet: http://www.sos.mo.gov/archives/soldiers/, box 65, reel s883.
3. Missouri Soldiers' Records: War of 1812 - World War I internet: http://www.sos.mo.gov/archives/soldiers/, box 65, reel s883.
4. National Park Service. U.S. Civil War Soldiers, 1861-1865 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2007., M390 roll 37.
5. Missouri Soldiers' Records: War of 1812 - World War I internet: http://www.sos.mo.gov/archives/soldiers/, box 65, reel s842.
6. Missouri Soldiers' Records: War of 1812 - World War I internet: http://www.sos.mo.gov/archives/soldiers/, Box 65, Reel s842.
7. 1900 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2004., Roll: T623_885 Page: 14B; Enumeration District: 86..
8. "United States National Homes for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, 1866-1938," digital images, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/1916230 : accessed 28 March 2018), Phillip J Phelps.
9. "United States National Homes for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, 1866-1938," digital images, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/1916230 : accessed ).
10. Find A Grave, Inc., Find A Grave, database (http://www.findagrave.com : accessed 27 March 2018), Phillip J. Phelps, Memorial number 50292429.