- Rev. Boyd PHELPS was a native of North Carolina; born October
15th, 1804; was converted
- and united with the church in 1819; moved to Indiana in 1826
and was licensed to preach in 1828. He joined the Indiana Conference;
married Miss Clarissa Robinson in 1838, and soon after located.
In 1847, he moved to Union Grove, Rock County, Wisconsin. He
was readmitted in the Wisconsin Conference in 1850, and appointed
Presiding Elder, which place he filled very acceptably for four
years. He then located and moved to Minnesota in 1855; readmitted
into the Minnesota Conference in 1859, in which he remained until
his death, which occurred March 17th, 1886.
- Brother Phelps was an honorable, useful, wise and modest
man. He has done a full share of hard
- and efficient service in the itinerancy. He was Presiding
Elder of the Fox River District, Wisconsin, in 1851, and was
chaplain of the first State Senate in Wisconsin. He was a member
of Minnesota's Constitutional Convention, and of the first Minnesota
State Senate and has held other positions of honor and trust.
Brother Phelps was esteemed by all who were fortunate enough
to be associated with him, as a pure-minded, true-hearted, peace-loving
man. As a preacher he was clear, terse, logical and evangelical,
and in his appointments was successful and acceptable. Hundreds
have been led to Christ through his instrumentality,who will
rise up in the great day to call him blessed.
- While a member of the Minnesota Senate he conducted a series
of revival meetings, near
- Newport, in which many were converted. He did this without
allowing it to interfere with his duties as senator, or his prompt
and punctual attendance there. Would that other Legislative members
would imitate this excellent example, whose influence was so
potent for God and humanity.
- Brother Phelps lived well, and died as a good man dies—with
his lamp trimmed and burning, and
- he like one that waiteth for his Lord:—
- "What need to weep for him, who having
run
The bounds of man's appointed years, at last—
Life's blessings all enjoyed, life's labor done—
Serenely to his final rest has passed?"
-
- [Taken from "History of Methodism in Minnesota"
by Chauncey Hobart, D.D.; (c)1887 Red Wing Printing Co., Red
Wing, Minnesota; pp. 374-375]
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