Source: History of Litchfield County, Connecticut with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of its Prominent Men and Pioneers…… Published: Philadelphia: J.W. Lewis & Co., 1881. GEN. EDWARD A. PHELPS Gen. Edward A. Phelps, only son of Avah Phelps, a soldier in the Revolutionary war, was born in the town of Colebrook, Litchfield Co., Conn., March 26, 1808. His father was a native of Harwinton, Conn., and settled in Colebrook at an early age. (See history of Colebrook, by R.Rockwell.) Avah Phelps married Welthan, daughter of Samuel Mills, of Colebrook, and to them were born one son and eight daughters, all of whom are now (1851) dead except their son, Edward A., and Catharine, wife of Dr. William Carrington (deceased), of Colebrook. Mr. Phelps was a large and successful farmer. In politics he was a Democrat, and as such was a leading man in his town, and held various town offices, among others that of member of the State Legislature. He was a captain of the State militia for several years. He died in 1844, aged eighty-four years. Gen. E.A. Phelps received a common-school education, supplemented by four years of hard study at Capt. Alden Partridge’s military academy, at Middletown, Conn. Immediately after his graduation at Capt. Partridge’s academy, he spent the following winter at Litchfield, Conn., studying law under the well-known eminent judge and lawyer, Judge Gould. In the spring of 1830, being an only son, he returned to his native town and took charge of the “old farm” of some five hundred acres, which is considered the best in the town, and one of the best in the county. Gen. Phelps has been the leading farmer of the town for more than fifty years. His buildings are substantial, a view of which can be seen elsewhere in this work. Like his honored father, he is a Democrat. He has held all the offices in the town to the general satisfaction of his constituents. He was a member of the State Legislature in 1841, again in 1851. In 1853 he was a bank commissioner. For several years he was a director in the Hurlbut National Bank of Winsted. He has often been a delegate to county, State, and national conventions. In his younger days he took a deep interest in military affairs, and held the various positions from ensign of a company to brigadier-general of the Sixth Connecticut Brigade, several times refusing to be promoted above his superiors. He has been twice married, first to Elizabeth S., daughter of Henry Carrington, by whom he had three children, viz., (1) Elizabeth, died young; (2) Edward A., Jr., a successful wholesale grocer in New York City; and (3) Carrington, a lawyer by profession, and a farmer by choice, in Morris, Stephens Co., Minn. His second wife was Charlotte G., daughter of John Swasey or Sueaswey, and sister of Capt. Partridge’s wife. They were married at Capt. Alden Partridge’s, Feb. 6, 1851. She is a member of the Baptist Church, and he is a regular attendant and very liberal supporter of the same. Submitted by: Linda Pingel