Anson Greene Phelps was an American merchant and philanthropist.
Background
He was born on March 24, 1781 at Simsbury, Connecticut, United States, the youngest of the four sons of Thomas and Dorothy (Woodbridge) Phelps. He was the descendant in the sixth generation of George Phelps who, emigrated from Gloucestershire, England, to Dorchester, Massachussets, about 1630 and five years later removed to Windsor, Connecticut.
His father was a part owner in a saw- and gristmill at Simsbury and had served through most of the Revolution. After his parents died, his father in 1789 and his mother in 1795, the orphaned boy spent the next few years in the home of the local minister.
Education
He learned the saddler's trade from his elder brother, who became his guardian.
Career
Shortly after the opening of the century he settled in Hartford and there followed his trade. His first successful mercantile operation was in manufacturing a large number of saddles and shipping them south. His business prospered; he established a branch in Charleston, and soon he was extending his interests in other lines, particularly in the merchandising and importing of tin plate and other metals.
About 1812 he removed to New York, where he associated himself in business with Elisha Peck under the firm name of Phelps, Peck & Company. The partnership was dissolved in 1828. The chief setback to a business career of almost uninterrupted success came in 1832, when a large warehouse he had recently constructed at the corner of Cliff and Fulton streets collapsed with the loss of several lives. At this time he invited his two sons-in-law, William Earl Dodge and Daniel James to join him as partners in the firm of Phelps, Dodge & Company.
Prevented from extending north along the Naugatuck, Phelps and his associates purchased a site farther south, erected a dam, a factory, and some dwelling houses. From this grew the city of Ansonia, named in his honor. Later the Birmingham Copper Mills were consolidated with the Ansonia Manufacturing Company as the Ansonia Brass and Copper Company.
He generously supported and at some time acted as president of the American Bible Society, the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, the American Home Missionary Society, the New York Institute for the Education of the Blind, and the Colonization Society of the State of Connecticut. He was particularly interested in the latter as affording the best method of dealing with negro slavery.
After an extended European trip in pursuit of health he died in New York leaving almost $600, 000 of his large fortune to religious and benevolent purposes
Achievements
Anson Green Phelps was famous as the co-founder of Phelps, Dodge & Co. , this company became one of the leading concerns in the country in the importing and merchandising of various metals. His company was important in the development of Lake Superior copper and Pennsylvania iron, and its loans to George W. Scranton and his brother were important to the growth of the city of Scranton. Phelps was as well known in his lifetime as a philanthropist as he was as a businessman. He gave his native town of Simsbury, Connecticut US$1000 to aid the poor.
Religion
He frequently presided at the weekly prayer-meetings of the Presbyterian Church.
Personality
Extracts printed from his diary indicate a man with an intense desire to follow the Christian teaching, and his life did not belie his piety. He spent an hour each morning in prayer and other devout exercises.
Quotes from others about the person
He was eulogized by a Mrs. Sigourney in writing:
“The cares of commerce and the rush of wealth Swept not away his meekness, nor the time To cultivate all household charities; Nor the answering, conscientious zeal To consecrate a portion of his gains To man's relief and the Redeemer's cause. “
Connections
On October 26, 1806, he was married to Olivia Eggleston, who bore him seven daughters and one son.
