Born in Schroon (now called North Hudson), Essex Co., NY. He came in October, 1862, married Cornie (Cornelia Rebecca Woodward) in a double ceremony at the Woodward home with Cornie's sister Mary Ella and Stephen Douglas Bawden.

"JB" helped Davenport become the enterprising county seat. He was half-owner in [J. E.) Lindsay-Phelps Lumber Co., a lumber factoring business in what is now the Village of East Davenport

Nephew Benjamin Phelps Bawden, son of Stephen and Mary Ella was named for him and worked for a while in the lumber business.

Davenport Republican obit 18 July 1900
With sadness that almost dazed the public came the news of the death of John B. Phelps, when it was announced yesterday morning. But the day before, he had been as busily engaged as ever with his busiess duties, indeed it had been a day of unusual activity for him. He had been seen in many places and had conversed with friends than one usually meets in one day when on business missions. There was no sign of deterioration in his bearing, he seemed as rugged as at any time in years past and no one could have thought the end was so near. Typical of his busy life was the last day he spent on earth. His duties took him past his usual time for retiring in his home. It was so full of the details which needed attention. It almost seems as though his life was spent ere its usefulness should have ended, "but God has his mysteries of grace, ways we cannot tell."

Mr. Phelps was one of 12 children, he the next to the youngest, those surviving him being Mrs. J. E. Lindsay, Mrs. E. B. Hayward, Mrs. H. S. Hepburn and J.F. Phelps (John Francis) of the city; Mrs. C. W. Huestis of Crown Point, NY and Mrs. D. J. Richards of Canton, NY. Last winter, Mr. Phelps went east to pay a final visit to his oldest brother, Orin, who had suffered from paralysis for several years and was almost helpless. Mr. Phelps dreaded such a lingering illness as his beloved brother suffered and he was mercifully spared from it.

On 20 May 1889, Mr. Phelps married a daughter to the well-known banker of earlier days, B. B. Woodward. They have no children, but Mrs. Phelps has a large number of relatives and a host of friends to share with her the burden of her great sorrow.

The funeral will be held Thursday afternoon with public services at the home, 1358 Fourth Avenue at 2 o'clock. The interment at Oakdale will be private.

In Good Health Monday

On the morning of the day he was stricken, he arose apparently much refreshed and he so expressed himself to his wife before he entered upon his daily routine with his usual zeal, all unmindful that death was so near. He was of a sturdy race. There was no precedent for his sudden taking off in his prime in all his fmaily hisory. Lookingin now on the past, hs friends may see he was under greater strain than they knew. He shared with his wife and her sisters and brother that deep distressed and uncertainty for which has for many days hung like a shroud over loved ones, livign or dead, in far away Pekin. The fate of those loved ones probably engaged his last thoughts, for as he was driving home, he passed Mrs. W. F. McDonald, who also had friends in the perilous position. He paused for a moment to discuss with her the news received during the day and in expressing his indignation, repeated this passage of scripture. "Vengeance is mine, saith the Lord; I will repay." Further on his way and at the brow of the hill, he waved his hand in passing to Dr. A. Atkinson and to Joe R. Lane, and then drove into the barn. Here he attempted to unbuckle the lines and lower the buggy top as was his custom, but his hands relaxed and he slipped from the seat.

His father was Elihu Phelps who settled in Essex County in 1815 and engaged in lumbering in the old fashion way. Back of the farm, the river ran and on its banks, he operated a mill which was run on water power. Lumber in that section became almost depleted like it now is in many portions of our northern pineries and in October 1862, Mr. Phelps came to Davenport to form a partnership with J. E. Lindsay (Lindsay Park), buying out Mr. Lindsay's partner at the time, Eliphalet Harris. During the first few years of this partnership, they leased the Renwick Lumber Yard and had their lumber sawed by contract by the Renwick mill.

In 1866, Lindsay and Phelps built a small saw mill near what was called Stubbs Eddy. This mill contained a single circular saw, but in 1867, a gang saw was also put in operation, being the first machine of the kind installed in the section. Additions were gradually made to the plant by installing a band saw andmaking other improvements until it developed into a modern saw mill, increasing its cut from 45,000 ft/day to nearly treble that amount.

Mr. Phelps was interested in Davenport and he sought in every way possible to add to the prestige. At his death he was holding the following positions:
Director, Secretary, Treasurer of Lindsay-Phelps Lumber Co.
Director, Vice-pres of Cloquet Lumber Co.
Director, Vice-pres of Hayward Timber Co.
Director, secretary, Treasurer of Lindsay Timber Co.
Director, President of Richardson Land and Timber Co.
Director, President of Sound Timber Co.
Director, President of Riverside Milling Co.
Director, Vic Pres Security Fire Insurance Co.
Director of Davenport National Bank
Director of Scott County Savings Bank
Director of Bettendorf Axle Co.
Director of Tri-City Packing Co.
Trustee of the Cook Home of the Friendless
Trustee and finance comm member of the Academy of Science (foreruner of the Putnam Museum)
Trustee of the Central Methodist Church
Chairman of the building committee of the YMCA