Deacon Phelps Explained

Deacon Phelps
Office1:Member of the Yukon Territorial Council
Term Start1:1909
Term End1:1920
Predecessor1:Robert Lowe
Successor1:Robert Lowe
Constituency1:Whitehorse
Term Start2:1925
Term End2:1934
Predecessor2:Robert Lowe
Successor2:Charles Thomas Atherton [1]
Constituency2:Whitehorse
Term Start3:1940
Term End3:1943
Predecessor3:George Wilson
Successor3:Alexander Smith
Constituency3:Whitehorse
Birth Date:March 12, 1867
Birth Place:Merritton, Ontario
Birth Name:Willard Leroy Phelps
Death Date:March 27, 1951
Death Place:Whitehorse, Yukon
Occupation:lawyer, prospector, businessman
Party:None

Willard Leroy "Deacon" Phelps (March 12, 1867 - March 27, 1951[2]) was a Canadian politician, lawyer and businessman.[3] He was a member of the Yukon Territorial Council from 1909 to 1920, 1925 to 1934 and 1940 to 1943,[4] and the owner and manager of the first hydroelectricity company in Yukon.

Originally from Merritton, Ontario,[4] he attended Ridley College and Osgoode Hall before setting up a short-lived law practice in Toronto. He first moved to Yukon toward the end of the Klondike Gold Rush, but after falling short in that endeavour he became a business partner in Yukon Electrical Company in 1901, eventually becoming the company's sole owner and manager. He acquired the lifelong nickname Deacon after an incident when he caused the territory's first pastor to resign in frustration, by explaining that while he saw the value in the territory having a church he felt no need to personally attend it.

His son John Phelps and his grandson Willard Phelps both continued in roles with Yukon Electrical Company, and also both served on the territorial council. Willard became Government Leader of Yukon in 1985.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Charles T Atherton.
  2. News: W. L. Phelps Oldtimer of The North Passes Suddenly . Whitehorse Daily Star . 30 March 1951 . 1. newspapers.com.
  3. http://whitehorsestar.com/News/phelps-family-connected-to-electrical-business "Phelps family connected to electrical business"
  4. http://www.hougengroup.com/yukon-history/yukon-nuggets/phelps/ Phelps