William Wallace Phelps Explained

William Wallace Phelps
State:Minnesota
Term Start:May 11, 1858
Term End:March 3, 1859
Alongside:James M. Cavanaugh
Predecessor:District created
Successor:Cyrus Aldrich
William Windom
Birth Date:1 June 1826
Birth Place:Oakland County, Michigan Territory, U.S.
Death Place:Spring Lake, Michigan, U.S.
Resting Place:Oakwood Cemetery, Red Wing, Minnesota, U.S.
Party:Democratic
Alma Mater:University of Michigan
Profession:Politician, lawyer

William Wallace Phelps (June 1, 1826  - August 3, 1873) was a representative from Minnesota. He was born in Oakland County, Michigan Territory on June 1, 1826. He attended the country schools and graduated from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor in 1846, where he was a founding member of the Chi Psi fraternity. He studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1848 and began a practice. (Register of the United States land office at Red Wing, Goodhue County, Minnesota)

Upon the admission of Minnesota as a state into the Union, he was elected as a Democrat to the 35th congress, and served from May 11, 1858, to March 3, 1859. After leaving congress, he resumed the practice of his profession in Red Wing, Minnesota. William Wallace Phelps died in Spring Lake, Ottawa County, Michigan, on August 3, 1873. His interment was in Oakwood Cemetery, Red Wing, Minnesota.