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PETERS. PHELPS. 475 entered the office of the " Boston Journal " with the intention of making journalism his profession. Five years later, in 1868, he was appointed assistant messenger for the Boston city council, and in 1872 he was unanimously elected Boston's city messenger. Mr. Peters is the third city messenger in the line of succession since the incorpora- tion of the city of Boston, in 1S22, and his holding the office for seventeen years, un- der so many changes of administration, is sufficient evidence that he is a man of re- markable tact and popularity, and well qualified for the position which he fills. Mr. Peters was married in Boston, June l 7, J S73, to Etta J., daughter of Captain Thomas Damrell, of Boston. They have a daughter : Martha Nellie Peters. Mr. Peters has held the office of secre- tary and treasurer of the Barnicoat Fire Association since its organization ; has ALVAH H. PETERS. been the chief executive of the Massachu- setts City Messengers' Club, of which he was one of the organizers, and has held positions of trust in the American Legion of Honor, Royal Arcanum, National Lan- cers, Bunker Hill Monument Association, Knights of Honor, Ancient Order of United Workmen, and other social and benevolent organizations. PHELPS, AUSTIN, son of Eliakim and Sarah (Adams) Phelps, was born in West Brookfield, Worcester county, January 7, 1S20. The Phelps family in America trace their descent from an ancient Staffordshire house in England. They are believed to be a branch of the Welfs (ffe/fs) or Cuelphs, eminent in European history. The advent of the family to this country was in 1630. The usual training of a clergyman's son gave him his preparatory education in the schools of West Brookfield and Pittsfield, Geneva, N. Y., and Philadelphia, Pa. He en- tered Hobart College, Geneva, N. Y., at the age of thirteen ; was graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in the class of 1837. He received his theological educa- tion in New Haven, New York and An- dover. He was ordained pastor of the Pine Street (now Berkeley Street) church, Boston, in 1842. He became professor of sacred rhetoric in Andover Theological Seminary in 1848, which position he held until 1879, when he resigned. He is professor emer- itus in Andover Theological Seminary, en- gaged chiefly in writing for the periodical press. Professor Phelps was first married in Andover, in 1S42, to the daughter of Pro- fessor Moses Stuart. His second wife was a sister of his first, the marriage occurring in 1S56. Bereaved the second time, he was again married in Boston, in 1858, to Mary A., daughter of Samuel and Char- lotte A. (Howe) Johnson. His children are : Elizabeth Stuart (now Mrs. Ward), Moses Stuart, Lawrence, Francis Johnson, anil Edward Phelps. Professor Phelps has been president of Andover Theological Seminary, trustee of W'ellesley College, director of the American Education Society, chaplain of the state Senate, chaplain of the House of Repre- sentatives, and was preacher of the "Elec- tion Sermon" before the government of Massachusetts in 1861. He is an honorary member of various missionary, educational and charitable societies of the Congrega- tional church. His summer residence is Bar Harbor, Me., and his winter residence is in Andover. Professor Phelps was scholarly from boy- hood, quick to learn, conscientious in detail, of retentive memory, and felt from child- hood that he had been called to a predes- tined life-work. His labors have been crowned with success, both in the pulpit and lecture room. The work of a man imbued with his spirit and energized by his devotion cannot be over-estimated. His