He was born in Newton, Texas to Elza V., a farmer, and Mary A. (Simmons) Phelps. Elza was a native of Louisiana, and Mary was from Mississippi. James finished his public school education in Newton, Texas then entered and graduated from Ford College in Newton. He then enrolled in the law department at Texas State University, (now called the University of Texas at Austin), where he graduated on June 14, 1899. The day after graduation, he took a train to El Reno, (then in Oklahoma Territory), where he was admitted to the Territorial Bar Association.[2] He established himself quickly in El Reno legal circles, as well as the local Democratic Party, and became the town's Police Judge in 1900-01.[3]
Judicial careeredit
Phelps resigned as Police Judge in 1901 to become Probate Judge for Canadian County, a position he held until Oklahoma became a state on November 16, 1907. Active in Democratic Party activities, he became chairman of the Canadian County Democratic Central Committee.[3] He was elected judge of the 13th District court in 1918 and served until 1924, when he was appointed to complete the unexpired term of Supreme Court Justice, Matthew J. Kane. He ran again in 1929 and won election for a full term. However, after he won another term in 1936, he resigned in 1938, citing ill health as the reason.
Familyedit
On February 1, 1903, Judge Phelps married Miss Lydia B. Malcolm, daughter of J. F. and Phoebe Malcolm of El Reno.[3] She was an El Reno school teacher, with whom he had two children, Thelma and Frank T.[a]
^Lydia (d. 1938) and both children predeceased James.[4] In 1940, James married Mrs. Lura McAlester, widow of the founder of McAlester, Oklahoma. James and Lura had no children together.[4]
Referencesedit
^"Phelps." PoliticalGraveyard.com Index to Politicians. Accessed December 26, 2016.
^ ab"Phelps, James I.|1939" Oklahoma Hall of Fame. 1939. Accessed April 24, 2018,
^ abcThoburn, Joseph Bradfield. " A Standard History of Oklahoma.Volume 4. p. 1739. 1916. Available on Google Books. Accessed April 23, 2018.
james, phelps, james, ivey, phelps, june, 1875, 1947, justice, oklahoma, supreme, court, from, 1925, 1929, again, 1935, bornjames, ivey, phelpsjune, 1875, newton, texasdied1947, oklahoma, cityoccupation, attorney, justice, oklahoma, supreme, court, contents, e. James Ivey Phelps June 20 1875 1947 was a justice of the Oklahoma Supreme Court from 1925 to 1929 and again in 1935 James I PhelpsBornJames Ivey PhelpsJune 20 1875 1 Newton TexasDied1947 2 Oklahoma CityOccupation s Attorney Justice of the Oklahoma Supreme Court Contents 1 Early life 2 Judicial career 3 Family 4 See also 5 Notes 6 ReferencesEarly life editHe was born in Newton Texas to Elza V a farmer and Mary A Simmons Phelps Elza was a native of Louisiana and Mary was from Mississippi James finished his public school education in Newton Texas then entered and graduated from Ford College in Newton He then enrolled in the law department at Texas State University now called the University of Texas at Austin where he graduated on June 14 1899 The day after graduation he took a train to El Reno then in Oklahoma Territory where he was admitted to the Territorial Bar Association 2 He established himself quickly in El Reno legal circles as well as the local Democratic Party and became the town s Police Judge in 1900 01 3 Judicial career editPhelps resigned as Police Judge in 1901 to become Probate Judge for Canadian County a position he held until Oklahoma became a state on November 16 1907 Active in Democratic Party activities he became chairman of the Canadian County Democratic Central Committee 3 He was elected judge of the 13th District court in 1918 and served until 1924 when he was appointed to complete the unexpired term of Supreme Court Justice Matthew J Kane He ran again in 1929 and won election for a full term However after he won another term in 1936 he resigned in 1938 citing ill health as the reason Family editOn February 1 1903 Judge Phelps married Miss Lydia B Malcolm daughter of J F and Phoebe Malcolm of El Reno 3 She was an El Reno school teacher with whom he had two children Thelma and Frank T a See also editList of justices of the Oklahoma Supreme CourtNotes edit Lydia d 1938 and both children predeceased James 4 In 1940 James married Mrs Lura McAlester widow of the founder of McAlester Oklahoma James and Lura had no children together 4 References edit Phelps PoliticalGraveyard com Index to Politicians Accessed December 26 2016 a b Phelps James I 1939 Oklahoma Hall of Fame 1939 Accessed April 24 2018 a b c Thoburn Joseph Bradfield A Standard History of Oklahoma Volume 4 p 1739 1916 Available on Google Books Accessed April 23 2018 a b Find A Grave Accessed April 24 2018 Political offices Preceded byMatthew J KaneThomas G Andrews Justice of the Oklahoma Supreme Court1925 19291935 1935 Succeeded byThomas G AndrewsThurman S Hurst Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title James I Phelps amp oldid 1144762380, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
