Phelps, Edna W., 1905-

Homesteader and teacher in Phoenix area.

From the description of Typewritten transcript of oral history interview with Edna W. Phelps, 1981 July 17, 23, 28 and August 5 / conducted by Linda Salmon. (Scottsdale Public Library). WorldCat record id: 25293539

Edna W. Phelps collected family photographs, correspondence, diaries, and family documents dating back four generations to her ancestors in Plainview, Illinois.

She also collected materials relating to the history of Tustin and the surrounding vicinity from ca. 1810-1981. Aside from her fascination with family and Orange County history, little else is known about Edna Phelps. She is the great granddaughter of Martin Nickolas Gulick by his first marriage in 1841 and may have spent a portion of her childhood in Southern California, as documents in this collection indicate that her grandparents followed her parents there in 1904, settling in Pasadena. The majority of the Gulick family began moving West in ca. 1880, and by the 1920s a network of Edna Phelps' relatives, all descendents of the Gulicks, were well established in many areas of Southern California.

From the description of Edna W. Phelps collection, ca. 1810-1981 (bulk ca. 1880-ca. 1910). (University of California, Irvine). WorldCat record id: 47294853

Biography

Edna W. Phelps collected family photographs, correspondence, diaries, and family documents dating back four generations to her ancestors in Plainview, Illinois. She also collected materials relating to the history of Tustin and the surrounding vicinity from ca. 1810-1981.

In addition to these collecting activities, Edna Phelps edited family diaries and writings and wrote a short document, which is included in this collection, entitled, "One by One the Gulicks Came West." Edna also conducted interviews on early Southern California history with William Huntley (her distant cousin) and George Bartley, whose family settled in El Modena, California in 1882. In 1968-1969 she edited an unpublished work by Helen Gulick Huntley and William M. Huntley (distant cousins of hers) entitled "Tustin Scrapbook," which is located at the California State Library.

Aside from her fascination with family and Orange County history, little else is known about Edna Phelps. She is the great granddaughter of Martin Nickolas Gulick, who is the earliest member of her family represented in this collection.

Martin Nickolas Gulick (1815-1900) was married three times. His first marriage was in 1841 to Eleanor Welch (Edna Phelps' great grandmother) and resulted in three children: Mary Jane (Edna Phelps' grandmother), James Harvey and Eleanor Matilda. This brief marriage ended in 1848 with the death of Eleanor Welch Gulick. Family names of Edna Phelps' aunts, uncles and cousins by this marriage include: Barrett, Crouch, Davidson, Hewitt, Huntley, Munger, Page, Palmer, Reid, Ruggles, Schultz, Scovil, Thompson, Wichersham and Willson.

Martin N. Gulick's second marriage took place in 1850 to Jane Vanarsdall. They had no children, and she died in 1857.

His third marriage to Annis C. Phelps occurred in 1860 and resulted in the birth of five daughters: Sadie, Alice, Olive, Hattie and another who died in early childhood. Only two of their daughters married, and as far as the information in this collection recounts, no grandchildren survived early childhood. Annis and her daughters, who corresponded through much of the latter part of the 19th century, generated much of the Gulick correspondence in this collection, with topics ranging from descriptions of dress patterns to discussions of living conditions.

The marriage of Martin and Annis Gulick resulted in the meeting and courtship of Mary Jane Gulick (Edna Phelps' grandmother) and Louis Ransom Phelps (half-brother of Annis C. Phelps). Ultimately Mary and Louis were married, at which time Mary was disowned by her father for unknown reasons. The banished couple lived in Jerseyville, Illinois for many years with very few ties to the Gulick family. Their first born (of twelve children) was Ernest Phelps, Edna Phelps' father. Edna may have spent a portion of her childhood in Southern California, as documents in this collection indicate that her grandparents followed her parents there in 1904, settling in Pasadena. Many photographs of the Phelps family are included in this collection.

Most of the Gulick family began moving West during the railroad rate wars that prompted a boom in ca. 1880, sending many Midwesterners to California. Work opportunities and a reduced cost of living were just two of the attractions that appealed to the Gulicks. However, the most attractive aspect of the West seems to have been the weather. As Eleanor Davidson (Edna Phelps' aunt) said in early 1888 as she arrived in San Bernardino, California, by train from Illinois, "I could hardly believe we were in the land of summer till the girls went out and seen flowers and oranges in abundance and it was so warm."

Many of the Gulicks settled in Orange County and the surrounding vicinity. Their occupations included orchard fumigation, walnut production, and preaching. One cousin was known as the jack-of-all-trades, moving his family around as work became available in various cities.

By the 1920s, the point at which the bulk of the material in this collection ends, a network of Edna Phelps' relatives, all descendents of the Gulicks, were well established in many areas of Southern California.

From the guide to the Edna W. Phelps collection, ca. 1810-1981 (bulk ca. 1880-ca. 1910), (University of California, Irvine. Library. Special Collections and Archives.)