Pane-Joyce Genealogy
Mary Ann Phelps (67964) & Oliver L. Hunter
69292. George Riley Phelps. Born on 28 Jan 1862 in Potter, Yates County, New York.728 George Riley died in Naples, Ontario County, New York, on 29 Jun 1937; he was 75. Buried in Garfield Park Cemetery, Grand Rapids. Occupation: Grand Rapids Gas and Light Company, retired in 1932.728

George lived with his grandparents Asa and Mariette Phelps. They were in Paris, Kent County, Michigan, by 1870, in the neighboring township in 1880, and in Croton Township, Newaygo County, by 1884.

Michigan Marriages
Return of Marriages in the County of Kent
    19 Aug 1884, Byron Center, Kent County. Samuel Tobey, Justice of the Peace. Witnesses Belle M. Tobey of Byron & Mary Tobey of Nunah, WI
    George R. Phelps, 22, of Wyoming, MI, b. New York, common laborer
    Margaret Elwell, 17, of Byron Center, b. Michigan

1900 Federal Census. Grand Rapids Ward 1, Kent County, Michigan
Roll 721, page 5B
102 Wealthy Ave.
    George Phelps, head, b. Jan 1861, 39, b. NY, parents b. NY, day laborer coalyard, rents home
    Maggie Phelps, wife, b. Jun 1867, 32, b. MI, father b. Canada[?], mother b. MI
    Laura Phelps, daughter, b. Aug 1883, 16, b. MI
    Cassie Phelps, daughter, b. Jan 1888, 12, b. MI, at school
    Nora C. Phelps, daughter, b. Nov 1889, 10, b. MI, at school
    Delbert Phelps, son, b. May 1894, 6, b. MI
    Frederick Borgaadus, boarder, b. May 1871, 29, b. MI, parents b. MI
    Frank Barnhart, boarder, b. Sep 1881, 18, b. MI, father b. MI, mother b. Iowa
Frederick Bogardus was Margaret’s aunt, younger brother of her mother Rachel Bogardus. Frank Barnhard married Laura Phelps later in the year after the census.

George and Margaret divorced sometime before 1915 when she married Adrian Hardy.

After 1920 George was living with his son Delbert Phelps’ family in Georgetown. In 1930 Delbert had both his parents, who were divorced, living with him at his Grand Rapids residence.

Death Certificate
(Thanks to Ron Goodman for finding it at the Town Clerk in Naples.)
George Riley Phelps, residnece 320 John St. So West, Grand Rapids, Mich.
Length of rediscence in city or town wehre death occurred, 7 days [on a visit to Naples].
Male, white, widowed [actually divorced], husband of Margaret Elwell.
Born 28 Jan 1862, age 75y 5m 1d.
Occupation: retired from utility company for 5 years
Father: Oliver Hunter, birthplace not known
Mother maiden name: Mary Ann Lafler, birthplace not known
Informant: Mrs. Orabelle M. Fox of Naples [niece, daughter-in-law of sister Mary Etta (Lafler) Fox]
Place of Burial: Grand Rapids, 2 Jul 1937, undertaker Robert B. Allen of Naples
Filed 29 Jun 1937, C.E. Roby, Registrar
Medical: Date of death 29 Jun 1937
Cause of death: angina pectoris, general arterio sclerosis, duration of condition 6 months

Naples Record 30 June 1937
    George Riley Phelps, 75, of Dutton, Michigan, died on Monday, June 28, 1937, at the home of his sister, Mrs. Frank Fox, in Naples, He came to Naples to attend the funeral of his brother-in-law, Frank Fox, last Wednesday. He worked one summer for the late R. F. Meyer while on a visit to relatives here. For thirty years he was employed by the Grand Rapids Gas Light Company; he retired on pension two years ago. Mr. Phelps was born in Potter, Yates County, N. Y., on January 28, 1862, and at the age of seventeen years went to Michigan with his grandparents. In 1855 he was united in marriage with Margaret Elwell, of Byron, Mich. Of their four children, one survives, Mrs. Elmer Hoffman, with whom he had made his home for the past five years. He also leaves two granddaughters and two great granddaughters; a brother, Charles Phelps, of Dutton, Mich.; three halt-brothers, Barney, Russell and Asa Lafler, of Naples; three halfsisters, Mrs. Cora Tufts, of Cheshire; Mrs. Emily Hurlburt, of Potter, and Mrs. Mary Fox, of Naples. The body will be taken to Grand Rapids, Michigan, today for burial.

Grand Rapids Press 30 June 1937
    George Riley Phelps of 320 John St., S.W., entered into rest Tuesday at New York city. He is survived by one daughter, Mrs. Nora Hoffman of New York; two granddaughters, Miss Lottie Margaret Hoffman and Mrs. Fern Adams, both of Grand Rapids, and two great-grandchildren. The body will arrive in Grand Rapids late Thurday evening and will be taken to the Clarence D. Sullivan Funeral Home, Inc., where services will be held Friday afternoon at 2:00. Interment in Garfield Park cemetery.
On 19 Aug 1884 when George Riley was 22, he married Margaret E. Elwell, daughter of John Dennis & Rachel Bogardus (May 1850-), in Byron Center, Kent County, Michigan. Born in Jun 1867 in Byron Township, Kent County, Michigan. They were divorced.

Margaret, known as Maggie. She married second Adrian Harty.

1880 Federal Census. Byron Township, Kent County, Michigan
Roll 588, page 153A
    Channcey Elwell, 45, farmer, b. VT, parents b. VT
    Lorinda Elwell, 36, wife, keeping house, b. NY, parents b. NY
    Margaret Elwell, 13, daughter, at home, b. MI, father b. MI, [just a dash for mother’s state of birth]
Apparently Margaret was adopted by the Elwells as they had been married since 1862 and Lorinda had no children.

1900 Federal Census. Grand Rapids Ward 1, Kent County, Michigan
Roll
88R South Coumiere Street
    Chancey Elwall, head, b. Feb 1822, 66, m. 38 years, b. VT, parents b. VT, day laborer
    Lorinda Elwall, wife b. Oct 1842, 57, m. 38 years, no children, b. NY, parents b. NY
The 1910 Census also lists Lorinda with no children of her own.

Michigan Marriages
Return of Marriages in the county of Kent
    15 May 1915, Grand Rapids. John C. Loucks, J. of P. Witnesses E.L. Wagner & Robt. G. Hill, both of Grand Rapids
    Adron Hardy, 39, of Grand Rapids, b. Indiana, fireman, son of Benj. Hardy & [name obscured]len Gillon, not married before
    Margaret (Dennis) Phelps, 45, of Grand Rapids, b. Byron Twp., MI, daughter of John Dennis and [name obscured]chel Bogardus, married once before

1920 Federal Census. Grand Rapids Ward 3, Kent County, Michigan
Roll 778, page 3A
560 Grandville Avenue
    Adrian Hardy, head, 43, b. IN, parents b. IN, fireman, stationary
    Margaret Hardy, wife, 52, b. MI, parents b. MI
Their children include:
70039i.
Laura Phelps (Aug 1883-)
70040ii.
Cassie Phelps (Jan 1888-)
70041iii.
Nora Phelps (Nov 1889-)
70042iv.
Delbert R. Phelps (May 1894-)
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