[1] He brought to Laurel "electric lights, water works, improved streets, brick pavements, [an] electric railroad between Laurel and Washington, improved train service, free express delivery, telephone exchange system, three steel bridges over the Patuxent River and [a] night robe factory".
[2] As of 1908, the night robe factory was run by E. Rosenfeld & Co.[3] Phelps was born in Laurel on January 5, 1861.
[4] He married Sevilla Sewall, and they had eleven children, two of whom died in infancy[5] – Mable and Robert.
[6] His four surviving daughters were Eva Dean[5] (married George Dean), Edna Phelps, Maude Beall[7] (married Norris Beall), and Lillian Phelps,[8] and his five surviving sons were Harry S., Arthur P., Charles E., Alan, and William.
When the project's low bidder failed to give bond and didn't continue with the contract, Phelps assumed the risk for completion of the work at that price (ultimately losing $1000 of his own money).