U.S. Congressman. During the Civil War, his father James Phelan Sr. was a Mississippi Senator in the Confederate Congress. After the war, he moved with his father to Memphis, Tennessee, in 1867. He attended the Kentucky Military Institute in 1871 and graduated from the University of Leipzig Kentucky, in 1878. Returning to Memphis, he became the owner of The Avalanche newspaper, studied law, was admitted to the bar and commenced to practice law in 1881. In1887, he was elected as a Democrat to the Fiftieth and Fifty-first Congresses and served until his death while on trip in the Bahama Islands. During his terms in Congress, he published the book, “History of Tennessee, the Making of a State.”
U.S. Congressman. During the Civil War, his father James Phelan Sr. was a Mississippi Senator in the Confederate Congress. After the war, he moved with his father to Memphis, Tennessee, in 1867. He attended the Kentucky Military Institute in 1871 and graduated from the University of Leipzig Kentucky, in 1878. Returning to Memphis, he became the owner of The Avalanche newspaper, studied law, was admitted to the bar and commenced to practice law in 1881. In1887, he was elected as a Democrat to the Fiftieth and Fifty-first Congresses and served until his death while on trip in the Bahama Islands. During his terms in Congress, he published the book, “History of Tennessee, the Making of a State.”
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
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