INVESTMENT DOCUMENTS,, 1871-1895

Summary: Memo Books, 1871-1895

The first subseries under this category is Memo Books. There are a total of five folders. There are gaps between the years of the books but the books have been arranged as chronologically on one could get them. For instance, there are two books in each of the five folders. One folder may contain two books whose dates do not fit correspondingly, such as 1885, 1889. But this is the closest we could arrange them. Some do fit co1Tespondingly. The books are basically tax records and accounts believed to be kept by Mr. Phelps. He also seems to jot down people's names who owed him money. They are somewhat elaborate accounts of Mr. Phelps' mammoth estate in which he inherited from his father, John J. Phelps.

Record of Stocks and Bonds, 1871-1875

One folder of published records of stocks and bonds presumably to be owned by Mr. Phelps. He seems to have possessed numerous stocks and shares in different railroad companies, apart from the International and Great Northern RR Co.

Eastern Lands, 1870-1882

A total of nineteen folders that are not arranged in chronological order, but the tax receipts that make up the folders are arranged so. These are tax receipts for various towns in New Jersey. They tell us what Mr. Phelps was paying for his large land holdings in the state.

Midwestern Lands, 1868-1889

A total of sixteen folders it comprises lands that are located in Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, and Nebraska. Once again these are all tax receipts that reveal to the researcher the large extent of Phelps' estate.

International and Great Northern Railroad, 1871-1887

Under this subseries there are a total of five folders. Once again the folders themselves are not arranged chronologically but by document and subject type. The documents themselves that are in the folders are arranged chronologically. The I&GNRR is located in Texas of which Mr. Phelps is a shareholder. What we have in these folders are a series of documents pertaining to the company and a lawsuit brought against the company. Some of the documents enumerate stocks issued by the company. The railroad was formerly called the Houston and Great Northern Railroad until February 1872, when the company consolidated with the International Rail Road Company, which was under construction in 1870. One of the documents in the folder is an act stating the incorporation of this railroad in August of 1870.

New York and Texas Land Company, 1870-1892

A total of thirteen folders that are arranged by document and subject type. This is the company by which Mr. Phelps invested in lands in Texas. Originally named The Texas Land Company, its name was changed in 1880 in which Mr. Phelps played an instrumental role in the consolidation of the new company. What we have in these folders range anywhere from vouchers to a letter of incorporation. There are lawsuit documents, deeds and contracts, and also some miscellaneous materials pertaining to the company. There are also two maps of the New York and Texas Land Company dated approximately 1880.

Colorado Bridge Company, 1880

One folder containing several documents. There is a document regarding stocks and shares owned by the directors of the company. There is also a contract between the company and the International and Great Northern Railroad Company calling for the construction of a bridge in which the railroad would utilize.

Sandy Hook Lease Proposal, 1885?

One folder containing one document and one map. The document tells us about the proposed building of a summer resort on Sandy Hook. What connection this has with Mr. Phelps we are not sure.