Kentucky: A History of the State, Battle, Perrin, & Kniffin, 2nd ed., 
1885, Butler Co.

HON. JULIAN N. PHELPS was born in Butler County, Ky., March 7, 1809, and 
is the eldest of fifteen children born to James and Nellie (Jones) 
Phelps, natives of Green County, and of Scotch-Irish and English descent 
respectively.  James Phelps received his early education in his native 
county, but while yet a young man, in the latter part of the last 
century, removed to what is now Butler County, Ky., which was then a 
part of Ohio County, and almost an unbroken wilderness.  Here he was 
afterward married; bought wild land on the waters of Welch's Creek, 
erected a log-cabin, and subsequently improved a farm, upon which he 
resided for many years; then removed to Edmonson County, where he 
resided some five or six years; returned to Butler County and again 
bought wild land, adjoining his first purchase, where he improved another 
farm and resided for several years; then sold out and bought a farm and 
corn-mill on big Reedy Creek, same county, upon which he resided for some 
five or six years, after which he made his home among his children until 
his death, in 1863.  He and wife were from early life members of the 
United Baptist Church; he was also for many years a captain in the State 
militia.  His mother, Nancy (Nail) Phelps, the grandmother of Hon. 
Julian N. Phelps, was killed by the Indians soon after settling in Green 
County; and her husband Julian Phelps, was severely wounded at the same 
time; the whole family only escaped massacre through the courage and 
forethought of his brother, William Phelps.  Hon. Julian N. Phelps 
received such an education as could be obtained at the early schools of 
the Kentucky frontier; he has, however, by his own exertions, acquired a 
fair practical business education.  He was employed on his father's farm 
until he attained his majority; he then bought a part of the old 
homestead in Butler County, and afterward bought the entire farm, to 
which he added other lands from time to time until he was the owner of 
some 600 acres, a part of which he has since sold.  Here he has been 
extensively and successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits ever since.  
For the past eight years he has also been engaged in merchandising at 
Brooklyn, in connection with farming, and is now doing a thriving 
business; he sawed most of the lumber, with which his farm buildings were 
built, with a whip saw.  Mr. Phelps represented Butler and Edmonson 
Counties in the lower house of the State legislature for three terms of 
two years each, viz.: from 1851 to 1857.  He was married in September, 
1829, to Polly Duvall, a native of Nelson County, Ky.; born September 3, 
1808, a daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth (Rickets) Duvall.  Mr. Phelps 
and wife have no children of their own, but have reared five orphan
children, all of whom are now grown and married.  Mr. Phelps' maternal 
grandfather, James Jones, was a veteran of the Revolutionary war.  Mr. 
Phelps belongs to no church, but holds to the doctrines of the 
Universalist Church.  He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and a 
Democrat.

Phelps Jones Nail Duvall Rickets
=
Green-KY Ohio-KY Edmonson-KY Nelson-KY

http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/butler/phelps.jn.txt