Deacon Phelps

Willard Leroy "Deacon" Phelps (March 12, 1867 - 1951) was a Canadian politician, lawyer and businessman.[1] He was a member of the Yukon Territorial Council from 1909 to 1920, 1925 to 1934 and 1940 to 1943,[2] and the owner and manager of the first hydroelectricity company in Yukon.[1]

Deacon Phelps
Member of the Yukon Territorial Council
In office
1909–1920
Preceded byRobert Lowe
Succeeded byRobert Lowe
ConstituencyWhitehorse
In office
1925–1934
Preceded byRobert Lowe
Succeeded byThomas Atherton
ConstituencyWhitehorse
In office
1940–1943
Preceded byGeorge Wilson
Succeeded byAlexander Smith
ConstituencyWhitehorse
Personal details
Born
Willard Leroy Phelps

March 12, 1867
Merritton, Ontario
Died1951
Political partyNone
Occupationlawyer, prospector, businessman

Originally from Merritton, Ontario,[2] he attended Ridley College and Osgoode Hall before setting up a short-lived law practice in Toronto.[2] He first moved to Yukon toward the end of the Klondike Gold Rush,[1] but after falling short in that endeavour he became a business partner in Yukon Electrical Company in 1901, eventually becoming the company's sole owner and manager.[1] He acquired the lifelong nickname Deacon after an incident when he caused the territory's first pastor to resign in frustration, by explaining that while he saw the value in the territory having a church he felt no need to personally attend it.[2]

His son John Phelps and his grandson Willard Phelps both continued in roles with Yukon Electrical Company,[1] and also both served on the territorial council. Willard became Government Leader of Yukon in 1985.[2]

References
  1. "Phelps family connected to electrical business". Whitehorse Star, November 12, 2008.
  2. Phelps. Hougen Group of Companies.


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