Edward Phelan

Edward Phelan, also Phalen or Felyn, was an early settler of Saint Paul, Minnesota. Phelan was born in approximately 1811 in Derry, Ireland [Williams, " A History of the City of Saint Paul, and of the County of Ramsey, Minnesota", 71] and later became, along with John Hays and William Evans, one of the first settlers of Saint Paul. [Regan, "Irish in Minnesota", 8] [Holmquist, "They Chose Minnesota: A Survey of the State's Ethnic Groups", 148] Phelan was later accused of Hays' murder, the first ever in Saint Paul, but was acquitted. He was indicted for perjury a year later but fled to California before he could be prosecuted. Phelan was killed by his companions in what they describe as self-defense before he could reach California. Many locations in Saint Paul, Minnesota are named after Phelan as a result of his early land claims. Phelan's name was spelled variously and as a result most locations are named Phalen and not Phelan [Upham, "Minnesota Geographic Names: Their Origin and Historic Significance", 440]

Early life

Phelan was born in approximately 1811 in Derry, Ireland.Williams, " A History of the City of Saint Paul, and of the County of Ramsey, Minnesota", 71] He emigrated to the United States and on June 8, 1835 he enlisted in the U.S. Army in New York City. Three years later he was discharged by reason of "expiration of service" at Fort Snelling which was, at that time, in Wisconsin Territory. A military report described him as having, "gray eyes, brown hair, fair complexion and was six feet two and one-half inches high". (1.89 m)

Land claims

When Phelan and Evans were discharged from Fort Snelling they both decided to make land claims in what is now Saint Paul. Hays, who was expecting to be discharged several months later, made plans with Phelan to make a claim for Hays nearby on the provision that Hays would later reimburse Phelan. [Williams, " A History of the City of Saint Paul, and of the County of Ramsey, Minnesota", 72] Phelan selected a claim in what is now Downtown Saint Paul and built a log house to spend the winter in while he waited for Hays to be discharged. [Williams, " A History of the City of Saint Paul, and of the County of Ramsey, Minnesota", 73] Phelan started a little opposition to Pierre Parrant or Pig's Eye, the first person to settle in Saint Paul. [http://www.spphs.org/history/1919/mississippi.php "Souvenir Book".] (1919) Saint Paul Police Benevolent Association. Retrieved on 2008-03-17.] Hays was discharged in April 1839 and lived with Phelan in the log cabin until September 1839. The two did not get along very well according to other settlers near them.Williams, " A History of the City of Saint Paul, and of the County of Ramsey, Minnesota", 92] In September, Hays's body was found murdered in the Mississippi River near Carver's Cave by a friendly Indian. His body was badly beaten which to his neighbors indicated a "desperate murder"Williams, " A History of the City of Saint Paul, and of the County of Ramsey, Minnesota", 91]

Trial

Suspicion immediately fell on Phelan. Hays was, unlike Phelan, well liked by local soldiers and neighbors. Most of his neighbors were convinced of his guilt. [Williams, " A History of the City of Saint Paul, and of the County of Ramsey, Minnesota", 91-92] Johnston, "Minnesota's Irish", 13] Justice of the Peace, Henry Hastings Sibley, issued a warrant and Phelan was held at Fort Snelling under charges of murder in the first degree. [http://www.spphs.org/history/1919/mississippi.php "Souvenir Book".] (1919) Saint Paul Police Benevolent Association. Retrieved on 2008-03-17.] On September 29, 1839, Phelan was arrested for the murder. [Greiner, "The Minnesota Book of Days: An Almanac of State History", 197] When the next steam boat arrived, Phelan was sent down to Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin Territory which was the county that the crime was committed in. This was shown in the testimony given against him in his trial. One woman testified at his trial and said that when she asked him how he and Hays got along he said "Very badly" but said "I'll soon get rid of him." Another said he found blood on Phelan and bloody clothes in his house. He went on to state that his dog was able to find the route that Phelan had dragged Hays body down to the river.

While Phelan was away in prison in Fort Crawford, another settler squatted on his claim. [Williams, " A History of the City of Saint Paul, and of the County of Ramsey, Minnesota", 98] In the Spring of 1840 Phelan was tried for Hays murder by a grand jury. Despite two neighbors of Phelan, including his former friend William Evans, the jury was unconvinced of Phelan's guilt and he was let go. It was later found out that a Dakota warrior confessed to killing Hays. [ [http://www.spphs.org/history/1899/chapter_1.php "History of the Police and Fire Departmentsof the Twin Cities, 1899".] (1899) American Land and Title Register Association. Retrieved on 2008-03-17.]

When Phelan returned to Saint Paul he attempted to reclaim his claim by force but was unable to. [Williams, " A History of the City of Saint Paul, and of the County of Ramsey, Minnesota", 102-103] Phelan subsequently sold his claim for $200 and made a new claim in what is now Swede Hollow near Hamm's Brewery. [Williams, " A History of the City of Saint Paul, and of the County of Ramsey, Minnesota", 104] The claim was sold on September 2, 1844 for $70. The land containing "Faylin's Creek and Falls" later contained a saw and gristmill. [Williams, " A History of the City of Saint Paul, and of the County of Ramsey, Minnesota", 144]

After the trial

Phelan went on to make a total of five various land claims, selling his last one in 1849 to Edmund Rice.Williams, " A History of the City of Saint Paul, and of the County of Ramsey, Minnesota", 146] In 1850 Phelan was indicted by the first Grand Jury to ever sit in Ramsey County on charges of perjury.Johnston, "Minnesota's Irish", 14] Before he could be arrested he fled to California. While traveling he was killed by his companions. Due to his behavior, his companions felt compelled to kill him in self-defense. One writer declared, "The murdered Hays was avenged!".

Legacy

Phalen Creek has been named after him as a result of claim near the creek in Swede Hollow. Phalen Creek travels from Lake Phalen and drains into the Mississippi River. Near the turn of the century most of the creek was covered over and routed through sewers. The lake that was drained by the creek became known as Phalen's Lake despite Phelan never living near its shores. [Empson, "The Street Where You Live: A Guide to the Place Names of St. Paul", 213] [Upham, "Minnesota Geographic Names: Their Origin and Historic Significance", 639-640] The lake is now referred to as Lake Phalen. The Saint Paul Water Company set up a supply plant at Lake Phalen in 1869 and the lake was used as Saint Paul's primary source of water until 1913. [Empson, "The Street Where You Live: A Guide to the Place Names of St. Paul", 155] The lake is one of the largest in Saint Paul with an area of 196 acres. [ [http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/fishing/downtown/phalen.html Lake Phalen] "Minnesota Department of Natural Resources"] The area surrounding the lake has been made into a 494 acre park, named after Phelan. [ [http://www.stpaul.gov/depts/parks/userguide/phalen.html Phalen Park] "Saint Paul Parks and Recreation"] [Empson, "The Street Where You Live: A Guide to the Place Names of St. Paul", 214-215] John Fletcher Williams, a local historian, wrote in 1876 "It is a disgrace, that the name of this brutal murderer has been affixed to one of our most beautiful lakes - one that supplies our households with water."

Notes

References

*cite book |author=Williams, John Fletcher |title=A History of the City of Saint Paul, and of the County of Ramsey, Minnesota |publisher=Minnesota Historical Society |location=Saint Paul, Minnesota |year=1876 |pages=p. 70-73, 90-93, 98, 102-104, |isbn= |url= http://books.google.com/books?id=bppPma8eBZgC |accessdate=2008-03-17
**Republished as: cite book |author= |title=A history of the city of Saint Paul to 1875 |publisher=Minnesota Historical Society Press |location=St. Paul, MN |year=1983 |pages= |isbn=0-87351-159-X |oclc= |doi=
*cite book |author=Stevens, Hiram Fairchild |title=History of the Bench and Bar of Minnesota |publisher= Legal Publishing and Engraving Company |location=Saint Paul, Minnesota |year=1904 |pages=pp. 5-6 |isbn= |url= http://books.google.com/books?id=ZmYUAAAAYAAJ |accessdate=2008-03-17
*cite book |author=Don Boxmeyer; Donald Empson |title=The Street Where You Live: A Guide to the Place Names of St. Paul |publisher=University of Minnesota Press |location=|year= |pages= pp.212-215 |isbn=0-8166-4729-1 |oclc= |doi= ISBN 9780816647293
*cite book |author=Upham, Warren |title=Minnesota Geographic Names: Their Origin and Historic Significance |publisher=Minnesota Historical Society |location=Saint Paul, Minnesota |year=1920|pages=p. 440, 639-640 |isbn= |url= http://books.google.com/books?id=ShcLAAAAYAAJ |accessdate=2008-03-17
*cite book |author=Holmquist, June D. |title=They Chose Minnesota: A Survey of the State's Ethnic Groups |publisher=Minnesota Historical Society Press |location=Saint Paul, Minnesota |year=1981 |pages=p. 148 |isbn= 0873512316 |url= http://books.google.com/books?id=QWBhzg7AQPwC&rview=1 |accessdate=2008-03-17
*cite book |author=Regan, Ann |title=Irish in Minnesota |publisher=Minnesota Historical Society Press |location=St. Paul, MN |year=2002 |pages=p. 8 |isbn=087351419x |oclc= |doi=
*cite book |author=Greiner, Tony |title= The Minnesota Book of Days: An Almanac of State History |publisher=Minnesota Historical Society Press |location=Saint Paul, Minnesota |year=2001 |pages=p. 197 |isbn=0-87351-416-5 |url= http://books.google.com/books?id=9Vmi4vTjc08C&rview=1|accessdate=2008-03-17