596327

[phelps.FTW]

[Brøderbund WFT Vol. 22, Ed. 1, Tree #2589, Date of Import: Dec 1, 1998]

Frances Marian Hyland Richardson was left at an orphanage (New York Foundling Hospital, 175 East 68th St.) in New York City when she was about two years old. Also, her sister (Margaret-about five years old) was left at the orphanage at the same time. Their mother, Charlotte McMenamee Hyland, had died (Tuberculosis) and the father, James J. Hyland, (who traveled with a circus) left the two girls with an aunt of the children (believed to be a sister to the mother). The aunt could not take care of the children and made the arrangements with the Catholic orphanage in New York City to take the girls. Evidently, the father left them there, but there is some thought that the aunt took the little girls and just left them. It seems the records of the orphanage were destroyed by fire.

After living in the orphanage for a few years, the Catholic Church put a number of children on a train heading West so people along the way could have the children or adopt them. Margaret stayed in New York, but Frances (about 3 or 4 years old) was put on the train and taken in by a couple in Rice, Minnesota. Their name was Emory Jackson Richardson (a carpenter) and Ellen Richardson. Evidently, Frances was never officially adopted. E.J. was away often and Frances was in charge of the house at an early age, as Ellen had many epileptic seizures and died about 1914 and is buried in Rice, Minnesota. Frances was raised Catholic. It was not a happy home situation. She did not finish high school, but graduated from a business college. About the age of 18, she moved to Seattle, Washington and worked for the Sears Roebuck Co. and the phone company. In the 1920's at the urging of friends from Rice, she moved to Bend, Oregon and spent the rest of her life there. She worked at many jobs and most often as a bookkeeper.

Her marriage to Marshall Stephen "Mike" Phelps was a happy marriage. They had one son, Edward Marshall Phelps who was born in Bend. Francis and Mike, his parents Albert and Rosa Phelps and also E.J. Richardson (died January 23, 1929) are all buried in Pilot Butte Cemetery in Bend. Ellen Richardson is buried in Rice, Benton County, Minnesota. The Catholic Church - Immaculate Conception Church. Charlotte M. Hyland is buried in Greenwood Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York. in the McMenamy family plot.