the San Francisco and San Jose Railroad was built in the 1860s, the right of way from Redwood City to Belmont was granted from Phelps's land. His next job was in real estate until 1870 when he became the customs collector for the port of San Francisco (until 1872). In 1875, he won the Republican nomination for Governor of California, but he was defeated by the Democratic candidate William Irwin, in part aided by disgruntled Republicans who ran John Bidwell as an independent candidate. In 1888, Phelps ran for Congress again, but was defeated by the Democrat Thomas J. Clunie. He also served as a regent of the University of California at Berkeley from 1878 until his death. Personal life He married Sophronia J. Jewell (born Nov 13, 1824), of Guilford, New York on September 13, 1853. Sophronia died on and Phelps was remarried to Josephine A. McLean in 1870. He died at age 74 on June 11, 1899 near San Carlos, California after he was struck by two boys on a tandem bicycle. The cyclists turned themselves in after learning of his death, and charges against them were dropped on June 20, 1899 after they related their account of the accident. References Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, Phelps, Timothy Guy. Retrieved January 13, 2005. San Mateo County Biographies - Timothy Guy Phelps. Retrieved January 13, 2005. External links Join California Timothy G. Phelps 1824 births 1899 deaths American railway entrepreneurs 19th-century American railroad executives American vigilantes Southern Pacific Railroad people People of California in the American Civil War People from San Carlos, California Pedestrian road incident deaths Road incident deaths in California University of California regents Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from California 19th-century American politicians Republican Party members of the California State Assembly Republican Party California state senators Burials at Cypress Lawn Memorial Park