GEORGE W. POWELL

POWELL, ADAMS, MCCRACKEN, GEESE, HEMPY, MATTHEWS

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 3/21/2020 at 10:00:16

GEORGE W. POWELL was born January 25th, 1815, in Bedford County, Penn. He was the third son and fourth child of a family of nine children, seven of whom are still living. Mr. Powell’s father, Archibald Powell, was born in Virginia and raised in Pennsylvania; and his mother Elizabeth Adams, was a native of Pennsylvania, of German parents. His grandmother Powell was a native of England, and her husband was born in Wales. The Powells were among the first settlers in Virginia. In 1869 his father died at the age of seventy. His mother is still living, and enjoys good health at the age of three-score and ten; her home is in Franklin County, Ohio. In 1816 the family left Pennsylvania, and moved to Franklin County, where his mother still lives. In 1865 he came to this county and located in Marion Township, where he now resides. Mr. Powell’s education was obtained in the district schools in Ohio; times being hard, he could attend but a very short time in winter, spending the summer in work. Mr. Powell and Nancy McCracken were joined in marriage September 17th, 1837. They have had eleven children who births have occurred in the following order: Clarissa A., born December 14th, 1838, is the wife of Wm. A. Geese; Martha S., born October 21st, 1840, was the wife of Oliver P. Hempy, deceased; Joseph T., born September 29th, 1842; David M., born September 17th, 1844; Aurilla J., born November 18th, 1846, is the wife of Marshall P. Matthews; John W., born February 22d, 1848; Wm, L., born January 14th, 1851; George T., born January 18th, 1853; Nancy O., born November 9th , 1855, died October 6th, 1857; Oliver L., born November 7th, 1857; Laura A., born July 2d, 1860. Mrs. Powell is a native of Ohio, born March 22, 1818.

Mr. and Mrs. Powell, and three children are members of the Methodist Church. While in Ohio he acted as Superintendent of Sabbath School for fifteen years, and has continued since coming to this State. Mr. Powell is a Jackson Democrat, of the “old school”; born and educated under the instruction of his father, a member of that party, he has remained true to first principles. Feeling that he could do better work in the church, he has refrained from politics and taken an active interest in Sabbath School work. In youth, Mr. Powell had but little property, but by good management and careful investment he has developed this “little” into about one thousand acres of land. His home farm of three hundred and fifty acres is under good improvement. A view of his premises is given in this Atlas.

Source:
Illustrated Historical ATLAS of Lee County, IOWA
A. T. Andreas
Chicago, ILL.
1874

Transcription by Mary H. Cochrane, Volunteer