Page County, Iowa History 1909 Biographicals

(transcribed by Pat O'Dell: genpat@netins.net)

[page 5] JACOB HOLLAND POWERS.
In the period which marked the pioneer development of Page county and witnessed the laying of the foundation upon which has been built its present prosperity and progress, Jacob Holland Powers was a prominent factor in the district. He came here in the early days and for many years figured prominently in connection with its agricultural interests and also as the owner of a large amount of real estate. He is well remembered, too, as a man of kindly spirit and generous civility as manifested in his liberal aid to those who needed assistance.
He was born near Morgantown in what was then Virginia but is now West Virginia, September 24, 1807, and his life record covered the intervening years to the 14th of February, 1884, when he passed away. His father, Nehemiah Powers, who married Cassandra Holland, was descended from an old family represented in the American army in the war of the Revolution. He was a planter and slave owner but freed his bondsmen before his death. In 1819 he removed to Wayne county, Indiana, becoming one of the pioneer residents of that state, which only three years before had been admitted to the Union. Subsequently be removed to Henry county, where his death occurred. He was a member of the Baptist church and his life was an upright and honorable one, in consistent harmony with his professions.   In his family were twelve children.
Jacob H. Powers spent his youthful days in his parents' home, receiving his education in private schools. He was a lad of twelve years when his parents removed from Virginia to Indiana, arriving in that state only two or three years after its admission to the Union. Many evidences of pioneer life were still to be seen there and Jacob H. Powers, who was reared as a farm boy, early became familiar with all the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist as he converts wild land into productive fields that annually bring forth rich crops. Not desiring to give his entire attention, however, to the tilling of the soil, he entered mercantile circles in [page 6] Indiana and for some time conducted a tannery. In 1853, however, he sold his business in Indiana and made a visit to Page county. He then returned to his old home and the following year removed from Muncie, Indiana, to Clarinda, driving the entire distance across the country. In the year of his arrival he established a general mercantile store in Clarinda and he also purchased considerable property, including both city real estate and farm lands. He thus became an active factor in the development, upbuilding and improvement of this part of the state. He was one of the pioneer merchants of the town and conducted stores on both the west and north sides of the square. In his mercantile ventures he was successful, carrying such lines of goods as the public demanded, while his reasonable prices and honorable dealing won him a continually increasing trade. His lands were adjacent to the city and with the growth and development of the county increased rapidly in value. Later he made investment in lands in Missouri, Texas, Florida and Kansas. As the years passed he conducted important business negotiations, prospering in his undertakings.
On the 15th of January, 1835, Mr. Powers was united in marriage to Miss Gilla Scott Tomlinson, who was born in Greensboro, North Carolina, January 15, 1816, and was of English lineage. In early life she held membership in the Methodist Episcopal church and afterward became a member of the Presbyterian church. She died May 10, 1845, at the age of twenty-nine years, leaving four children: Amanda Tomlinson, now the wife of Harvey White, a contractor and builder residing in California; Sarah Emeline, who is the widow of Charles Linderman. mentioned elsewhere in this work; Mary Holland, now deceased; and Naomi Olive, who is now making her home with her sister, Mrs. Linderman.
Mr. Powers was again married in August, 1851, his second union being with Eliza B. Silvers, who was born in Kentucky and died March 17, 1896, in her eightieth year. She lived a consistent Christian life, in harmony with her professions as a member of the Baptist church. By that marriage there were five children, but two of the number died in infancy. Myra Ella, born in Muncie, Indiana, died in Clarinda in February, 1863, at the age of eleven years. Martha Ida, born in Clarinda, died December 7, 1879, in her twenty-fifth year. Dr. T. E. Powers, the youngest, is represented elsewhere in this volume.
Jacob H. Powers not only became a successful business man and a large land owner of the county but was also prominent in other ways. He was a charter member of the Masonic lodge and also took the degrees of the Royal Arch chapter and the Knights Templar commandery. In his political views he was originally an old line whig and eventually, on the dissolution of that party, became a republican, continuing in the latter organization until his death.   He had no aspirations for office, preferring that others should seek and enjoy the benefits of office holding. He was a very generous man and his benefaction are mentioned in the article devoted to the history of Nodaway lodge. During his later years he spent half of his time in Florida and the remainder in Clarinda. He was regarded as one of the city's best and foremost residents, stanchly supporting every [page 7] cause for the public good and giving liberally where aid was needed. While he conducted important and extensive business affairs, he was ever reliable in his transactions, his negotiations being in harmony with the strictest business ethics. He died February 14, 1884, when in his seventy-seventh year, and because of the prominent place which he occupied in the community no history of this county would be complete without extended mention of him.

THOMAS EDWIN POWERS, M. D.
Thoroughly equipped by collegiate training and private research and investigation for the onerous and responsible duties of his profession, Dr. Powers has made continuous progress since entering upon his chosen life work as a physician and surgeon. Broad reading and study keep him in touch with the advanced ideas of the day and from experience he also learns many valuable lessons, while through the faithful performance of each day's duties he finds inspiration and encouragement for the labors of the succeeding day.
His parents, Jacob H. and Eliza B. (Silver) Powers, arrived in Clarinda in 1854, coming from Muncie, Indiana. The father had visited the state in the previous year and then returned to Indiana, after which he brought his family to Iowa, driving the entire distance across the country. He was a native of Virginia, while the grandfather of Dr. Powers was also a Virginian, removing from the Old Dominion to Indiana when his son, Jacob H., was a lad of twelve years. The latter was there reared as a farm boy, early becoming familiar with all the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist as he converts wild land into productive fields and annually brings forth rich crops. Not desiring to give his entire attention, however, to the tilling of the soil, he entered mercantile circles and for some time conducted a tannery. In 1853 he sold out and made the aforementioned visit to Clarinda, where he established a general mercantile store upon his return to this county with his family. He also purchased considerable property, including both city real-estate and farm lands and became an active [page 51 picture] [page 52 blank] [page 53]

factor in the development, upbuilding and improvement of this part of Iowa. He was one of the pioneer merchants of the town and conducted stores on both the west and north sides of the square. In his mercantile ventures he was successful, carrying such lines of goods as the public demanded, while his reasonable prices and honorable dealing won him a continually increasing trade. His lands were adjacent to the city and with the growth and development of the county increased rapidly in value. Later he made investment in lands in Missouri, Texas, Florida and Kansas. As the years passed by, he conducted important business negotiations, prospering in his undertakings. During his later years he spent half of his time in Florida and the remainder in Clarinda. He was regarded as one of the city's best and foremost residents, stanchly supporting every cause for the public good and giving liberally where aid was needed. While he conducted important and extensive business affairs, he was ever reliable in his transactions, his negotations being in harmony with the strictest business ethics. He is survived by four children: Amanda T., now the wife of Harvey White, of Chino, California; Sarah E., who is the widow of Charles Lindeman and resides in Clarinda; N. Olive, a resident of this city; and Thomas E.
Dr. Powers pursued his preliminary education in the public and high schools of Clarinda and his more specific literary course in the Iowa State University. He also attended the medical college there and finished his course in the Missouri Medical College, now the medical department of Washington University at St. Louis, Missouri, being graduated therefrom on the 4th of March, 1881. He at once located for practice in St. Louis but on account of the illness of his father returned home and entered upon active practice at Clarinda and with the exception of two years he has been constantly in active practice here. For two years he was assistant superintendent of the Clarinda State Hospital for the Insane, acting in that capacity from 1891 until 1893. He was also health officer of the city for one term and for the past fourteen years has been one of the commissioners on the board of insanity. He was also pension examiner for the county from 1898 until 1906, when he resigned. His private practice is extensive and of an important character, for he long since demonstrated his ability to successfully cope with the intricate problems that continually confront the physician in his efforts to check the ravages of disease and restore health. He has for the past ten years been local surgeon for the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company and also for the Keokuk & Western Railroad Company. In 1904 he spent six months in Berlin, Germany, in the study of surgery, receiving the benefit of instruction from some of the most eminent surgeons of the old world. He also attended their clinics and in this way added much to his knowledge concerning the methods of practice followed in Germany. He belongs to the Page County Medical Society, the Iowa State Medical Society, the Southwestern Iowa Medical Society, the American Medical Association and the Anglo-American Medical Association at Berlin. Dr. Powers' clientele became so large and the demands upon his time so constant that in 1890 it practically became imperative for him to establish a hospital.   Consequently, in that year the Powers' Private Hospital came into existence and since that time has been devoted to surgical and gynecological cases. From the first instance the hospital has been a success and has met the anticipations of its friends and many patrons.
On the 25th of May, 1882, occurred the marriage of Dr. Powers and Miss Anna Peterson, of Clarinda, daughter of Andrew Peterson. She was a teacher in the schools of this city for a number of years before her marriage. The Doctor and his wife attend the Presbyterian church, although they do not hold membership therein. He is a Royal Arch Mason and was master of Clarinda Lodge from 1900 until 1905 and is one of the district lecturers in connection with the work of the grand lodge. He is an exemplary representative of the craft and frequently embodies its teachings in his practice, rendering brotherly aid to those in need when he has no hope of pecuniary recompense. In all of his professional service he is actuated by high ideals and his study and reading, combined with his ready adaptability, have placed him prominently before the public as one of the leading representatives of the profession in this county.