The Powell Families of Lafayette County, Missouri

THOMAS J. POWELL. The subject of this sketch was born in Lafa3'ette county, in 1840. Has been a continuous resident of this county since his birth, obtaining as liberal an education in the meantime, as the limited school facilities of the county in that day would permit. At the present time he is actively engaged in farming and stock-raising. He was married in 1859, to Miss Dorinda Hatton, of Johnson county. Thirteen children have been born to them, ten of whom are now living. Mr. Powell enlisted in 1862, in the enrolled Mo. milita, under Capt. Summers. He served eighteen months. He is the son of Richard Powell, who was the first settler of Washington township. Is an active member of the Christian church. His P. O. is Lexington.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

RICHARD W. POWELL.

Washington township, Lafayette county, has been the arena in which Richard W. Powell has battle with the problems and obstacles of life that to a greater or less degree confront every man in his career, and that he has been successful will be shown by only so much as a cursory glance at his splendidly kept landed estate, in which he takes a just pride and which lies in one of the best farming districts of the community. While he has labored for his own advancement, he has discharged his every duty of citizenship with the earnestness and loyalty characteristic of the true American. He comes of one of the oldest and best families of this state and of Tennessee. He was born October 18, 1859, in Washington township, Lafayette county, Missouri, the son of Thomas J. Powell and wife. The paternal grandfather, Richard Powell, was a native of Tennessee, from which state he came to Lexington township, this county, as early as 1820, locating his permanent home in Washington township in 1822 on land which he secured from the government and here he developed a good farm and had a comfortable home. His death occurred in 1840. His son, Thomas J., was a well-known citizen here also, and he improved the place where Richard W. Powell of this review now resides. He was a very successful farmer and owned at one time about six hundred acres of land.

Richard W. Powell was reared on the home farm and early became acquainted with hard work in the fields and he has always devoted his attention to farming. He received a fairly good education in the neighboring schools. He is the owner of one of the choice farms of this part of the county, which consists of three hundred and ten acres. His place is well improved and well kept and he carries on general farming and stock raising successfully. No small part of his annual income is derived from the sale of livestock, which he buys, feeds and sells, as his better judgment dictates.

Mr. Powell was married to Belle Gautier on April 8, 1891. She is the daughter of Robert W. and Emily J. (Gaston) Gautier. The father is deceased and the mother makes her home with her daughter, Mrs. Powell Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Powell, namely: Thomas J., Robert G., Edwin and Maiy E. are all members of the home circle.

Mr. Powell is a member of the Baptist church, while Mrs. Powell holds membership with the Methodist Episcopal church South. Politically, he is a Republican, and he belongs to the Masonic lodge at Odessa, Missouri, and has been master of this lodge. He and his family are held in high regard by all who know them.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

DAVID J. POWELL, JR.

A well known farmer and influential citizen of the vicinity of Odessa and an honored representative of one of the best families of Lafayette county, is David J. Powell, Jr., who was born in Washington township, this county, on May 2, 1866. He is the son of Thomas J. and Dorinda (Hatton) Powell, the former born in Missouri, being the son of Richard Powell, who came to this state from Tennessee in the early thirties, he being one of three of the first settlers in Washington township, and here he spent the rest of his life. He was a typical pioneer, fearless and a man who never quailed at obstacles, thus from the early days to the present the Powell family has been well known and influential here. Thomas J. Powell was a very successful farmer. He started with forty acres and at one time owned six hundred and ten acres. He became very "well-to-do and was a man of many fine traits of character. During the war he was in the state militia. His death occurred at Odessa, Missouri, August 24, 1907. He was a member of the Baptist church, while his wife belonged to the Cumberland Presbyterian church. He was a Republican and he made the race for county judge several times. He was a member of the Ancient

Order of United Workmen. Seven of the thirteen children born to Mr. and Mrs. Thomas J. Powell are living, David J., of this review, being the fourth in order of birth.

David J. Powell, Jr., received a good education in the local schools and grew to maturity on the home farm. On February 22, 1888, he married Nannie L. Scott, daughter of Albert and Fannie (Mauzey) Scott. The father was born in Logan county, Kentucky, in 1839, and was the son of Archibald Scott, "who brought the family to Missouri in an early day. The Mauzey family were also early settlers in Missouri, having come here from Virginia. They were French Huguenots and emigrated to the Carolinas in colonial days. William Mauzey, the maternal grandfather of Mrs. Powell, came to Lafayette county, Missouri, from Virginia, spending the rest of his life here, dying in 1887.

Mr. Powell has been very successful as a farmer and stock raiser, owning one of the best farms in this township, consisting of two hundred and ten acres. It is well improved and yields abundant harvests under its owner's skillful management. In 1905 he built a modern and attractive residence, a large, substantial barn and made other valuable improvements about his place which, all in all, is one of the most desirable in this vicinity.

Mr. Powell's family consists of four children, namely: Raymond, born September 29, 1889, died when three months old; Ernest Scott, born December 9, 1891; Elsie Alice, born March 7, 1894; Dorothy E., born September 4,

Mr. and Mrs. Powell and children are members of the Baptist church. Politically, Mr. Powell is a Republican, and in fraternal matters belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

JOSEPH P. POWELL.

In this sketch is mentioned a man whose life has varied from the common order. In earlier life serving his fellow men as a minister of the gospel, now he is serving them efficiently as a real estate dealer and a banker, and the same integrity which characterized him as a minister makes his work in these capacities to be of double value, for there is unquestioned confidence in him.

Joseph P. Povv'ell was born in Washington township, Lafayette county. Missouri, December 6, 1867, son of Thomas J. Powell, born in the same township March 26, 1840. The latter was the son of Richard Powell, born in Tennessee, the first settler of Washington township, where he made his home in 1819, and where he died early in the forties. Thomas Powell married Dorinda Hatton, who was born in Johnson county, Missouri, April 4, 1 84 1, and whose parents were among the early settlers of that county. Thomas Powell located in Washington township and lived on a farm there until 1905, when he moved to Odessa, where he died August 20, 1907. He and his wife were the parents of thirteen children, of whom the following seven survive: Richard W., David J., Joseph P., Milton S., Walter S., Alice (the wife of David Downs, of Washington township), and Etta (wife of Frank Ryland, of Odessa).

Joseph P. Powell spent his early life on his father's farm. He was educated in the public schools of Odessa, William Jewell College, and then at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary at Louisville. For five or six years he was engaged in the ministry at Oak Grove and Kansas City, then on account of failing health he was obliged, greatly against his will, to relinquish the ministry and engaged in the real estate business, coming to Odessa in 1904. He is greatly interested in Lafayette county farming lands and also in Texas land. In the spring of 1910 he organized the Citizens Bank of Odessa and was elected president of the bank.

Mr. Powell was married in Napoleon, Lafayette county, on June 28, 1893, to Annie J. Roberts, who was born in Lawrence, Kansas, April 4, 1865, the daughter of John F. and Martha (Shields) Roberts and reared in Lafayette county. To this union three children have been born, Lawrence R., Norine M. and Helen D.

Mr. Powell is a member of Mount Hope Lodge of Masons and of the Modern Woodmen. He is a man of strong character, affable and genial, of good business ability, well liked and popular, and one who merits much.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

WALTER S. POWELL.

Of late years the banking industry has received a wonderful impetus. Banks have been organized in many of the smaller towns and cities and the number of banks in the larger cities is constantly increasing. The increasing business of the country of course accounts for a proportionate increase of banks, but in truth there is now a wider field for the banks than formerly, and the present prosperity of the farmers opens up a field which the banks formerly did not much exploit. Not long ago the banks loaned more money to farmers than they received on deposit from them, now the farmers are not only heavy depositors in banks, but heavy stockholders as well, and the tide is turning to the loaning of the farmer's money to the city business man. The Citizens Bank of Odessa has not been long established, but is in a very flourishing condition, and its worthy and efficient cashier has done much to contribute to its success.

Walter S. Powell was born in Washington township, this county, March 25, 1880, son of Thomas J. and Dorinda Powell, for whose history see sketch of Joseph P. Powell. He grew up on the farm, attended the public schools and Odessa College, and took a business course at Chillicothe, Missouri, After leaving school he entered the Farmers Bank of Odessa, in January, 1902, as bookkeeper, and held that position about four years, then was made assistant cashier and remained as such until November, 1909. On the organization of the Citizens Bank he was elected cashier and is now occupying that position, for which he is well fitted by training and temperament.

Mr. Powell was married at Odessa, October 16, 1906, to Josephine E. Lewis, who was born in Saline county, Missouri, June 29, 1876, a daughter of John A. and Josephine (Crutsinger) Lewis. Her father was a native of Virginia and her mother of Missouri.

Mr. Powell has been a member of the Baptist church since he was seventeen years old and is one of its faithful workers. He is a member of Mount Hope Masonic Lodge, No. 476, and has been master of the lodge. No man of his age in Odessa has more friends, better standing or more brilliant prospects than has he.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

EDWARD B. POWELL.

In this review is presented the history of a family of worthy people who have been for a long time identified with Davis township, and who have made their name esteemed wherever known. They rank among the county's best and most substantial citizens.

Captain Burr G. Powell was born in Loudoun county, Virginia, in 1800, and died in 1884, being buried in Lexington cemetery. He came in 1848 to Lafayette county, to the farm where his son Henry lives in Washington township. He was married in Shelby county, Kentucky, to Eliza Polk, a first cousin to President James K. Polk. He brought slaves from Kentucky and owned six hundred acres of land and was an extensive hemp grower. In earlier life he was captain of a river steamer, but left the river to get married, and for a time practiced law in Frankfort, Kentucky. For a time he lived in Saline county, Missouri, in order to educate his sons in a private school at Cambridge. He was engaged in buying oxen for the western freight business and bought hundreds of head for Russell Waddell and Majors. His wife was born in Maryland and survived him two years. Captain Powell came to Lafayette county on account of his brothers-in-law, Dr. Lewis Polk and Tol Davis, who married Amanda Polk. Doctor Polk died in Texas and Davis died near his old home. When the Captain reached the country, it was unsettled and he had the choice of the county to select from.

Edward B. Powell was born in Shelby county, Kentucky, March 4, 1846, son of Capt. Burr G. Powell. He served in the Civil war under Colonel Neill in the Fifth Division in 1862, and served in the fort at Glasgow in 1864, where he was taken a prisoner by Price, surrendering with the fort. He was paroled and sent to the barracks at St. Louis, but was never exchanged and was considered as a paroled prisoner. He then worked with his brother Henry in Illinois for one season, then commenced to farm for himself on his father's land and was a partner with his brother for twenty-five years. They carried on cattle feeding and farming. For six years of that time he was in Indian territory, where he had a great many cattle. After settling up with creditors some twenty years ago he returned to Lafayette county and has been for seventeen years on his present farm of two hundred and fifteen acres, carrying on farming and cattle feeding and stock growing, the farm being the one formerly owned by John W. Emison, his Wife's father. Few families could have carried on a farm as did the Powell brothers, at no time having a settlement and never a word of disagreement and still full cooperation in all new operations and all business.

Mr. Powell was married in 1881 to Elizabeth Emison, daughter of John W. and Elizabeth (Grant) Emison, she having been born and reared on the farm where she now lives, which her husband bought of Len Cantwell, whose wife was also a daughter of John W. Emison. They are the parents of six children: Ralph, a bookkeeper of Kansas City; Weston, at home, farming outside the place; Mamie, Charley, Mary and Sheldon, at home. Mr. Powell is a Republican, but has never cared to enter public life.

William H. Powell, a brother of Edward B., was born in Shelby county, Kentucky, and his mother's family were residents of Shelbyville, Kentucky. He owns the farm which Singleton S. Shannon entered and on which he built the present house in 1844, the place consisting of three hundred and twenty acres. He is a stock raiser and buyer.

Both the Powell brothers are men of high reputation and great honor. Their trustworthy and amiable character is shown by the record of their partnership dealings for twenty-five years without a settlement. Lafayette county is indeed proud to possess such citizens.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

HENRY C. POWELL.

One of the representative agriculturists and stock men of Lafayette county is Henry C. Powell, one of the honored citizens of the vicinity of Higginsville, having long been known as one of the alert, progressive men of his community In his labors he has not permitted himself to follow in a rut in a blind, apathetic way, but has studied and experimented and thus secured the maximum returns from his enterprising efforts, while he has so ordered his course at all times as to command the confidence and regard of the people of the community in which he lives, being a man of honorable business methods and advocating whatever tends to promote the public welfare in any Way. He is the schon of one of the best established and most prominent old families of this county, who are mentioned at considerable length on other pages of this work; especially "will the sketch of W. H. Powell, of Davis township, be of interest to the reader desirous of learning more of the parents of our subject.

Henry C. Powell was born on March 20, 1846, in Shelby county, Kentucky, and he is the son of Burr G. Powell, who came from the Blue Grass state to Lafayette county, Missouri, in 1844, making the trip overland before there were many pike roads or good bridges, but he was a strong, brave character, a typical pioneer and cared little for obstacles or inconveniences. He liked this favored spot in the land of the “big muddy water” so well that he entered nearly one thousand acres from the government and became a well-to-do and influential farmer here in the early days. He was born in Winchester, Virginia. He carried on farming on an extensive scale and at the time of the Civil war owned fifty negroes. He finally became a strong anti-slavery man and free them all, and voted for Lincoln. All his sons were in the Union army.

The subject's mother, whose maiden name was Eliza Polk, was a native of Delaware and was a cousin of Trusten Polk, at one time governor of Missouri and United States senator from this state.

Henry C. Powell grew to maturity on the paternal acres and when old enough was put to work in the fields and thus became acquainted with the various phases of agriculture when a young man, and he has preferred to make it his life work, and, owing to the fact that he has exercised sound judgment in his management and has been a persistent worker, his efforts have been crowned by a large measure of success. He is the owner of two hundred acres of excellent and well improved land. When a young man he went to Texas, where he spent seven years, returning to Lafayette county in 1885 and taking charge of the farm. No small part of his income is derived annually from sales of livestock, of which he is a good judge, and for some time he has bought and sold blooded stock. He has a neatly kept place in every respect and a good home and is well known as a stock man and enterprising citizen.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

JOHN H. POWELL.

The genial agent of the Missouri Pacific railroad at Concordia is a well-known man, having in his extraordinarily long term of service become familiar with most people of the neighborhood, and has witnessed great development in the country and town, as well as in the methods and equipment of railroad service.

John H. Powell was born in Findlay, Ohio, October 26, 1845, " there grew up. In March, 1870, he came to Warrensburg, Missouri, and in January, 1872, went into the Pacific office at Concordia, Missouri, learned telegraphy in 1871, and in January, 1872, took charge of the office at Concordia. The railroad had just reached the town, so he opened the office for the company. There was no depot, but the road was built on farther, and shortly afterward the depot was completed. Mr. Powell has since remained in Concordia, has just completed thirty-eight years of service, being the only person in the employ of the Missouri Pacific road to have held one position so long. Mr. Millspagh, the late agent at Kansas City; Mr. Pennington, late of Warrensburg, and J. C. Church, of Jefferson City, all began with the Missouri Pacific the same year as Mr. Powell. He has seen the entire development of Concordia.

In December, 1872, Mr. Powell was married at Concordia to Fannie L. Smith, daughter of John Smith, a merchant here for many years and Concordia's first mayor. He had started a store here in 1870 and continued in it until his death, in 1878. John H. Powell succeeded him as mayor for a term and a half. Mr. and Mrs. Powell are the parents of the following children, three sons and five daughters: Lillian, who married H. L. Thieman, of Kansas City, Missouri; Smith, agent for the Missouri Pacific railroad at Holden, Missouri; Gertrude, who married Eugene Miller, wholesale merchant at Oklahoma City; Mabel, at home; Ervin L., ticket agent at Tower Grove station, on the Missouri Pacific line, near St. Louis; Annetta, who married Theodore O. Smith, of Oklahoma City; Lawrence, assistant to his father, and Maud, at home.

Mr. Powell's life has been entirely devoted to railroad work. He is a Republican, but no politician. Fraternally he is a Mason and an Odd Fellow. He has given very efficient service during his long term at Concordia and has by the affability of his disposition made many friends. The railroad county him among its most dependable employes.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

J. H. POWELL.

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected.

DAVID J. POWELL.

Richard Powell, the father of our subject, came to Lafayette county in 1820, where David was born, December 25, 1826. He has been a continuous resident of this county since his birth, with the exception of about six years. He is engaged in farming. He served thirteen months in the Mexican war, enlisting in June of 1846, in Capt. Waldo's company, Doniphan's regiment, and was honorably discharged in July, 1847. He was engaged in the battles of Braseto and Sacramento. He also served a short time in the late civil war under Gen. Price. Was engaged in the battle of Lexington. He was married January 22, 1848, to Miss Nancy Ingram, of Lafayette county. Two children were born to them, both now living, viz: Mrs. Martha C. Ramsey, and David D. Palton. Mrs. Powell, died January 16, 1864. He was again married, January 6, 1867, to Miss Sarah A. Basham, of this county. They have six children living, viz: Chas. W., Emma J. L., Benj. Robert, Wm. Luther, James M., and Elizabeth P. Mr. and Mrs. Powell are members of the Baptist church, of which he is deacon. P. O. Lexington.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

Post office Lexington, Mo.; is a native of Ireland and was born in Tipperary county, in 1836, where he was raised and educated. He was reared to the grocery business, though his father, George Powell, was a farmer in Ireland. In 1863 he left Ireland and came to the United States. He landed in New York, where he was in the grocery trade for about one year. He then went to Canada and engaged in the same business. In 18T1 he came to Lexington in this county, and entered at once in the grocery business and has continued it ever since — indeed was never engaged in any thing else. He is located on Franklin street and is doing a heavy business, and carries about $10,000 in stock. In 1871 he was married in Lexington to Miss Mary Powell, a lady of the same name, but no relation. They have one child, a daughter, named Mattie P. Both he and his wife are members of the Episcopal church. He belongs to no secret order and is one of the substantial and reliable business men in the city.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.