Edward B. Powell

As printed in 1910

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 Young's history of Lafayette County, Missouri (1910). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.