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Great Grandchildren of Roswell Powers George Eugene Thurber [Emily, Luna, Roswell], b. November, 7, 1860, Colebrook, Ashtabula Co., OH, a child of Emily M. Phelps and Silas W. Thurber; m. Carrie Cornelia Twitchell, March 5, 1881, Ashtabula Co., OH; d. July 26, 1913, Williamsfield, OH This biography can only be included in the descendancy of Roswell Powers if we can prove that Emily M. Phelps was a daughter of Harlow and Luna (Powers) Phelps. After the death of his father, George and his sister, Mary, went to live with the family of Leonard and Catherine Tidd in Williamsfield, Ashtabula Co., Ohio. They showed up there in the 1870 census. In 1880, George was 19 years old and living in the home of Philo F. and Lovina M. Twitchell in Andover, Ashtabula County. According to the Ashtabula County Clerk’s Register of Marriages, George married Carrie Twitchell on March 5, 1881. Carrie was born in Ohio on February 1, 1861. In 1900, George and Carrie were in Williamsfield with three children. George claimed that he was born in March, 1860. Carrie claimed to be the mother of only three children, all three of them in the home: Jessie, Hattie and O.H. This was probably a mistake, for the 1910 census claims she was the mother of five children, four of whom survived to 1910. Carrie’s mother, Harriet S. Twitchell, was living in their home. In 1910, George and Carrie were in Williamsfield with their son, O.H. Carrie’s mother was still living with them, listed as Harriet S. Argue. George was a lumber dealer and had one of his employees, Lee Loomey, living in his home. George died in Williamsfield on July 26, 1913. Carrie died in Ashtabula Co., OH, on March 3, 1938. Children:
Lillian Mary Thurber [Emily, Luna, Roswell], b. January 26, 1863, OH, a child of Emily M. Phelps and Silas W. Thurber; m. William H. Karr; d. around 1942. This biography can only be included in the descendancy of Roswell Powers if we can prove that Emily M. Phelps was a daughter of Harlow and Luna (Powers) Phelps. William was born in Illinois in July, 1857. He was a farmer. William and Mary were shown in the 1900 census in Williamsfield, Ashtabula Co., OH, with four children: Clyde, Grace, Ralph and Albert. Children:
Willis Allison Phelps [Franklin, Luna, Roswell], b. August 26, 1868, MI,[1] a child of Franklin and Julia Phelps; m. Florence A. __, around 1894, Georgetown, MI; d. October 27, 1912, Georgetown, MI Florence was born in Michigan in July, 1878. In 1900, William and Florence were living in Georgetown, Ottawa Co., MI, in the home of William’s father. They had one child: Margera. “Willis” A. Phelps was shown in Georgetown in 1910’s census. His father, Franklin, was living with him and Florence and their three children: Marjorie, Dorothy and Bruce. William’s children attended school at Canada Hills in Georgetown (Bruce 1909-16; Dorothy 1907-15; Margorie 1907-14) Willis died on October 27, 1912. He was 44 years old. Children:
Egbert H. Phelps [Orville, Luna, Roswell], b. February, 1871, Cherry Valley, Ashtabula Co., OH, a child of Orville M. Phelps and Flora Sweet; m. Bella C. Creesy, around 1900; d. after 1930, probably in Cherry Valley, Ashtabula Co., OH. Bella was born in Ohio in October, 1873, a daughter of Lyman and Elizabeth Creesy. She grew up in Cherry Valley in the home of her grandfather, Frank Creesy. The 1900 Census shows Egbert and Bella living in Cherry Valley, OH. Egbert’s father was living with them. Ten years later (1910), they were listed in Andover Township, indexed as Philps. Their children were named as Creesah M., Frieda E. and Robert O. They were living next to Lyman and Elizabeth Creesy.
In 1920, Egbert and Bella
were in Cherry Valley, Ashtabula County, Ohio, with three children: Creesah(?)
M., Frieda and Orville. Egbert was a dairy farmer. In 1930, Egbert was renting a
home for $21 a month on West Main Street in Andover. He had a new wife, Annie
(age 54, b. VA). His son, Orville, was living with them. Egbert was working as
a US Postmaster. His new wife was a clerk for the US Postal Service.
William George Roberts, b. August, 1863, MI, Grandville, Kent Co., MI, not a child of Hannah Phelps and George Roberts, because of previously stated evidence; m. Lettie Jeffers, around 1898, Ottawa Co., MI.[4] Because of the research already devoted to this biography, we are leaving it in, even though William George Roberts was not a child of Hannah Phelps and George A. Roberts. Around 1898, William married Lettie Jeffers in Ottawa Co., Michigan. Lettie had been married two times previously and brought one child into the union. She was born in Michigan around 1879. William showed up in the 1900 census, still married but without a wife, listed in the home of his uncle Capt. Casper Phelps in Aberdeen, Washington. The fact that he claimed to be a nephew of Casper Phelps necessarily made him a son of Hannah Phelps and George A. Roberts. However, Hannah only claimed three children in the 1900 and 1910 census – those being Mortimer, Lillian and George (b. 1876). Also, William George Roberts claimed to be born in August, 1863, but the Roberts didn’t come to Michigan until 1864. It is our conjecture, therefore, that William George Roberts was either an imposter or a sort of “adopted” nephew of Casper – being perhaps a shirt-tale cousin. In 1910, William and Lettie were in Aberdeen. Thirty-one-year old lumber freight worker John Mann lived with them. William was a manager of a liquor store. They had no children. Dr. Mortimer Elliott Roberts [Hannah, Luna, Roswell], b. May 14, 1869, Ottawa Co., MI, a child of Hannah Phelps and George Roberts; m. Matilda, around 1899, MI; d. June 9, 1958; burial Georgetown Township Cemetery. Mortimer became a member of the Peninsular Club of Grand Rapids. He was named on a list of resident members in April, 1897. Mortimer was living on Second Avenue in Grand Rapids, Kent Co., MI, in 1900’s census. His wife’s name was Matilda (b. Feb. 1870, MI). He was listed as “Mortem.” He was a doctor. In 1910, the census showed Mortimer and Matilda living on Madison Avenue in Grand Rapids with sons George M. and Elliott. They had a 50-year old servant, Margaret O’Riley, living with them. Mortimer was said to have a general practice. Matilda died between 1910 and 1920. In 1920, Mortimer’s son, George Mortimer Roberts, was named as the Assistant Circulation Manager of The Helios, a newspaper published by the Grand Rapids Central High School. That year, Mortimer was shown as a widower with his teenage sons George and Elliott living in the home. They had a 31-year old servant, Alice Bush, in the home. Mortimer’s son, George, went to Michigan State University and was a member of the University Club of Grand Rapids in 1929. Between 1920 and 1930, Mortimer remarried. In 1930, Mortimer was listed on Plymouth Road in East Grand Rapids with his new wife, Nellie (b. around 1877, MI). Mortimer’s 96-year old widowed father was living with them. They had a 42-year old servant, Jennie Ferguson. Mortimer’s son, George, was living nearby. Mortimer’s obituary was posted in the Grand Rapids Herald on June 10, 1958. Children:
George Roberts [Hannah, Luna, Roswell], b. October 12, 1876; m. Jennie VanderWal; d. October 6, 1951, Georgetown Cemetery George’s parents moved to Grand Rapids before the turn of the century. But when he reached adulthood, he returned to Georgetown. Jennie was born in Michigan on December 30, 1878, a daughter of Henry and Angie VanderWal. In 1910, George and Jennie were listed in the census in Georgetown. They had three children in the home: Angelina, Stephen and Jessie. The 1920 census shows George and Jennie in Georgetown with five children: Angeline, Stephen, Jessie, Henrietta and Frances. George was a dairy farmer. They were living near Jennie’s parents. George and Jennie were living in Georgetown in the 1930 census. They had two children: Stephen and Frances in the home, as well as their grandson, Charles R. Medemer (b. around 1926). George was a laborer at a refrigerator factory. His son, Stephen was a sheet metal roofer. Jennie died August 1, 1939. She was buried in the Georgetown Cemetery. Twelve days later, their daughter, Frances, also died. Children:
Arthur L. Matthews [Martha, Silas, Roswell], b. November, 1878, probably Marcellus, Cass Co., MI, a child of Martha Rosina Powers and Rev. Leander Scott Matthews; m. Lura __, around 1900, MI When he was 22 years old (around 1900), Arthur married 19-year old Lura. Lura was born in Michigan around 1882.
Arthur L. and Lura B. Mathews were living in Okemos, Ingham County,
Michigan, in 1920, with their children John F. (12) and Irene R. (5). Arthur was
a proprietor of an implement store. By the start of the Great Depression, Arthur
and Lura had moved to Lansing. They owned a home on Virginia Avenue valued at
$6,500. Arthur was an auto salesman. Lura had a job working on the city
directory. Their son, John, was a laborer for Driggs airplane company.
Frank W. Matthews [Martha, Silas, Roswell], b. October, 1895, South Arm, Charlevoix Co., MI, a child of Martha Rosina Powers and Rev. Leander Scott Matthews; There were two Frank Matthews in Michigan in 1920. One was with his wife and two sons on Center Street in Ford, Wayne Co., Michigan, in 1920. Frank was a chipper and clerk at a ship yard. Lillian was born in Michigan around 1898. This Frank Matthews claimed both his parents were from Michigan. The other Frank Matthews was in Chester, Eaton County, with his wife, Ida White, in his in-laws home. Ida was a daughter of Fred White and Ida Waltersdorf. This Frank Matthews claimed his father was born in Ohio and mother in Michigan (which would have been switched if it were our Frank). In fact, in 1930, he claimed to be born in Ohio as well and that his middle initial was A. Meanwhile in 1930, there was another Frank Matthews who showed up at Walled Lake, Oakland County. He had a wife, Maude (28, b. MI) and four children: Irene (8), Benton (6), Irene (4) and Jack (1). Frank was a section foreman on a railroad. Like the Frank Matthews in Ford, MI, both of his parents were born in Michigan.
We are not sure of which –
or if any of these – is our Frank. Nevertheless, we will keep this biography as
it is for future reference.
George Elmer Baxter [Roena, Silas, Roswell], b. September, 1884, MI, a son of Phebe Roena Powers and George W. Baxter; m. Grace H. ___, around 1911, MI; d. after 1930
George lived with his parents in Claybanks, Oceana Co., Michigan, at least until
the death of his mother in the 1920’s. The 1920 census shows him and Grace with
three children next to George’s parents. When his mother died, his father came
to live with him. George was listed as “Emler G” Baxter in 1930.
Verna May Powers [Anderson, Silas, Roswell], b. March 31, 1897, MI, a child of Anderson M. Powers and Carrie; m. Harold Ernest Ruckel, December 19, 1914, Shelby, Oceana Co., MI; d. April, 1975, Mears, Oceana Co., MI. Verna and Harold were married in Shelby in a ceremony performed by Rev. Sibley. Harold was born in Michigan around 1894. Verna and Harold were living Shelby in the 1920 census with a daughter and son: Verner and Lewis. By the start of the Great Depression, Verna and Harold had moved to East Grand Rapids, where they rented a home on Pioneer Club Road for $40 a month. Verner and Lewis were still with them. Harold was a trainer at a riding academy. Children:
Archie W. Powers [Anderson, Silas, Roswell], b. around 1904, Oceana Co., MI, a son of Anderson and Carrie Powers; m. Dorothy M. Davis, November 3, 1924, Shelby, Oceana Co., MI Archie became a truck driver. On November 3, 1924, Archie married Dorothy Davis in a ceremony performed by Elder D. H. Younts. Carrie Powers was a witness at the wedding. In the 1930, census, Archie’s son, Edward, was living in his parents home (Anderson and Carrie) in Oceana County. There was no sign of Archie or Dorothy. There was an Archie Powers buried in the Mt. Hope Cemetery, Oceana County, in 1971. Dorothy (d. 1969) was also buried there. Child:
Myron E. Powers [Delos, Silas, Roswell], b. May, 1889, Shelby, Oceana Co., MI, a child of Rufus L. Delos Powers and Maria E. __; m. Jessie VanArman, January 2, 1911, Elbridge, Oceana Co., MI; d. after 1930 When he was 21 years old, Myron married 19-year old Jessie. The ceremony was performed by Rev. Vradenberg in Elbridge Township. Jessie was born in Michigan around 1891. The 1920 census shows Myron and Jessie on Hoyt Street in Muskegon Heights. Myron was a sheet metal worker for a hardware store.
In 1930, Myron and Jessie
were living in Muskegon Heights with children Julia M., Marjory E., Shirley and
Pearl. Myron owned a home on Hoyt Street valued at $4,000. He was a sheet metal
worker for an office supply factory. His daughter, Julia, was a stenographer.
Alvin G. Powers [Delos, Silas, Roswell], b. December 9, 1898, MI, a child of Rufus L. Delos Powers and Maria E. __; m. Marguerite I. ____, around ; d. November, 11, 1991 Alvin moved with his brother, Myron, to Muskegon Heights. When he was 21 years old, he married 19-year old Marguerite.
In 1920, Alvin and Marguerite were shown as newlyweds on Hoyt Street in Muskegon Heights – near Alvin’s brother. Alvin worked as a draftsman for a machine shop. The 1930 census shows Alvin and Marguerite renting a home on Peck Street for $30.00 a month. Alvin was a draftsman for a machine shop. Marguerite died in Muskegon Heights on December 26, 1987.
Alvin died on November 11,
1991.
Frances Laverne Powers [Ordell, Orrin, Roswell], b. March 19, 1896, Indiana, a child of Ordell Hercules Powers and Maude Bliss Sisson; m. Dr. Wyman Reed Green, June 16, 1920; d. August 17, 1922, Chattanooga, TN. Frances was married on June 16, 1920 to Dr. Wyman Reed Green. She was 24 years old at the time. The photo below if of (L-R) Ordell Powers, Mrs. Maude Powers, Dr. Wyman Green and Mrs. Frances Laverne Green. Wyman was born in Illinois around 1881. He was a professor at Chattanooga University (est. 1909) and member of the Wilson Ornithological Club. Chattanooga University was founded originally in the 1880’s by the Methodist Episcopal Church. Though the University changed hands and names several times, it still had strong Methodist ties in the 1920’s. When Wyman Green became a professor there, the university board was still required to be made up of two thirds Northern Methodists. At about the time that Wyman was hired, though, the university president was Alexander Guerry, the first southern, non-Methodist to serve in that role. The religious undertone was quickly changing at Chattanooga. Things would quickly change for the Green family, too. Before their second anniversary, Frances died (August 17, 1922). Her death was preceded by the birth of their son, Frances, who was born five days earlier. Wyman remarried to Sophianna ___ and showed up in the 1930 census on Duncan Avenue in Chattanooga with her and his son, Frances – named after his first wife. We know that Frances Green was the son of Frances (Powers) Green, because the 1930 census claims his mother was born in Indiana. Sophianna was born in Switzerland. In 1931, Dr. Green, still a professor at CU, presented a progress report to the Wilson Ornithological Club on the banding of Chimney Swifts in Chattanooga. The annual report claimed, “This report indicates the progress made in banding swifts during the past season at Chattanooga where Dr. Green and his friends band them by the thousands.”
In 1935, the CU board dropped the Methodist requirement for board
members.
Florence Marie Powers [Ordell, Orrin, Roswell], b. June 3, 1899, Chicago, IL, a child of Ordell Hercules Powers and Maude Bliss Sisson; m. Ernest John Newman, December 18, 1926, Chicago, IL; d. February 25, 1980, St. Petersburg, FL Florence grew up in Chicago and married there at the age of 27. Her husband, Ernest John Newman, was born in Chicago on June 12, 1897, a son of Swedish immigrants. The 1930 census shows Florence and Ernest renting a home on Sherman Avenue in Evanston (near Chicago) for $70 a month. They had one child by this time: Richard A. (age 2 ½). Ernest was an accountant for a tile factory. Ernest died in St. Petersburg, Florida, on August 6, 1962. Child:
Arthur Carlton
“Carl” Powers
[Althus, Orrin, Roswell]
, b. December 3, 1886, San Francisco, CA, a child of Althus Charles Powers and
Ellen Alfaretta Williams; m. Nora Edna Ratz, June 3, 1914, Colorado
Springs, CO; d. June
Arthur’s father died in Chicago when he was four years old, and his mother sold her share of the Powers Publishing Company. In March, 1891, she brought him west to Colorado Springs, where he grew up. His mother never remarried and went to work as a financial secretary for a local Methodist Episcopal church. In 1910’s census, Carl was still living with his mother and attending college. He entered the work force as a house painter, perhaps to pay his way through college. He studied phrenology with C. B. Manning. Phrenology is character analysis by examining the shape of a person’s head. Carl appears to have been very close to his mother. In fact, after he was married in 1914, he returned home with his wife and lived there for years, helping to take care of his mother. His uncle Hiram Williams helped him add a room to the back of their house. The 1920 census shows Carl and his wife Nora, living with Mrs. Powers in Colorado Springs. Carl and Nora had two daughters by now. Carl worked as a clerk for the post office.
Nora was born
July 10, 1888, in Valley Falls, Jefferson Co., Kansas, a daughter of Franklin
Ratz and Margaret Nageli. In 1930, Carl was listed was the head of the household. Also in the home were his wife and daughters and his 75-year old mother. Carl’s home on West Pikes Peak Avenue was valued at $4,000. His occupation at the beginning of the Great Depression was mail carrier. Carl’s mother died in 1937, but he remained in Colorado Springs. Carl was a professional chess player and won cash prizes in several tournaments. According to Ruth Pruitt, he always had several games going by mail with a chess game set up for each one. This was probably his main pastime.” Carl owned several violins and made his own cello by hand.
According to
Ruth Ann Pruitt, when Carl grew older, he lived on peanut butter Nora died in Colorado Springs on March 17, 1974. Children:
[1] Birth Record Liber 1, Page 106, Ottawa Co., MI [2] Birth Record Liber 6, Page 133 [3] Birth Record Liber 7, Page 57. [4] Liber 7, Page 187, Ottawa County Clerk’s Office.
Last update March 07, 2018 |
and ice cream
until he was taken to a nursing home. He died shortly afterward on June 17,
1968. 