Children of Roswell Powers
 

 Luna Powers [John], b. November 22, 1811, Fabius, Onondaga Co., NY, either a daughter of Roswell Powers and Phoebe Rugg or of John and Anna Powers; m. Harlow Phelps; d. 1892, Ottawa Co., MI

The connection of Luna to Roswell is uncertain. She did not show up in his home in any of the census records between her birth and her marriage (1820, 1830), even though she was claimed as one of his daughters by several family records. Still, her own death record claims she was a daughter of John and Anna Powers. At the time Roswell Powers lived in Fabius, NY, there was one other Powers family in Fabius – Isaac Powers. According to Donald F. Parrott, Isaac Powers of Fabius was born August 9, 1780, a son of Aaron Powers and Olive Osborn. He married Anna Millin on July 7, 1807. (Anna was born in Pelham, MA.) Isaac died in Fabius on July 26, 1823. Luna would have been 11 years old when Isaac died. It is possible that Luna went to live with Roswell at that time. This would explain why Luna did not show up in Roswell Powers’ home in the 1820 census.

Luna and Harlow were married in Ohio around 1830, which explains why Luna was not in Roswell Powers’ home in 1830.

Harlow was born in Connecticut around 1802-1805, a son of Oliver and Anna Phelps.

            Harlow and Luna (Powers) Phelps lived in Cherry Valley, Ashtabula County, Ohio, until after the death of Roswell Powers in 1860. The 1860 census has them with children Franklin, Hannah, Orville, Casper and Sarah. They were living near Harlow’s father in Cherry Valley.

The Phelps adopted their niece, Lavancha Ghastin, when she was nine months old. (see Sarah Powers’ biography)

In 1864, they moved to Georgetown (later Hudsonville), Ottawa County, Michigan.  The Phelps welcomed children from several families and may be accurately labeled a foster home (or perhaps an orphanage) by 20th century standards.  In Michigan, the Phelps home included LaVancha Ghastin, Elbert Mortimer, Serveg Thompson, Peter Johnson, and Gurt Koster, as well as the Phelps' own children.

The 1880 Federal Census of Georgetown showed Harlow and Luna as heads of the household. Her daughter, Hannah A. Roberts, was living there with her husband and three children. Also in the home was 22-year old servant, Emma Ireland.

The 1884 State Census shows Harlow and Luna in Georgetown.

According to family tradition, in 1892, Mr. and Mrs. Phelps died when they were hit by a train on the Ann Arbor Railroad. It is our thought that at least part of this information is inaccurate. Harlow’s death record in Ottawa County shows that he died of cancer on April 5, 1892. He was 87 years, four months, 16 days old. Luna was named as Laura on her death record. She died on August 25, 1892, of heart attack. She was 80 years, nine months, three days old. Her death record mistakenly claimed her parents as John and Anna Powers. The reason for the mix-up is that their niece, Lavancha (Ghastin) Phelps-Sawyer-Saxton, was killed by an Ann Arbor train more than ten years later.

Children:

            Silas C. Powers [Roswell], b. February 1, 1815, Fabius, Onondaga Co., NY, a son of Roswell Powers and Phoebe Rugg; m. Sally Moody, before 1839; d. February 11, 1884, Shelby, Oceana Co., MI; Oceana Center Cemetery, Shelby Township, Oceana Co., MI.

            When Silas was one year old, his mother and three siblings died (Christmas, 1816), leaving only himself and his father in the home. His father then married his Aunt Sarah Rugg and brought his family from New York to Ohio.

            When he was around 23, Silas married Sally Moody. Sally was born in Pennsylvania around 1818, a daughter of Roswell Moody and Margaret Rugg. By this connection, we can see that Silas and Sally may have been cousins.

            The 1840 federal census shows Silas living next to his father, Roswell, in Richmond, Ashtabula Co., OH. They had one son under 5 (Oliver).

In 1850, Silas was living next to Rufus and Phoebe (Powers) Putney in Andover, OH. Also in the home were Sally and their children Oliver (11), Wesley (7), and Emily (5).

            About a month before his father died, on October 1, 1860, Silas bought land in Oceana Co., Michigan, described as T14N-R17W, Section 1: N/2 NE/4 and NE/4 NW/4. The 1860 federal census shows "Simeon" (sic) and Sally in Benona Township, Oceana Co., MI, with children: Oliver C. (21), Roswell W. (19), Martha R. (8), Phebe R. (6), Anderson M. (3), and Rufus L.D. (1). During the Civil War, their son, Roswell Wesley Powers, enlisted in the 6^th Michigan Cavalry and died in a skirmish with Mosby’s Rangers on June 11, 1863.

            The 1870 federal census shows Silas and Sally in Shelby Township, Oceana County, with children Phebe, Martha, Anderson, and "Ruphus." Silas' estate was valued at $2000.

            In 1880, they were still in Shelby with children "Roena" (26), Anderson M. (23), Delos (21), and Silas' brother-in-law, William Moody.

            Sarah died of typhoid fever on January 18, 1884. Silas also came down with it and died less than a month later on February 11, 1884, in Shelby. Both of them were buried near their son, Oliver, in the Oceana Center Cemetery.

Children:

            Orrin Hall Powers [Roswell] b. January 15, 1820, Fabius, Onondaga Co., NY, a son of Roswell and Sarah Powers; m. Mary Elizabeth Stone, April 12, 1850, Ashtabula Co., OH; d. January 6, 1908, Valparaiso, IN; Oakwood Cemetery, Chicago, IL.

            Orrin was the only one of his family to stay in Ohio long after his father’s death in 1860.  

Orrin was a member of the Kingsville Academy in Ashtabula County, Ohio, in 1844 (at the age of 24), with Mortimer Phelps of Springfield, PA. Kingsville was more or less a charter school in a day and age when public education was still in the Dark Ages. It was established in 1834, and its first building was constructed two years later. For the next 35 years, it would be credited with educating as many as 5,000 students. According to its catalog, published in October, 1844,

“Kingsville Academic is located in the healthy and pleasant village of Kingsville, Ashtabula County, upon the mail road leading from Buffalo to Cleveland. Parents and Guardians, patronizing this Institution, will not expose their children to the vices and contaminating influence of most of our larger and more populous towns.

A more desirable location, in all respects for a school of this character, could not easily be found. The Academy is a large two story edifice, capable of accommodating from one hundred to two hundred Students in separate apartments. ”When the government finally established public high schools after the Civil War, Kingsville Academy was forced to close its doors, due to lack of enrollment.

By then, of course, Orrin, had already graduated. He married late in life – on April 12, 1850, at the age of 30. His wife, Mary E. Stone, was born in Ohio in August, 1833, probably a daughter of James M. Stone of Richmond Township (1840). Orrin and Mary were shown in the 1850 census, living in Richmond, Ohio, living near Orrin’s sister Sarah (Powers) Ghastin and brother Ephraim Powers. In 1860, Orrin and Mary were still in Richmond. By now, they had two sons, Althus (9) and Alfred (8 months). Alfred could be none other than Ordell Hercules Powers, who was born November 14, 1859. They were living next to Orrin’s father and his brother, Levi Powers.

After the death of his father in 1860, most of his siblings moved to Michigan. The 1870 census shows “O.H.” and Mary Powers in Richmond with their two sons, living next to his brother, Ephraim, who operated a sawmill. Orrin owned a farm valued at $3,000. He grew hay and often had help from his brothers Ephraim and Silas to cut it.

According to Ruth Pruitt, “Orrin was very religious, writing long letters to his brother Silas, full of statements based on scripture. 

          His father’s Biblical knowledge must have rubber off, and he became fanatical about it. He talked about the crime of Masonry: ‘Masonry belongs rather to the kingdom of darkness than to the church of God.’ He didn’t think the Methodist church should tolerate it. He would probably turn over in his grave if he knew his grandson, Carl, was a Mason. His daughter-in-law, Ella Williams Powers, used to tell her son when he did things she didn’t approve of that his grandfather had been a preacher. Carl had a family tradition to uphold.”

In 1879, he decided to give up hay farming, because he had hay he couldn’t sell. He had read some religious books, and made it his ambition to sell them. He wrote to his brother Silas that he would be sending him some of them and hoped that Silas would enter the business with him. 

            Orrin and Mary seem to have been separated prior to 1880, since the census that year showed Orrin with his son, Ordell, in Richmond, Ashtbula Co., Ohio. (Mary was not in the home.) In fact, in November, 1879, Mary was in Iowa, probably with her parents who had moved to Appanoose County, Iowa in the late 1850’s. From letters written by Orrin in the 1880’s, it appears that Mary was sowing some wild oats (perhaps with another man) and had probably moved to Illinois. A letter from her sister, Jane, claims that she had once worshipped her sister, but had lost all affection for her. However, by September, 1883, Mary had returned home and, was “reinstated.”

            In November and December, 1889, Orrin sold his land on Lot 63 in Richmond Township.

            Orrin and Mary showed up together in the 1900 census, living in their son, Ordell’s home in Hyde Park (Chicago). Orrin was listed as a retired farmer, even though he was still heavily involved in the religious book business. In fact, his enterprise had turned into the Powers Publishing Company, with 40 employees (15 office workers). One of their products was a “Royal Scroll,” a case about 15 inches square which, when opened, revealed two windows with biblical pictures on scrolls that are turned with a crank.

Children:

            Phoebe Powers [Roswell], b. February 24, 1824, Ashtabula County, OH; m. Rufus Putney, 1842, Andover, Ashtabula Co., OH; d. August 8, 1895, Benzie Co., MI; Gilmore Township Cemetery, Elberta, MI.

            Rufus was born in Eastern Canada October 21, 1818, a son of Barnard Putney and Betsy Cole.

The 1850 federal census of Andover, Ashtabula County, OH, shows Rufus and Phoebe living next to Silas and Mary Powers. Also in the home is their first son, Mart.

They moved with a caravan of relatives to Blaine Township, Benzie County, Michigan

 around 1866 and settled the area now known as Putney Corners. In June, 1876, his name showed up on a petition to create a new township in Benzie County known as Blaine. Rufus' brother, Barnard, also moved to Michigan and settled in the region.

            Phoebe became a member of the Women's Christian Temperance Union, an organization in favor of the prohibition of the sale and consumption of alcohol. The photo shown on the following page is of Phoebe (Powers) Putney and Anna (Powers) Markham, with white ribbon pins to show their membership in the W.C.T.U. In addition to her work in the W.C.T.U., she and her children were also instrumental in the foundation of the Blaine Christian Church at Putney Corners.

         The image below is of the church gathering in 1888 – most of which was made up of Powers family members. The gentleman in the bowler hat (left back) is Arthur F. Sawyer. The older man with the beard, Orrin Blood. The two girls in matching white checkered dresses (front center and right) are Edith and Kity Sawyer.  

             Phoebe used to urge people -- even total strangers -- to stay with them when they traveled through the region. In some cases, the strangers would decide to stay and buy up land in the area.

            She was said to be good at taking care of people who were sick. People used to come from miles around to ask for her help. They would make notches in trees along the way so she could find her way home. Once, when she was returning, though, it turned dark and she got lost in the woods. She knew that there was quicksand nearby. In fact, she was surrounded by it. She started to call out, "Yoo-hoo!" Her nephew, Herb Powers, heard her cry as he was returning from Elberta. He finally found her and escorted her out.

            Rufus died August 1, 1890, and was buried in the Gilmore Township Cemetery, Elberta, MI. Phoebe died five years later on August 8, 1895. They were buried side by side.

Children:

            The following is a list of grandchildren shown in the Putney Bible:

                        Rufus K. Putney, b. January 11, 1860; d. January 20, 1860, Andover, OH
                        infant son, b. April 7, 1860; d. April 1, 1861, Andover, OH

             Dr. Charles S. Powers [Roswell] b. September, 1825, NY, a son of Roswell and Sarah Powers; m. Rowena ______; d. after 1900.

            Rowena was born in Ohio in June, 1820.

            Charles became a physician. The two lived in Wisconsin in 1844 and 1849, when their eldest children were born. There was a Charles S. Powers who bought land in Dodge County, Wisconsin February 1, 1848 in T9N-R13E, Section 32: E/2 NE/4 and Section 34: NW/4 NE/4. Two years later (March 1, 1850), he bought the SE/4 SE/4 of Section 13. This may well have been our Charles. Charles and Rowena showed up in the 1850 census in Aztlan, Jefferson County, Wisconsin, with their children Martha (1) and Orange (5). Charles owned a farm valued at $200.   

             By 1859, though, they were in Illinois. In 1860's federal census, Charles and Rowena were in Fenton Township, Whiteside Co., IL, with children Martha (16, WI), Orange (11, WI), Eva (1, IL), and Ellen (6 months). Note that Martha and Orange’s ages had flip-flopped from what was recorded in the 1850 census. Now Martha was listed as the older child.

            Shortly after the 1860 census, Charles and Rowena moved to Oceana County, MI. On December 16, 1863, “Roena” Powers purchased land from the State of Michigan, described as T15-R17, Section 28: NW/4 NE/4.

Their children, Martha and Orange, married in Oceana County and did not show up with them in the 1870 census. Their youngest daughter, Ellen, died in August, 1870. Therefore, the 1870 federal census of Oceana Co., MI, shows Charles and "Rosena" in Elbridge Township with only one daughter “E.J.M.” (11). E.J.M. was born in Illinois.

            The 1880 census shows Rowena in the home of their son, Orange, in Springfield, Greene Co., Missouri. Charles is not in the home, although the census claims Rowena was still married. From the birth information of Orange’s children, we can guess that Orange and his wife Clara left Michigan around 1878-80. 

            In 1900, Charles and “Roena” were living with their daughter, Martha Fuller, on Bond Street in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Martha was a “restaurant keeper” and her son, Wesley Spoor, was a cook there. Charles was working as a traveling book agent.

Children:

            Ephraim Woodruff Powers [Roswell] b. May 25, 1827, Richmond, Ashtabula County, OH, a son of Roswell and Sarah Powers; m. Mary Jane Landon, November 16, 1848, Richmond, Ashtabula Co., OH; d. June 17, 1889, Shelby, Oceana  Co., MI; South Ferry Cemetery.

            He owned lumber and shingle mills in Ashtabula County and became very respectable in the region. The 1850 federal census shows Ephraim and Mary living next to Ephraim's sister and brother-in-law, Sarah and William Riley Ghaston, in Richmond, Ashtabula County, OH. Also in the home was Ephraim's first son, William W. (6 months).

            His wife, Mary, was born in New York on May 22, 1830, a daughter of Daniel Landon and Nancy Mitchell.

            After the Civil War, most of his brothers and sisters moved to Michigan, while Ephraim stayed in Richmond with his brother, Orrin. The 1870 census shows them next to each other. Ephraim was the owner of a sawmill. His home was valued at $2,400. A year later, though, Ephraim brought his family to Ferry Township, Oceana County, Michigan, where Ephraim became a prominent businessman. Wood had become scarce in Ohio, and Michigan was in the middle of a lumber boom. Ephraim traded his horse and buggy for a mill in Reed Township (later renamed Ferry Township). He and his sons built a dam, a sawmill and grist mill powered by water. Within a year, they were manufacturing doors, windows, tables and bedsteads. 

            In 1880, Ephraim and Mary were living in Ferry Township, Oceana County, with their daughter Mary E. (19), son, Eugene E. (14), and brother-in-law, Joseph Landon (60).

            In 1887, the Powers mill added a roller process flour mill.

Ephraim died of pneumonia in Oceana County on June 17, 1889. He was buried in the South Ferry Cemetery. Three years later (1892), Ephraim’s son, William, became the owner of the mill. 

            The 1900 federal census of Oceana County shows Mary a widow living alone in Ferry Township. Of her six children, five were still living.

            Mary remarried to William Tennant in a ceremony performed in Ferry on February 5, 1905. Rev. Verner H. Sibley conducted the wedding. Mary’s son, Charles W. Powers, was a witness.

            Mary died March 4, 1925 and was buried in the South Ferry Cemetery.

Children:

            Lucy Powers [Roswell] b. July, 1830 in Pennsylvania, a daughter of Roswell and Sarah Powers; m. John S. Putney, around 1847, OH; d.

            Around 1847, Lucy married John S. Putney.

            John was born in Canada in December, 1824, a son of Barnard and Betsey Putney. He had come to the US in 1840.

            John and Lucy were shown in the 1850 census in Andover, Ashtabula County, Ohio, next to Silas and Sally Powers and Barnard and Betsey Putney. Children in their home were a two-year old boy (appears to be Peter F.) and 8-month old Mary Putney.

            The 1860 federal census shows John and Lucy living next to Rufus and Phoebe Putney in Ashtabula Co., Ohio. Also in the home were children Wellman (11), Mary (10), Martha (9), and Hiram (6). Their estate was valued at $400, with $200 in personal assets.

            In 1870, John and Lucy were living in Hart, Oceana Co., MI, near several of the Powers family members. Their home was valued at $1,500.

            John and Lucy were still in Hart in 1880, with six of their eight children in the home. Their son, Hiram, lived there with his wife and son, Hiram Jr.

            The Putney’s lived in Hart even in their 70’s. The 1900 census shows John and Lucy in Hart with their grandson, Vernes (b. April, 1880), in the home. They were living next to their son, Odell, who now had a family of his own.

Children:

             Levi C. Powers [Roswell] b. 1831 in Ashtabula County, Ohio, a son of Roswell and Sarah Powers; m. Cordelia Jane “Carrie” __.

            Levi became a blacksmith.

            Cordelia Jane was born in Ohio around 1837

            The 1850 federal census shows Levi and Cordelia living in Richmond, Ashtabula County, OH, next to Levi's father. Levi was a blacksmith. In 1860, they were still in Richmond, near Levi’s father and brother, Oren. Cordelia was listed as “Jane.” Their children’s names were “Alonzo” and Amelia J. Powers.

            On July 7, 1862, Levi purchased land in Oceana County, Michigan, from Ira Jenks. The property was described as T15-R1, Section 29: S/2 NE/4, consisting of approximately 80 acres. While he farmed most of it, he sold 12 acres off of the NE/4 to his brother, Charles.

            Levi enlisted with his brother, Solomon, in November, 1863, in Grand Rapids, MI, in the Union army during the Civil War. Both were mustered December 31, 1863, and mustered out at Detroit. For the story of Battery B, see Solomon Powers.

            After the war, Levi returned to Michigan, where he resumed farming. He purchased Section 21: NW/4 W/2 NW/4 from Victory Sottertee (which he later sold to Levi Williams). 

            In 1870, Levi and “Jane” were indexed as the “Towers” family, living in Ferry Township, Oceana County, Michigan. They had children “Lorenzo” and Amelia.

            Levi purchased more land from Albert A. Cutler, described as T14-R16, Section 6: N/2 NW/4 and the SW/4 NW/4.

            Levi became the treasurer of Oceana County in 1872, but shortly afterward moved to Tennessee. Levi and “Carrie” were found in Davidson Co., TN, in 1880. Their son, Lorenzo, and grandson Loren Powers were living with them. Loren was listed as “Idiotic,” probably the result of a traumatic birth that killed his mother. Also in the home were their daughter and her husband, John Crow. They were shown in District #23, at that time located about five miles northwest of Nashville on the north side of White’s Bend. 

Neither Levi nor Cordelia (nor any of their children or grandchildren) have been found in the 1900 census.

Children:

             Sarah Powers [Roswell], b. April 6, 1832, Ashtabula County, Ohio, a daughter of Roswell and Sarah (Rugg) Powers; m. (1) William Riley Ghastin, December 10, 1848, Ashtabula Co., OH; m. (2) Samuel Wing around 1858, Ashtabula Co., OH; m. (3?) Bixby?; m. (3) Lucius Garfield, August 10, 1870, Gilmore, Benzie Co., MI; m. (4) Joshua Vaughn, July 28, 1883 Benzie Co., MI; d. September 25, 1888, Blaine Twp., Benzie Co., MI; place of burial unknown.

            Sarah was named after her mother.

            She married William Riley Ghastin (b. around 1828, PA).  They were living next door to Sarah's brother Ephraim Powers in 1850, Richmond, Ashtabula County, Ohio.  Together, they had several children, including their first, Emma, born in May, 1850.  They divorced, however, in 1856, the same year their last daughter Lavancha was born.  Their children were split up and sent off to different families in the area.

            Sarah then married Samuel Wing. Samuel was born in New York around 1816-19. Samuel and Sarah were living in Lake County, OH, in 1860's federal census with children Charles (14), Mark (10), and "Magy" (7), all children by Samuel's first wife. Samuel was listed as a Farm Laborer, Sarah as a "personal proprietor."

            They moved with several of her brothers' families to Oceana County, Michigan around 1860. Her daughter, Lola, claimed in the 1894 state census to have to come to Michigan around 1863, at the height of the Civil War. Some family members settled in Oceana County, while others moved on to Benzie County.

            Her husband, Samuel, was one of the first men to enlist in the Union army from the Hart region of Oceana County, MI (December 31, 1863). He went to enlist the same day Sarah's brothers, Levi and Solomon Powers, were mustered. Samuel himself was mustered January 9, 1864, and joined the 1st Light Artillery, Battery B, with Solomon.

            Captain Ross of Battery B had been promoted to Major and the whole regiment had recently come under the command of Captain F. R. Arndt. Forty-eight of the original men in the battery re-enlisted in December and on January 7th, they left Detroit and then reached Pulaski February 6. April 19, 2nd Lt. John J. Caulkins of Battery C was ordered by General Dodge to report to Capt. Arndt and remained on duty there until July 15. During this time, with the detachment of that battery, he was in command of works at Prospect, TN, and at Decatur, AL. He was a valuable soldier to Capt. Arndt.

            April 21, the battery moved to Athens, AL. On the 30th, it began a march through Huntsville and Bridgeport, Alabama, then on to Lookout Mountain and Chattanooga, Tennessee. From there, they went to Resaca, Georgia, where they engaged the Confederate army May 9, 1864. They lost two men in the skirmish (severely wounded). They then moved on to Kingston. At Lay's Ferry, May 14, they engaged the enemy again, and at Calhoun the 15th.  At Rome Crossroads the next day (May 16), the Confederates again attacked the battery. Lt. Wright and two men were wounded.

            They reached Rome, Georgia by May 22, where they took possession of four pieces of light artillery and five 8-inch Howitzers. The battery rested at Rome until October. But according to military records, Samuel did not join the men when they left. He died of disease on, July 29, 1864 and was buried at the National Cemetery in Marietta, Georgia.

            Sarah was left a widow. Interestingly, Sarah gave birth to their son, Elmer Wing, in March, 1866 – a year and eight months after Samuel died. And since Sarah did not remarry until 1870, this can mean only that Elmer was illegitimate. Family tradition tells of a Mr. Bixby, who allegedly married Sarah. However, there is no record of Sarah ever going by the name Bixby. In 1870, there was only one Bixby family in Oceana County. Benjamin Bixby lived in Benona Township with his two children: Mary (14) and Charles (8). Benjamin was born in New York around 1825 and was unmarried (either widowed or divorced). He apparently lost his wife after 1862 – around the same time Elmer Wing was born. This Benjamin Bixby was probably the son of Levi Bixby of Royalton, NY. He had a brother, Emerson Bixby, who moved to Illinois and had two sons, Elmer and Emerson Bixby, in 1861 and 1865.[1] Emerson Bixby (Sr.) moved on to Iowa.

            On August 23, 1864, as Sarah Wing, she bought land in Oceana County (a fractional portion of T15-R17, Section 13), probably the land from her husband's estate. There she met Lucius Garfield, who owned land in T14-R17: Section 1: W/2 NW/4 and SE/4 NW/4. Another Wing who owned land in the region was Nelson Wing, who later bought land in Benzie County as well.

            Neither Sarah nor her children Lola and Elmer Wing showed up in the 1870 census. It is possible Sarah was in transition from Oceana to Benzie County, because of her upcoming marriage to Lucius Garfield. Perhaps, though, she had been living in obscurity since the birth of her son, Elmer.

            On August 14, 1870, Sarah married (a third time) Lucius Garfield (b. 1827-32, NH or VT), a man listed in the 1870 federal census of Benzie County as a single man in Gilmore Township. He was living near Sarah’s niece and nephew, Marshall Putney and Celia (Putney) Fuller. After their wedding, Lucius and Sarah settled near Sarah's son, Marquis, and several nieces and nephews.

Six days after their wedding, on August 20, 1873, Lucius received a federal patent for 160 acres of land in SW/4 of Section 25, in T25N-R16W. In June, 1876, Lucius' name showed up on a petition to create a new township in Benzie County known as Blaine.

            According to records in the register of deeds in Benzie County, Lucius bought land July 5, 1881, from Oliver Johnson in T25N-R15W, Section 31: S/2 NE/4.

            Sarah and Lucius had one child, Lucius.  But Lucius Sr. died of a stomach disease in 1882 in Blaine Township, Michigan, once again leaving Sarah a widow. Sarah then bought the property from his estate on August 5, 1882 (the west half) and December 27, 1882 (the east half).

            Sarah married (4th) Joshua B. Vaughn, 28 JUL 1883.  Her brother Solomon and his wife were witnesses at this wedding.  The wedding was performed by Justice of the Peace Oliver Johnson and was held in Joyfield Township.

            Sarah executed a lease on her property May 14, 1885 to William H. Stubbs, who kept the apple orchard there. April 26, 1887, another lease was signed, mentioning apple, cherry, plum, and peach trees as well.

            Joshua then purchased (June 25, 1888), T25N-R16W: Section 12: SE/4 SW/4. Sarah died September 25, 1888 of paralysis in Blaine Township. Her son, Lucius U. Garfield purchased her estate in Section 25 (SW/4) on January 7, 1889. He maintained the leasing she did with William Stubbs on September 27, 1889.

            Joshua Vaughn remained in Benzie County for years to come. On October 22, 1888, he purchased land in T25N-R15W: Section 3, SW/4 SE/4 (Joyfield Township) and on January 21, 1889, T25N-R15W, Section 9: W/2 SW/4 NW/4 (Joyfield).

Children by Riley Ghastin:

 Children by Samuel Wing:

Children by Lucius Garfield:

            Solomon Rugg Powers [Roswell], b. August 16, 1838, Richmond, Ashtabula County, OH, a son of Roswell and Sarah Powers; m. Anna Rebecca Salsgiver, Jun 28, 1868, Benzie Co., MI; d. February 5, 1900, Benzie Co., MI; Gilmore Township Cemetery, Benzie Co., MI.

            Solomon was named after his maternal grandfather, Solomon Rugg. He was a carpenter by trade, having learned from his father, who owned a mill in Ohio.

            Solomon began setting his sights on Michigan sometime during the Civil War, probably because his older brother moved there in 1860.  On September 7, 1863, Solomon bought property in Oceana County, MI, (T13N-R18W, Sec 34: NW/4 SE/4) from Jeremiah Collins.  From his new home in Michigan, he joined the 1st Michigan Light Artillery, Co. B, enlisting on December 31, 1863.

            Captain Ross of Battery B had been promoted to Major and the whole regiment had recently come under the command of Captain F. R. Arndt. Forty-eight of the original men in the battery re-enlisted in December and on January 7th, they left Detroit and then reached Pulaski February 6. April 19, 2nd Lt. John J. Caulkins of Battery C was ordered by General Dodge to report to Capt. Arndt and remained on duty there until July 15. During this time, with the detachment of that battery, he was in command of works at Prospect, TN, and at Decatur, AL. He was a valuable soldier to Capt. Arndt.

            April 21, the battery moved to Athens, AL. On the 30th, it began a march through Huntsville and Bridgeport, Alabama, then on to Lookout Mountain and Chattanooga, Tennessee. From there, they went to Resaca, Georgia, where they engaged the Confederate army May 9, 1864. They lost two men in the skirmish (severely wounded). They then moved on to Kingston. At Lay's Ferry, May 14, they engaged the enemy again, and at Calhoun the 15th.  At Rome Crossroads the next day (May 16), the Confederates again attacked the battery. Lt. Wright and two men were wounded.

            They reached Rome, Georgia by May 22, where they took possession of four pieces of light artillery and five 8-inch Howitzers. The battery rested at Rome until October. According to military records, Solomon's brother-in-law, Samuel Wing, did not join the men when they left. He died of disease there, July 29, 1864 and was buried at the National Cemetery in Marietta, Georgia.

            October 14, the regiment left Rome and marched back through Calhoun and Resaca to Snake Creek Gap. From there, they made their way to Cave Springs, Georgia. They engaged the enemy at Turkey Creek on October 26. It was a win for the Union soldiers with no men were lost. The battery marched 250 miles during that month. Those lost during the year so far were four killed in action, one died of wounds, and eleven (including Samuel Wing) died of disease.

            November 1, the battery left Cave Springs toward Smyrna, where it joined Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman's army on the 6th. On the 13th, Sherman's massive army of 62,000 men left on its famous "March to the Sea. November 22, Solomon's smaller brigade of 1,500 fought Confederates at Griswold, losing seven men and six horses. Capt. Arndt was among the wounded. But the battle was won. The Confederates, who were a far superior force lost close to 1,500 men. The Union brigade lost only 80 men. "The conduct of both officers and men of the battery was most gallant, fighting until the last round of ammunition was gone. The horses of one gun all killed and the piece was barely saved by drawing it from the field by the prolong" (Michigan in the War, Jonathan Robertson, Lansing: W. S. George & Co. State Printers and Binders, 1882, p. 522-523).

            In May, 1864, Solomon was called to Chattanooga, Tennessee, where he met with 99,000 other Union soldiers under the leadership of General William Tecumseh Sherman.  From there, they marched south to Georgia, where they laid siege to the key city of the South, Atlanta.  In November, Solomon joined Sherman and 62,000 others in his famous "March to the Sea," that cut a wide strip of destruction through Georgia and South Carolina. 

            According to the 1890 census of veterans, Solomon incurred chronic diarrhea as a result of his involvement in the military, a disability that lasted at least 25 years.

            Solomon was discharged on June 14, 1865, having served 1 year, 5 months, 14 days. His tour of duty gave him the right, under Federal Law, to claim government plots of 120 acres anywhere in Michigan.

            After the War, Solomon returned to his new home in Oceana County, Michigan. But he was not content there and hoped for room to grow. Around 1865, he brought his cousin, Marshall Putney north to Benzie County, Michigan. When they saw the beautiful countryside and fresh soil, Marshall laid claim to homesteads in Blaine Township and returned for his family.  With them came Solomon's in-laws, the Salsgivers (and his mother-in-laws’ family, the Dow’s). Solomon's sister Phoebe Putney and her husband's family also came with their sister Lucy Putney and their families and another sister, Sarah Wing and her family. Maude Putney Dahlgren, in her book "A History of the Blaine Christian Church and Putney Corners," wrote, "It was a real caravan that left Ohio in 1866.  It was a part of this group that established Putney Corners in [Benzie County] Michigan" (Dahlgren, 1967, p. 9).

            The oldest plat map of Benzie County shows Solomon Powers' land in the SE/4 of Section 28 of Joyfield Township with the date July 6, 1865 underneath. After purchasing land in Benzie County, Solomon returned to Oceana County and, on August 4, 1867, sold his property to Horace L. Howard for $200.

            When he was 29 years old, Solomon finally married. Anna Rebecca Salsgiver was a daughter of David and Rebecca (Dow) Salsgiver, granddaughter of George and Susannah Saltsgiver. Anna was born in Pennsylvania in February, 1851.

            In 1870, Solomon was chosen as a juror for Benzie County. The 1870 federal census shows Solomon and Anna living in Joyfield Township, Benzie County. No children were in the home. There is also a widow by the name of Minerva Amidon (age 42) living in nearby Inland Township (cannot be just a coincidence). On July 1, 1871, Sereno Francis Sawyer and his wife, Maria, came to live next door to Solomon. (their son, Arthur, married Solomon's niece Lavancha Ghastin-Phelps).

             On July 8, 1872, he sold land to Catharine Houk in Benzie County. On December 20, 1872, he sold land to William Smeltzer. On November 8, 1878, Hela C. Sprague bought two properties from Solomon Powers and Francis Powers. 

            On 28 JUL 1883, Solomon and Anna were witnesses at the wedding of his sister Sarah Powers and Joshua B. Vaughn (farmer) of Blaine Twp., MI.  The wedding was performed by Justice of the Peace Oliver Johnson and held in Joyfield Township. In 1890, he was living near Herring Lake in Benzie County.

            Solomon died 05 FEB 1900 in Blaine Township, MI, having lived there for over 20 years.  At the time of his death, his occupation was "carpenter." He was buried in Gilmore Township Cemetery.  In the 1900 Census of Joyfield Township, his widowed wife, Anna was shown living with her divorced daughter, Cora, and Cora's children, Lotti and Clyde M Salsgiver.

            Anna married Fred E. Markham. They lived together on the north side of Forest Avenue in the village of Frankfort, Michigan. In 1920, the census showed Fred and Anna in Crystal Lake Township with their granddaughter, Georgianna Farmer (14). Fred was a machinist at a machine shop in Frankfort. He was born in New York around 1849.

            Anna died in 1923 and was buried next to Solomon.

            In 1937, Anna’s granddaughter, Ena Kraft Jackson, started the Anna Markham Memorial Hospital in the home of Herb and Lula (Beaton) Powers on Forest Street in Frankfort. Ena had graduated from Frankfort High School in 1929 and Bronson Methodist School of Nursing in 1932.

Children:

Last update March 07, 2018