POWELL or James
Contributed by: William
Brackett
brackettwilliam@yahoo.com
Updated 12 Jun 2014
|
There is a curious family story passed down from Ada
(Slocum) Swartz who was a daughter of Allie (Powell) Slocum. Allie Powell was a daughter of John and Sarah
(Brant) Powell. The family story is that
the family name of Powell was assumed, when the family was moving to another
state, as the family name of James was associated with Jesse and Frank James,
the outlaws. According to this story the
child (Allie) remembered, clearly, being told that from now on your name is Powell.
The children of John and Sarah (Brant) James all went by Powell as did
Sarah. It may be a simple as Sarah
remarried, after John James, and the new husband John Powell told the children
that their name was now Powell. No
record of a marriage to John Powell has been found but in the 1885 state census
of Minnesota they are listed as the Powell family as compared to the 1880
census of Michigan, in which they are listed as James. Sarah Brant married John Brackett in 1868. John Brackett went off to work on the railroads
with his family. When their son Edgar
Brackett was born in 1869 Sarah contacted John’s family and she was told he had
died in an accident while working on the railroad. It is said that his family disapproved of the
marriage. No death record has ever been
found. Sarah (Brant) Brackett married 2nd
to John James on 14 Apr 1870 in New Buffalo, Berrien County, Michigan. Soon after the marriage they left for Iowa
and the children born between 1870 and 1880 all claim Iowa as their
birthplace. The last son, born in 1882,
claims Michigan as his birth place. Sarah
Brant was the daughter of Lacey and Angeline (Brown) Brant of Berrien County,
Michigan. Lacey
and Angeline (Brown) Brant had children: Phillip
Brant b. 1830 Amanda
Brant b. 1835 George
M. Brant b. 1840 Vincent
G. Brant b. 1841 William
L. Brant b. 1843 Olive
Brant b. 1845 Sarah
J. Brant born in Livingston, IL on 21 Jun 1850 Howard
B. Brant b. 1853 Exzavia
Brant b. 1855 often seen a Zaphia Brant Sarah Jane Brant was born 21 Jun 1850 in Livingston. Some census records give her birthplace as
Illinois. She was the daughter of Lacey
and Angeline (Brown) Brant. There is a
small town of Livingston in Madison County, Illinois and a Livingston County,
Illinois. According to her Widow’s
Pension file for Lacey’s service during the Civil War Angeline Brown was born
in Illinois but census records indicate she was born in Vermont or Pennsylvania. Lacey’s brother Nathaniel Brant also lived
for some time in Illinois. Note: There is an
area of Berrien County, Michigan called Livingston. It was platted as a village but did not
develop into one. Sarah Brant married 1st John Brackett in 1868 in
Millburg, Berrien County, Michigan. John
reportedly died in 1869. They had one
child, a son, named Edgar Lacey Brackett born in 1869. Sarah J. (Brant) “Bracket” married 2nd
to John James on 14 Apr 1870 in New Buffalo, Berrien County, Michigan. In this
marriage record they were both recorded as being from Benton Harbor. Sarah was 20 years of age and John was 27
years of age. We know from other records
that she was born in Illinois. Sarah’s
maiden name in this document is given as Brant. Sarah (Brant) appears to have married John Powell
by 1873 as their daughter Olive or Allie Powell was born in Iowa that year and gives
these names on her marriage record.
Another daughter Eva Powell reports she was born in Iowa on 12 Sep 1879. Eva Powell’s death record gives her father’s
name as John William Powell and her mother as Sarah Brant. Both Madison and Nora Powell report being
born in Iowa to John and Sarah Powell. “Olive”
Powell was married in 1890 in Hagar Township, Berrien County, Michigan and this
was a double ceremony in which her half-brother, Edgar Brackett, was also
married. They married brother and sister,
Sarah and William Wooldridge, and this appears to be Allie not “Olive”
Powell. So by 1890 some of the Powell
family was back in Berrien County. In
1893 Sarah J. Powell is listed in her father, Lacey Brant’s, probate as living
in Benton Township, Michigan and as being 43 years of age. The 1880 census of Keeler, Van Buren County, Michigan
includes: John James 39 years of age born in New York Sarah James 30 years of age born in Michigan Edgar James 11 years of age born in Michigan (actually Edgar
Brackett) Albert James 10 years of age born in Michigan (a line is
drawn through bert, listed as daughter-Al or Allie) Madeson James 5 years of age born in Michigan Ellen James 3 years of age born in Michigan (actually Nora
Ellen) Pheoba James 10/12 ten months old born in Michigan (appears
later as Eva) The 1885 State census of Lake Shore, Lac qui Parle County,
Minnesota includes: John Powell 47 years of age born in New York Sarah Powell 33 years of age born in Illinois Ira Powell 14 years of age born in Michigan (actually Edgar
Brackett) Alfred Powell 13 years of age born in Iowa (Allie-listed as
a male) Madison Powell 9 years of age born in Iowa Nora Powell 7 years of age born in Iowa (Nora Ellen) Phoebe Powell 6 years of age born in Iowa (Eva) Jennie Powell 3 years of age born in Michigan (appears to
read “Jonnie”-John George Powell-listed as a female) The 1910 census of Galien Township, Berrien County, Michigan
shows Sarah Powell, widow 58 years of age, born in Illinois and her “son”
Timothy 20 years of age. Timothy was
born in Minnesota and his father in New York.
This census indicates she had 8 children 7 who were living in 1910. George T. Powell of 1900 had become Timothy
Powell. This record shows an increase of
one child (7 to8) born to Sarah.
George’s middle name must have been Timothy and since his brother, John
G. was going by name J. George he probably went by Tim. Rev. John G. Powell died in 1914 and was 31 years of
age. He was reportedly born in Grand
Junction, Van Buren County, Michigan in March of 1882. He is also seen as Rev.
J. George Powell and George Powell. He
is buried in the Crystal Springs Cemetery in Benton Harbor. The 1917-1922 Rural Directory of Berrien County shows,
living at 106 Alexander St. in Buchanan, Mrs. Sarah Powell and Tim Powell who
was a truck driver. The 1920 census of Buchanan, Berrien County, Michigan
includes Sarah Powell, widow 67 years of age, born in Illinois, her “son” Tim
27 years of age, born in Minnesota and his wife Anna 18 years of age. This record states that Tim’s father was born
in Minnesota. In 1925 Tim Powell married 2nd to Elnora Gross. This record indicates his father was John
Powell and his mother’s maiden name was Brant.
The 1930 census of Galien Township, Berrien County, Michigan
shows Timothy G. Powell 39 years of age, his wife Nora 19 years of age and
Sarah J. Powell who is listed as his grandmother. Looking at Tim Powell’s death record from 1955 is
confusing. It says his mother was Allie
Slocum, and his father was Patrick Powell.
In other records Allie Slocum is seen as Allie (Powell) Slocum. This
record may be in error when compared to the earlier census records perhaps his
second wife did not get the facts straight or the census records are misleading. The 1930 census shows Sarah J. Powell living
with Timothy Powell and she is recorded as his grandmother. It would appear that there was not a William
Powell, as her obituary indicates, but that this was actually Timothy
Powell/George T. Powell. No record of
William Powell can be found in Berrien County.
Where the name Patrick Powell came from is not known. Allie (Powell) Slocum was the daughter of
John W. and Sarah (Brant) Powell who first married William Wooldridge in 1890. If she was Tim’s mother he would have been
Sarah’s grandson, as seen in some records. Sarah’s children appear to have been: 1. Edgar Lacey
Brackett b. 11 Jul1869 in Pipestone Township, Berrien County, Michigan, married
Sarah Jane Wooldridge, he died 08 Dec 1952 and is buried in the New Troy
Cemetery in New Troy, Berrien County, Michigan, as is his wife. 2a. Olive Powell b. about 1872 in Iowa, married William
Wooldridge on 03 Nov 1890 in Hagar Township, Berrien County, Michigan. 2b. Allie Powell b.
17 Aug 1873 in Sterling, Iowa, married 26 Aug 1892 to Kenard Slocum, she died
26 Mar 1951 in Buchanan, Michigan and she is buried in the Hamilton Cemetery
near New Carlisle, St. Joseph County, Indiana, as is her husband. 3. Madison S. Powell
b. 29 Oct 1875 in Iowa, married Minnie Shier on 04 Mar 1899 in Berrien County
and lived in Plymouth, Wayne County, Michigan, near Detroit. Madison S. Powell died on 30 May 1952 and
Minnie died on 29 Sep 1973 and they are interred in the mausoleum in Riverside
Cemetery in Plymouth. 4. Nora Ellen Powell
b. 12 Sep 1877 in Clinton, Iowa, married 1st Marion Grubb on 28 Feb
1896, 2nd Levi Edward Phillips on 19 Apr 1900, 3rd August
Singbeil on 17 Mar 1934, who d. 26 Dec 1968, she is buried in the Oakridge
Cemetery in Buchanan, Michigan as are two of her husbands. 5. Eva Powell b. 12
Sep 1791 in Iowa, as Eva Stover she married Frederick Elmer Hall in 1908 in
Marion County, Indiana, she d. 26 Oct 1964, she is buried in the Oakridge
Cemetery in Buchanan, Berrien County, Michigan as is her husband. 6. John G. Powell b.
22 Mar 1882 in Michigan, married Catherine Cowgill he d. 20 Mar 1914, he is
buried in the Crystal Springs Cemetery in Benton Harbor, Michigan, as is his
wife. 7. unknown child
according to the 1900 census who may have been born in 1871 or after 1882. Notes: 2a. and 2b.
are the same person. Allie Powell’s 2nd marriage record indicates
she was married to a “Woolridge” before she married Kenard Slocum. From this record she appears to be the same
person as Olive Powell. In the marriage
record to Kenard her father is given as John Powell and her mother as Sarah
Brant. This accounts for the 6 of 7 children Sarah reported having and who were
living in 1900. The 7th child
must have died young. The birth years I
used are calculated. The years vary in
the records and so I looked at the 1880 census, the 1885 census the 1900
census, marriage records and death records including obituaries and used the
most often occurring year. # 163 of the 1930 Berrien County Death
Certificates records Sarah Powell's death.
Sarah Jane Powell died 29 Jul 1930.
She was 80 years, 1 month and 8 days old at the time of her death. It states she was born in Illinois. It lists her father as Lacy Brant and her
mother as Angelina Brown. She died in
Galien Township. Sarah's obituary appeared in the Niles Daily Star (newspaper)
on 30 Jul 1930 and “Galien Pioneer Dies Mrs.
Sarah Powell, 80, a pioneer of Berrien County died last evening at the home of
her son William Powell with who she had made her home in
Page 85 of Liber "B" of the Berrien
County Marriages records the second marriage of Sarah J. (Brant)
Brackett. Sarah Brackett married John
James in New Buffalo Michigan on 14 Apr 1870.
It states they both lived in Benton Harbor and were both born in New
York. Sarah J. Brant Brackett was 20
years of age and John James was 27 years of age. The marriage was recorded on 30 Jun
1870. Her maiden name is given in this
document as Brant. Names
of parents given in records of her children indicate that in 1872 Sarah was
married to a John Powell. The 1880
census would disprove that as they are all listed by the name of James. We also know from her death record, that
Sarah was born in Illinois, not New York, as this record indicates. The fact that her grandson, Tim Powell was
born in Madison, Lac qui Parle County, Minnesota, in 1892, places them in that
area and supports the 1885 census record and the name of Powell. Looking at these records you can see that Sarah Brant was
born in 1850 in Illinois, lived in Berrien County in 1870, lived in Iowa in
1872-1880, was back in Michigan in 1880 around the small village of Keeler in
Van Buren County, lived in Minnesota in 1885-89 and was back in Michigan by
1893. The records indicate that John
James who may one in the same as John William Powell was most likely born in New
York. John James/John Powell’s death
date nor the location of his or their death has been discovered. I could not locate a marriage record for
Sarah (Brant) James and John Powell nor find the birth records for John G.
Powell, who reported being born in Grand Junction, Van Buren County in 1882. Niles Daily Star Tuesday 27 Mar 1951 “Mrs. Allie Slocum, 77 Buchanan, March 27-Mrs. Allie Slocum, 77, of 705 North
Portage street, died at 12:15 p.m. Monday in Berrien County hospital after
being ill for several months. She was
born Aug. 17, 1873 in Sterling, Ia., the daughter of John and Sarah
Powell. She married Tony Slocum Aug. 22,
1892, in Niles. Surviving are her
husband; three sons, John and Edward, of Buchanan, and LeRoy of South Bend; two
daughters, Mrs. Ada Swartz, of Buchanan, and Mrs. May McCoy, of Antioch, Cal;
two sisters, Mrs. Nora Sinvoil, of Galien, and Mrs. Eva Hall, of Ber- … Powell,
of Plymouth, Michigan; 26 grandchildren; and 30 great-grand children. The Rev. W.D. Ruff pastor of the Bethel
temple of the Pentecostal church will conduct the services at 2:30 p.m.
Wednesday at the Swem funeral home.
Burial will be in the Hamilton cemetery in Hamilton, Ind. Friends may call at the funeral home.” Allie Slocum was buried in the Hamilton
Cemetery near New, Carlisle, Indiana. Note: There is
something missing in this obituary between “Ber-Powell”. It may have been supposed to read Ber[rien
Springs and one brother, Madison] Powell. In 1900 this Slocum family was living in Weesaw Township,
Berrien County, Michigan. The 1910
census of Olive Township, St. Joseph County Indiana includes: Kenard Slocum 38 years of age, born in Indiana Allie Slocum 37 years of age, born in Iowa Lacy Slocum 18 years of age, born in Michigan John Slocum 16 years of age born in Illinois Ada Slocum 14 years of age, born in Michigan Roy Slocum 9 years of age, born in Michigan Eddie Slocum 5 years of age born in Michigan Susie May Slocum 2 years of age born in Indiana During the 1920 census they were living in Buchanan, Berrien
County, Michigan The South Bend Tribune carried the following articles
concerning the death of William Lacey
Slocum: Monday 07 Apr 1913:
“William Lacey Slocum, of New Carlisle, Ind., died in the Epworth
hospital Saturday of appendicitis, aged 22 years. He had ill three months. They body was taken to that place yesterday
and funeral services were held there to-day.” Tuesday 08 Apr 1913: New Carlisle, “The funeral of Lacey Slocum
was held Tuesday at 2:30 at the M. E. church.
Burial in the Hamilton cemetery.” Wednesday 09 Apr 1913: South Bend,
“Mrs. Edward France has returned from New Carlisle, Ind., where she
attended the funeral of her nephew, Lacie Slocum, who died in St. Joseph’s
hospital, South bend, last Saturday.” Saturday 12 Apr 1913 New Carlisle, “Those
from out of town who attended the funeral of Lacy Slocum Tuesday, were Mr. and
Mars. Hall, of Indianapolis; Mr. and Mrs. Bracket and family, of New Troy; Mrs.
Powell, of Bridgman; Rev. J. Powell, of Benton harbor; Mr. and Mrs. J. Slocum,
of Mishawaka, Mr. and Mrs. John Oberla, of Chicago; Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Slocum,
of Mishawaka; Mr. and Mrs. William Anders of South Bend; Mr. and Mrs. Johns, of
Mishawaka; and Mrs. J. Kentz, of South Bend.” Niles Daily Star 06 Dec 1955 “Timothy Powell Galien-Timothy Powell, 63, of rural route
one, Galien, died suddenly of a heart attack in his home at 5:30p.m.,
Tuesday. Powell was born April 26, 1892
in Madison, Minn., and married Elinora Gross, May 4, 1925 in St. Joseph. He was employed by the Clark Equipment
Co. Survivors are three brothers, John
and Ed Slocum of Buchanan and Leroy Slocum of South Bend; two sisters, Mrs. Ada
Heyn of Buchanan and Mrs. Mary McCoy of Antioch, Calif. Friends may call at the
Swem Funeral Home after 7 p.m., tonight where services will be held at 2 p.m.,
Friday with the Rev. W. Robert Palmer of the Church of Christ officiating. Burial will be in Oak Ridge Cemetery.” After reading this obituary and looking at his death record
it would appear that this Timothy Powell was the son of Allie (Powell)
Slocum. His father may have been Patrick
Powell. This Timothy Powell appears to
have been the grandson of Sarah (Brant) Powell, as the 1930 census
indicates. The Slocum family members
mentioned in the obituary, as survivors, would have been half-brothers and half-sisters. Madison is a town in Lac Qui Parle County,
Minnesota. There was a census taken
there in 1885 and there was a John and Sarah Powell living in Lake Shore in
that County. This appears to be John and
Sarah (Brant) Powell except the children’s names vary slightly as do the ages. There was a Madison Powell, Phoeba Powell,
and a Nora Powell in this household but the other children’s are not the names
as known. This adds to the confusion
concerning the James/Powell family. Eva (Powell) Hall died on 26 Oct 1964 in Berrien Springs,
Michigan. Her death record indicates she
was born in Iowa on 12 Sep 1881 and was the daughter of John William Powell and
Sarah Brant. Her husband was Frederick
Elmer Hall, whom she married in 1908 in Marion County, Indiana, as Eva
Stover. Eva must have been married
before. This marriage record gives her
parents as John and Sarah (Brant) Powell.
Eva and Fredrick Hall are buried in the Oakridge Cemetery in Buchanan,
Michigan. Niles Daily Star 27 Oct 1964 “Berrien Springs-Mrs. Eva Hall, 83 of 201 S. Main St., died
at 5:30 p.m. Monday in Buchanan Community Hospital where she was admitted
Sunday. She had been in failing health
for the last five years. Mrs. Hall was
born in Iowa Sept. 12, 1881, and married Frederick E. Hall in 1908. He died Jan. 18, 1946. The Halls came to Berrien Springs about 25
years ago. She is survived by one
sister, Mrs. Nora Singbeal of Berrien Springs.
Mrs. Hall was a member of the Evangelical United Brethren Church Funeral
services will be conducted at 1 p.m. Thursday at the McLaughlin Funeral Home,
here. The Rev. Carl J. Litchfield,
pastor of her church, will officiate.
Burial will be in Oak Ridge Cemetery, Buchanan. Friends are being
received after 7 p.m. tonight at the funeral home.” Niles Daily Star Friday 27 Dec 1968 “Mrs. Nora Ellen Singbeil Buchanan-Mrs. Nora Ellen Singbeil,
89 of 312 Chippewa, died Thursday in Berrien General Hospital. She was born Sept. 12, 1879 in Clinton,
Iowa. Mrs. Singbeil married the late
Edward Phillips, April 10, 1897, who died in 1930. On March 17, 1934 she married the late August
Singbeil who died in 1957. Mrs. Singbeil
is survived by a daughter from the first marriage, Mrs. Bessie Walter of
Buchanan; two grandchildren, one great-grandchild and two great-great-
grandchildren. Funeral services will be
held at 11 a.m. Saturday in the Swen Funeral Home with Rev. Lawrence Smith,
pastor of the Olive Branch United Brethren Church of Galien, officiating. Burial will be in the Oakridge Cemetery. Friends may call at the Swem Funeral Home at
7 tonight.” Note: On 17 Mar 1934
Nora (Powell) Phillips married August Singbeil in St. Joseph County,
Indiana. Mrs. Bessie Walter was the wife
of Arthur Walter and in the 1920 census they were living in Buchanan with one
daughter, Virginia Walter. Her marriage
record to Levi Phillips is interesting because one of the witnesses was “John
W. Powell”. Could that have been her
father or more likely her brother John G. Powell. John George Powell was born 22 Mar 1882 in Van Buren County,
Michigan. He was a minister (street
evangelist) and married Catharine Arminta Cowgill. They had three daughters, Dorothy L., Ruth M.
and Naomi J. He died on 20 Mar 1914 and
is buried in the Crystal Springs Cemetery in Benton Harbor, Michigan. He is also seen as George J. Powell. Ruth and Naomi were twins. They can be found living in Benton Harbor,
Michigan during the 1910 census: George J. Powell 28 years of age, evangelical minister, born
in Michigan Arminta C. Powell 29 years of age, born in Indiana Dorothy Lee Powell 5 years of age, born in Indiana (she
married on 02 Dec 1923 to Samuel Arent) Ruth Marguerite Powell age 11 months, born in Michigan (she
married on 02 May 1928 to Lawrence Badgley) Naomi Judith Powell age 11 months, born in Michigan (she
married Dunning Yore) The Berrien County marriage record indicates that “George
Powell”, age 19 years, married on 03 April 1901 in Benton harbor to “Arminta Catherine
Cowgill”, age 20 years. He was working
for the Union Tea Company and she is recorded as being “at home”. His father is recorded as John W. Powell and
his mother as Sarah Brant. Her parent’s
are recorded as “unknown”. The minister
was Wm. H. Prescott and the witnesses were Frank T. McLeod and Eva Powell. I have found from records that Catherine was
the daughter of Benjamin F. and Francis (Kelley) Cowgill. The New
Palladium carried the obituary for Rev. J. G. Powell on 24 Mar 1914: "Rev.
J. G. Powell was born in Grand Junction, Mich., March 22, 1882, died at his
home at 646 Buss avenue, Benton Harbor, March 20, 1914. He was united in
marriage to Catherine Cougill of this city April 3, 1901. He leaves a wife,
three children, Dorothy, Ruth and Naomi, a mother, Mrs. Sarah Powell, New
Carlisle, Ind., and three Sisters, Mrs. Allie Slocum of New Carlisle, Ind.,
Mrs. Nora Phillips of Galien, Mich., and Mrs. Eva Hall of Indianapolis, Ind.;
two brothers, Madison Powell of Plymouth, Ind., and Time Powell of New
Carlisle, Ind.; one half brother, Ed Pracket of New Troy, Mich., and a large
circle of relatives and friends to mourn his loss. All the sisters and a
brother were present at the funeral except Mrs. Eva Hall." Note:
This should read Tim not "Time" Powell, Ed Brackett not
"Pracket" and Madison Powell lived in Plymouth, Michigan not
"Ind.". John G. Powell also seen as George Powell: There were some interesting newspaper
articles written about J.G. Powell when he died. The New Palladium carried this article on 20 Mar 1914: “George Powell Dead; Was Street
Evangelist Founded Lighthouse Mission In
Early Days Said To Have Been “Bad Man”
George Powel, a well known local evangelistic character was found dead
this morning in his bed at his home at 646 Buss avenue. Death was due to paralysis. He had been ill for several weeks and been
confined to his home. Founded Local
Mission. Powell founded a local mission,
styling it the Lighthouse Mission. He
had been a street preacher and evangelist in Benton Harbor for a number of
years. The dead preacher had lived an
eventful life. When a young man it was
said he had figured in many exciting western episodes and prided himself on
being a “bad man.” Becoming converted,
he began preaching the gospel of his own accord. He worked at various jobs by day and preached
in his mission at night. In the course
of his mission career he converted a large number of outcasts. He grew to be quite a forceful speaker and it
is said his evangelistic work had something to do with his illness. Powell was a deputy sheriff for the Berrien
County Humane Society at one time.
Powell was about 40 years old. He
is survived by a wife and several children.
His funeral will be conducted Sunday afternoon at o’clock.” The Niles Daily star carried this article on 21 Mar
1914: “Once A Bandit In James Gang; Dies
Preacher. George Powell, Benton Harbor
Mission Leader, Is Paralysis Victim.
Once a bandit in the train robber gangs of the James boys and the
Younger brothers, George Powell, for several years a rescue worker in Berrien
County and leader of the Lighthouse Mission, Water street, Benton Harbor, died
Friday morning following a stroke of paralysis.
He is survived by a widow. The
Story of Powell’s life is one of vivid romance.
He went into the western country following the Civil war and being of a
venturesome spirit joined the James boys in their reign of terror among the
railroads of the newly opened country.
He participated in some of the biggest hauls made by this and the Younger
gang. After these bands had been broken
up Mr. Powell became converted and since the late eighties has devoted his life
to mission labor. His career in Berrien
county has been marked by many ups and downs and several times he was brought
into the limelight. Funeral services
will be held Sunday afternoon.” The 1907-1908 City Directory of Benton Harbor includes Rev.
J. George Powell, pastor, People’s Bible Holiness Mission, residence 219 Buss
Ave. The 1910 edition gives his address
as 646 Buss Avenue. John G. Powell is
buried in the Crystal Springs Cemetery in Benton Township, Berrien County,
Michigan. One has to question the story the Niles Daily Star ran
because the Jesse James of the James Gang was shot and died in 1882. John George Powell was born in that
year. Maybe he was telling stories about
his father, John W. Powell/John James. It
is interesting also that these articles tie into the theory behind the name
change from James to Powell between the 1880 and 1885 census records. By looking at the address in the News
Palladium articles on 20 Mar. 1914 and his obituary on 24 Mar 1914 you can see
they are identical. This address also
matches the address in the 1910 City Directory.
This is obviously the same individual even though the name changes
slightly. His death record indicates he
died from “hysteria major” so it sounds like he was scared to death perhaps
brought on by the paralysis. The News Palladium carried this news brief on 22 Mar
1984: “70 Years Ago-Over 1000 personal
friends and acquaintances attended the funeral services Sunday at the
Evangelical church for George Powell, Benton Harbor’s late street evangelist.” The Herald Palladium carried this news brief on 23 Dec
1988: 75 Years Ago-George Powell of the
Light House mission announces that he has arranged to provide baskets for about
25 poor families and also that he will have a Christmas tree and a good program
at the Light House Mission on Water street the evening of the 26th.”
John George and Catherine Arminta (Cowgill) Powell had three
daughters: Dorothy Lee Powell and she married on 02 Dec 1923 to Samuel
Arent Ruth Marguerite Powell and she married on 02 May 1928 to
Lawrence Badgley Naomi Judith Powell married to Dunning Yore After John G. Powell died Catherine (Cowgill) Powell married
2nd on 15 Mar 1916 to Edward Bender.
An obituary reads: "Mrs.
Edward (Catherine) Bender, 81, route 1, Box 186, US 31, Berrien Springs, died
at 9:45 p.m. Saturday at her home. She had been ill for eight years and
seriously ill for two weeks. Mrs. Bender was born July 27, 1880, in New
Carlisle, Ind., the daughter of the late Benjamin and Frances Cowgill, and came
here with her parents at the age of 11. Besides her husband, whom she married
March 15, 1916 in Benton Harbor, survivors include four daughters, Mrs. Ruth
Badgley of Monroe, La., Mrs. Dunning (Naomi) Yore and Mrs. Don Chaddock of
Benton Harbor and Mrs. Fred (Pearl) Gitersonke of Berrien Springs; three sons,
Walter of Benton Harbor, Alfred of Berrien Springs and Donald of St. Joseph; 25
grandchildren and 38 [great] grandchildren. A daughter, Mrs. Sam (Dorothy)
Arent preceded her in death. Funeral services will he held Wednesday at 4 p.m.
in the Florin funeral home. The Rev. James H. Sherwood, pastor of the First
Evangelical United Brethren church will officiate. Burial will be in the
Crystal Springs cemetery." Dorothy and Samuel Arent had eight children: Norris, Noble, Norman, Noreen, Tilford, Carl,
Wesley and Marilyn Arent. Dorothy died
on 01 Sep 1951 and her and her husband Samuel are buried in the Kniebes
Cemetery in Bainbridge Township, Berrien County, MI. Ruth and F. Lawrence Badgley had eleven children: Jacqualyn, Ruth, David, Patricia, Cather
Laurel, Catherine Lorraine, Lawrence Jonathan, Carl, Steven and Judith
Badgley. Ruth died on 21 Jun 1965. Her death record indicates she was
“Divorced”. She was buried in the
Crystal Springs Cemetery in Benton Harbor, MI.
Naomi and Dunning Yore had one son: Michael Yore.
Naomi died on 07 Feb 1997. She
and her husband were buried in Crystal Springs Cemetery in Benton Harbor, MI. Madison Powell married Minnie Shier on 04 Apr 1899 in St.
Joseph, Berrien County, Michigan. In
1900 he was living in Three Oaks during the census. This census record indicates he was born in
Iowa in Oct 1875, had been married one year, and was 24 years of age. His wife is recorded as “Nettie” and she was
born in Sep 1882 and was 17 years of age.
They had one child who had died.
He was working at the Featherbone Factory in Three Oaks. In 1910 he was living in Plymouth Township of
Wayne County, Michigan. In that year he
is recorded as being 28 years old and his wife is recorded as Minnie, who was
27 years of age. They had two
children: Maria Powell who was 9 years
old and Russell Powell who was 7 years of age.
Madison was working in a Creamery as a butter maker. In 1920 they were still living in Wayne
County and he is recorded as being 42 years of age. Minnie was 37 years of age and their children
were Maria A. Powell 19 years of age and Russell D. Powell who was 16 years of
age. Madison was working in an Air Rifle
factory. Russell Powell was born on 20
Apr 1903 and died in Plymouth, Wayne County, Michigan in November of 1977. Madison, Minnie, Russell and Russell’s wife
Esther are buried in the mausoleum in Riverside Cemetery in Plymouth, Michigan.
A descendant of John George Powell told me that John William
Powell went to Wisconsin and “had another family”. They said the aunt Eva, Eva (Powell) Hall,
was very upset when she found this out.
On Eva’s death record her father is given as John William Powell. Searching for records I found a John Powell
who married Belle Johnson on 28 Feb 1892 in Arcadia, Trempealeau County,
Wisconsin. Belle’s parents are given as
Ole Anderson and Belle Abramson. John’s
parents are given as John Powell and Jane James. This family can be found in the 1905
Wisconsin state census with three of her children, Severt, Bennie and Minnie
Johnson. This indicates that Sarah (Brant) Powell and John William Powell must
have divorced between the 1885 census and 1892. The big question remains was the family name James or
Powell? Personally I lean toward the
idea that the name was James until 1880, as verified by that census, and then
between 1880 and 1885 Sarah remarried to John William Powell and they moved to
Minnesota. I believe the family story
about the name change is from the new husband telling the James children that
they are now Powell children. The
children born in Iowa would be the children of John and Sarah James even though
they all indicate in their records their father was John Powell. Allie (Powell) Slocum, being an older child,
recalled being told their “name is now Powell” but not why they were told
this. The younger children remember
their father as John William Powell.
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