Rev. Isaac P. Powell
 

Rev. Isaac Platt Powell, of Grand Rapids, Mich., was born May 7, 1838, in Clinton, Oneida county, N.Y. His father, John Powell, was born in Washington, Litchfield county, Conn. The latter was a man of strong character, deep convictions and earnest religious life. He took an active part in the religious and reform movements of his time, and was ultimately associated with such men as William Lloyd Garrison and Gerrit Smith in the great anti-slavery struggle. He died at the age of sixty-one years. His wife, Mary (Johnson) Powell, was born in Vermont, of sturdy New England stock. She was a woman of deep earnestness and resistless energy, and profoundly interested in the great reforms that absorbed the attention of the best men and women of her day. She died in her ninetieth year, in the full possession of her mental powers.

In early manhood John Powell moved to Clinton, Oneida county, N.Y., where he engaged in farming and fruit growing. His farm was located on the approach to the beautiful hill which is crowned with Hamilton college and its unrivaled campus, a situation of rare beauty and exceptional advantage.

The Rev. Isaac P. Powell, the subject of this sketch, was born under these circumstances, and spent his early life there, having a brother five years older than himself, now the Rev. Edward P. Powell, a man of high standing in the literary and scientific world---lecturer, pastor and publisher. He resides at Clinton, N.Y.

At the early age of seven years Isaac P. Powell lost his father, and upon his brother and himself fell the cares of life. He worked upon the farm and in the fruit orchard in summer, and attended the district school in winter. In due time he entered the village academy, then taught by his brother, and prepared for college, which he entered when eighteen years of age. Like many others he worked his way through college, cultivating the farm as well as attending to college work.

He graduated in 1860, and in the autumn of the same year entered Union Theological seminary in New York city. The Civil War soon began, and he left the seminary, returned to his home and recruited a company for the One Hundred and Forty-sixth regiment, New York volunteers. He was given a captain’s commission by Gov. E. D. Morgan, and soon went to the front with his regiment, whichwas assigned to the Fifth corps of the army of the Potomac. After being engaged in the battles of Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Williamsport, Bristow Station and Union Run, he was captured in the battle of the Wilderness, and spent seven months in southern prisons. He was brevetted major for services on the field, and was given a major’s commission as soon as he rejoined his regiment. In this capacity he served through the final campaign of the army of the Potomac, and was Appomatox when the Confederate army surrendered.

As soon as he was mustered out of service he returned home, and after a short interval returned to New York city to complete his theological studies. His health was greatly impaired, but he completed his course with honor. When about to graduate he was stricken with illness which prostrated him for an entire year. After his recovery he was offered a tutorship in Hamilton college, his alma mater, and also a professorship in Roberts college, Constantinople, but declined them and accepted a call to the Congregational church of North Canaan, Conn., and remained there about five years. On June 2, 1868, he was married to Miss Sara H. Clay, of Grand Rapids, Mich., a lady of fine family, rare culture and charming character. And soon after took charge of his parish, where he was duly ordained and installed, But his health was by no means established, it having been sadly undermined during the war, and after five years of very successful service his strength was exhausted and he was obliged very reluctantly to turn aside from professional life, which he greatly enjoyed, and for which he was well qualified.

During the following twelve years he was utterly unable to engage in work of any kind. His wife, also was an invalid. In 1881 he removed to Grand Rapids, where health began to improve and life looked brighter. On the 14^th of May, 1886, his wife died. Three children had preceded her, all in infancy.

When his health was partially restored Mr. Powell’s services were sought for the work of preparing boys for college--a work in which he has continued until the present time with much success.

On December 18, 1890, Mr. Powell was married to Mrs. Helen Griffith Smith, widow of the late Hon. Henry S. Smith, of Grand Rapids, a lady well known in the religious, literary and social circle not only of the city but throughout the state. A son, Edward Merrion Powell, was born to them May 6, 1892. Mrs. Powell is a sister of H. J. Hollister, a leading banker of Grand Rapids, is of English extraction paternally, and maternally of New England descent; she is a lady of fine literary attainments and strong Christian temperament, is a leader in church circles, and a teacher whose place could not well be filled in the Sunday-school, and she is one who never tires in good work.

Mr. Powell has been prominent and active in the service of Park Congregational church of Grand Rapids for many years and is constantly called upon for addresses in religious political, literary and army circles. He has not identified himself with any social organization excepting the Loyal Legion. The Christian church abundantly satisfies him.

Maj. Powell is a man of rare literary genius, and is especially gifted in oratory. The misfortune of a life time of ill health has proven to him a blessing in disguise. Though possessing a genial temperament and happy disposition, his leisure moments have been spent largely in study and thoughtful reading, resulting in a cultured mind, well stored with information, covering not only his professional sphere, but those of science, philosophy, literature and politics.

As a public speaker he is graceful and logical, his very earnestness and sincerity carrying conviction. His enunciation is perfect, his gesticulation natural and easy, his command of language unlimited. He is a man above the medium stature--graceful and dignified, weather it be as the entertainer of his army comrades, whom he loves so well, or in the discussion of the weightier topics pertaining to his profession.

His career as an educator is spoken of in the highest terms by the refined people of Grand Rapids, some of whom express the opinion that his usefulness in that sphere is second only to that of the other high calling wherein he was a recognized success.

It is said that "experience is a good school," and the proverb is fully verified in the life of Maj. Powell. As a writer he possesses the rare accomplishment among scholars--that of brevity and terseness. His sentences are clear cut and free from ambiguity, simplicity of language seeming to be his crowning desire.

It is to be hoped that this record of a lifetime of usefulness, wrought out under the most trying circumstances, may inspire some struggling young man to emulate so worthy an example.