Joseph H. Powell

Joseph H. Powell, farmer, section 6, Orient Township, was born April 13, 1840, in Pittsburg, Pa., and is the son of Ephraim and Catherine (Connor) Powell. His father was born Oct. 31, 1806, and died Dec. 24, 1867. His mother was born in May, 1810, and died in 1881. Their deaths took place in the city of Pittsburg.

Mr. Powell lived in the place of his maturity until he was 20 years of age, when he went to Greenwood Township, Crawford Co., Pa., settling there in 1860. He enlisted in the Union service Feb. 26, 1864, enrolling in Co. G., 14th Pa. Cav. The command was assigned to Averill's Division in the Valley of the Shenandoah. the first battle in which Mr. Powell was an active participant, took place May 15, 1864, at Newmarket. He was again uner fire June 5, at Piedmont. June 16, he was engaged in a skirmish at Buchanan on th4e James River, and fought at Lynchburg on the two days following. He was in action at Liberty on the 20th, and at Salem on the day thereafter. The command came down the valley to Parkersburg, went thence to Martinsburg and advanced to Winchester, where it was engaged June 22, 23, 24, after which it fell back across the POtomac at Williamsport and pursued General Imboden after he had burned Chambersburg, following him until he was driven from Virginia. General Sheridan succeeded to the command, and on the 17th of September, the battle of Acquia Creek was fought. Two days later an engagement at Winchester took place. On the 21st occurred the fight at Fisher Hill, and on the 23rd Mr. Powell was wounded in the shoulder of the left arm, by a postol shot at Mount Jackson. He went thence to Port Republic, and from there was sent to the hospital at York, Pa. His recovery was speedy and he rejoined his regiment at Winchester.He received his final discharge Aug. 17, 1865, and returned home to Crawford Co., Pa. He resumed the occupation of a farmer, operating as a laborer by the month and also as a renter. In 1868, he determined to seek a later settled portion of the country, and accordingly made his way to Michigan, driving a horse-team through to Snow's Corners, Ionia County, reaching there April 20.

After a residence of one summer at that place, he came, Oct. 20, 1868, with his family, to Orient Township. He had made a homestead claim on the Fourth of July previous, and in September made a clearing and built a log house, to which he removed his family on the day stated, arriving at their home after dark.About 60 acres of the farm is now improved and cultivated, and a good frame house replaces the log cabin of the pioneer days.

Mr. Powell is independent in political views and favors the Prohibition element. He was appointed Township Treasurer in 1873, and was elected to the office in the spring of 1874. In the spring of 1876, he was elected Supervisor and was subsequently re-elected uin 1877 and in 1880. He acted six years as School Moderator.His marriage to Catherine Carroll took place Feb. 26, 1860, in Pittsburg, Pa., and they have had three children: Margaret Ann was born Nov. 19, 1860, and was married July 4, 1881, to James McDonald; an unnamed infant died at the age of six months; Ephraim J. was born May 17, 1863. Mrs. Powell was born Feb. 2, 1840, in Greenwood Township, Crawford Co., Pa., and is the daughter of William and Margaret (Brooks) Carroll. Her parents died in Crawford County.Mr. and Mrs. Powell are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

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