POWELL, Edward (1812-1893)

POWELL

Posted By: Steve Speer (email)
Date: 3/11/2008 at 22:14:01

Traer Star Clipper
August 18, 1893

DEATH OF EDWARD POWELL (1812-1893)

Father Powell passed away at his home east of Traer, Saturday evening last, of heart failure. His long sickness has been frequently referred to in these columns. He passed his 80th birthday and up to a few months ago had enjoyed the best of health.

He was an early settler in north Tama and a character well known by our people. His history is one of rare interest, illustrating vividly the blessings of American liberty and prosperity as compared with the condition in some of the old countries, hence we have gathered some facts and incidents of the life just closed that will prove of interest.

Grandpa Powell was born in Wales, December 25, 1812. As that country was not blessed with the common school system like this he attended none other than Sunday school, where he learned to read in his native language. At ten years of age he commenced work in the mines with his father, who was also a miner, which occupation he followed for twenty-eight years.

He was married June 10, 1834. Seven children were born to them in Wales, three of whom died within six weeks. As he was getting only $2.50 per week, he could hardly find the means to pay the expense of burial.

When he lost the third child his friends persuaded him to apply to the town officer for a little aid to get a coffin and when he applied the answer he got was, “salt it down.” Those words stung him to the heart and seemed to ring in his ears daily during his last sickness, for he often repeated them as he was riding in his buggy the last few days he lived.

He made up his mind then that he would leave that country and its officers if he had to beg his way. As soon as he got Mrs. Powell’s consent to take care of the four children and do the best she could, in April, 1854 he started on foot for Liverpool, intending to come to America. He had but $19 in his pocket when he started and $15 of that was borrowed money.

When he landed at New York he had but 25 cents left, was sick and could speak no English. He remained on board the ship two days after landing and was then driven off. Too weak to walk any distance, he got on a street car. The driver went his rounds to collect the usual fare and still the old Welchman remained in the car. The driver asked him where he wanted to go. He replied in Welch that he did not know. The driver hailed another car and told that driver to take him to a certain hotel where he found many that came over with him. There he borrowed $10 from a young man that was going to Pennsylvania, with promise to go with him and stay until he would get work and pay back the $10.

In Pennsylvania he worked in the coal mines where he go hurt, and from which he never recovered. He then started for Wisconsin, where he had a sister, but was taken sick on board the cars and put off at Utica, New York. While lying there sick an old acquaintance of his happened to stop at the hotel, took care of him and found him work in the city.

Here the family joined him after a fifteen months’ separation, and the blessings of American liberty and the great possibility of his country began to be manifest to them, for he that was getting but $2.50 a week in Wales now received $30 a month. The oldest daughter, aged 19 years, weaving by the piece in Wales, was getting from $1 to $1.20 a week. Second girl, aged 17, received $1.25 a week. For the same work in Utica they received from $23 to $25 each per month. Robert, aged 11, in Wales got 36 cents a week and in Utica got $8 per month, and at the end of each month when each one would bring the earnings home and put them together thanksgiving arose for the blessing of a country that afforded enough to eat and wear.

In 1857 they all came west to Wisconsin and there bought forty acres of land, paying a small sum down. Then the war broke out. Father Powell cast his first vote for Lincoln. He always loved the old flag and the “boys in blue” that defended it.

He moved to Tama county in 1870 and by hard labor has accomplished the great object which he came to this country for --- to secure a home and comforts for himself and his family. He was a grand old man, much admired by his neighbors and friends.

The funeral took place at the home, Monday, conducted by Rev. Brown. A very large assemblage of people were present. Burial in West Union cemetery.