James W. Powell (deceased) was a son of John and Nancy (Sheller) Powell, natives of Virginia. They moved to Missouri many years ago, where they died. James W. was born in Virginia, on Oct. 2, 1823; he was a self-educated man, of unusual energy, and received what schooling he had in Missouri. His father died when he was young, and James had to struggle with the adversities of life for many a year. He came to Clayton County and bought his farm of 200 acres of excellent land on sections 24,25 and 13. In April, 1861, he married Catherine J., daughter of William and Marth A. (Clarke) Drips, natives of Pennsylvania; they came to Clayton County, Ia., in 1850, and died in Farmersburg Township. Catherine was born June 15, 1833. By this marriage there are three children - Maggie, born Sept. 16, 1862; Nettie M., July 4, 1865; Nancy, March 12, 1868. Mrs. Powell is a member of the Congregational church. Mr. Powell died Oct. 15, 1879; his death was occasioned by the kick of a horse, after much suffering. Mr. Powell came to Farmersburg at an early day and built his shanty. It was a custom of the country at that time to leave food so that a person coming along hungry could find something to eat. To this custom Mr. Powell was no stranger. In addition to this the custom was to leave oneís name after helping themselves, so that the generous host might know who had been there, but finding his food often gone and nothing to show who took it, Mr. Powell, from appearances about, thought it best to set his gun for wolves, which he did. Soon after this a certain nameless M.D. had a Winnebago cadover, and soon thereafter a fine skeleton, and Mr. Powell lost no more food. source: History of Clayton
County, Iowa, 1882, p. 780-781 |