Edmund D. Powers was born in Ireland September 11, 1826, and emigrated to America in 1847, arriving in New York in May of that year, after a long and tiresome trip of nine weeks in a sailing vessel. He worked at railroading in early life and came to Iowa in 1852. At that time, Davenport was the terminal city of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Road, and in the year 1856, Mr. Powers acted as superintendent in the construction of the road as far west as Malcolm, Iowa. He was foreman on the Rock Island railroad, at a point known as Copi to the old settlers, this place being one mile west of Tiffin station. He remained there some twelve years and in 1868 began farming in Hardin township, Johnson County, having previously purchased 160 acres of partly improved land, containing a small house which he remodeled. He also added on to the house and made further improvements on the land, living there twenty-two years. In 1890, his son, Ed. C. Powers, took charge of the farm and Mr. Powers retired and moved to Oxford. He purchased part of St. Mary’s church and moved it west of the present priest’s residence. This place, which is now occupied by Ed. Lally, faces the house of his daughter, Mrs. McDonough.

After being ill eight years, Mr. Powers passed away September 14, 1909, and selected six of his grandchildren to act as his pall bearers. A solemn requiem mass was said in St. Mary’s church on September 16th, by the present pastor, Rev. R. J. Renihan, and a large concourse followed the remains to its last resting place in Calvary cemetery. He was blessed by having all the rites of the church at the time of his death and was one of the original members of St. Mary’s.

Politically, he was a democrat. He was married in 1850 and his widow died May 23, 1910, being buried by the side of her husband. She emigrated to the United States as a young woman and was married in this country. They became parents of the following children: Mary, wife of James Scanlan, deceased; Ellen, Anista, wife of Dan Corbitt, of Iowa County, now deceased; Catherine, wife of James Holland; Margaret, Mrs. McDonough; Ed. C., on the old home farm. These good people also adopted into their family, one son, Otto J. There are thirty-four grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren of this couple living. Mr. and Mrs. Powers were among the founders of the church at Oxford and lived to see Johnson County transformed from a wilderness to its present prosperous state, doing their share in the march of progress.

Source: Leading Events of Johnson County, IA, 1912 by Clarence Aurner; Vol. II Biographical