Person:Thomas Powell (39)

Biography

"Thomas Powell, whose name introduces this sketch, was ten years of age at the time of his parents' removal to Stark county, and there fell to his portion such limited educational advantages as were afforded in the pioneer schools of Columbiana and Stark counties, and he became familiar with the privations and hardships necessarily incidental to pioneer life, while his youth was filled with incessant and arduous toil and endeavor, for he early began to render material contribution to the work of reclaiming and otherwise improving the home farm. He was twenty-six years of age at the time of his father's death, and his mother retaining a life lease on the farm, he assumed charge of the same for her, and in 1858 he became associated with his brother Levi in the purchase of the place, where upon he built for himself a separate residence on the northern side of the farm, having been married in 1847. He continued to be actively engaged in agricultural pursuits for a long term of years and developed one of the valuable farms of the township. In 1884 his son-in-law secured the ownership of the half interest formerly held by the subject's brother, and in 1895 Mr. Powell disposed of his own interest to the same son-in-law, Hiram Conrad, with whom he has since made his home, and in his venerable age he is living retired and in the enjoyment of the comforts and blessings which constitute the fitting crown of a well spent life. He is a Democrat in politics and has always taken a lively and intelligent interest in the party cause, though he has never been imbued with the slightest desire for official preferment. He has long been a devoted and consistent member of the Evangelical Association, and he is today revered and honored as one of the sterling pioneers of the county, retaining the high esteem of the people of the community in which practically his entire life has been passed.

On the 9th of March, 1847, Mr. Powell was united in marriage to Miss Elsie A. Wallace, who was born in Butler township, Columbiana county, being a daughter of William and Elizabeth (Mall) Wallace, concerning whom more specific mention is made in the sketch of their son, John S.Wallace, appearing on another page of this volume. She was summoned into eternal rest on the 21st of September, 1862, and of her six children four are still living, namely: Emily, who is the widow of Emanuel Miller and resides at Mount union, this county; Elizabeth, who is the wife of Hiram Conrad and with whom her father now makes his home; Calvin, who is a successful farmer of Columbiana county; and Mary A., who is the wife of James Maxwell, of Jefferson county. On the 28th of November, 1867, Mr. Powell consummated a second marriage, being then united to Miss Lucinda Cameron, who was born in Columbiana county, being a daughter of Absalom Cameron, who resided in that county for a number of years but who eventually returned to his native state of Pennsylvania, where he died. Mr. and Mrs. Powell have three children, Namely: Margie, who ist he wife of Jerome Sanor, of Columbiana county; Homer, who is an oil distiller in Kentucky; and Dallas, who remains with his parents.

Hiram Conrad, who is now the owner of the old homestead farm, was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, being a son of David and Sally (Doup) Conrad, pioneers of that section. He was born on the 1st of October, 1849, and was there reared and educated, growing up under the sturdy discipline of the farm. On the 19th of February, 1869, he was united inmarriage to Miss Elizabeth Powell, daughter of the subject, and they have ever since lived on the homestead which he now owns, and he is known as one of the progressive and reliable farmers of the county and as a man of un-debatable integrity in all the relations of life. He is independent in politics, voting for whom he thinks best qualified for office, and he and his wife hold membership in the Evangelical Association. They have eight children, concerning whom we offer the following brief record: Ida is the wife of Rankin Wolf, of Washington township; Elsie E. is the wife of Emanuel Roose, of the same township; Ralph remains at the parental home; Grace is the wife of George McCannon, of Atwater, Portage county; and Clyde, Craig, Frank and Howard still remain beneath the parental roof."^S7

"He was a farmer and lived from early boyhood to time of his death on his father's old homestead, (a part of which he owned.) He was a member of the Free-Will Baptist church from the beginning to the end of the society in the neighborhood. He afterward united and continued a member of the Evangelical church. He was of a happy, cheerful disposition and enjoyed life. He was an obliging neighbor, had a good mind though without educational advantages, and more than an ordinary memory, to which we are indebted for all of the early history of the family. After the death of his second wife he made his home with his daughter Elizabeth."^S6

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} Cemetery Inscriptions of Stark County, Ohio, Volume one. Contains Lexington, Washington, Paris & Marlboro townships.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} Msscarlet1957/Stark County, Ohio, Death Records
   pp.376-377.
3. ↑ United States. 1860 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication M653)
   page: 497B; sheet: 84; ancestry image: 19.
4. ↑ United States. 1880 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication T9)
   ED#159; page: 463A; sheet 30; ancestry image: 26.
5. ↑ Stark County, Ohio Atlas 1875
   Map of Washington twp.
6. ↑ ^6.0 6.1 Msscarlet1957/Powell Family History book
   1906.
7.   Danner, John. Old landmarks of Canton and Stark County, Ohio. (Logansport, Indiana: B. F. Bowen, 1904)
   pp. 846-847, 1904.