Was born in Berks County, Pa., February 24 th 1777. In 1795 he came with his parents to Mifflin County, Pa., but afterward returned to Schuylkill County, Pa. He married Mary Alspaugh, daughter of Henry Alspaugh, and a sister to John Powell's wife. After his marriage he rented a farm on the Juniata River, in Mifflin County, and carried on farming until 1814.
During that time the following children were born: Samuel, ___ 24th, 1800; Catherine, September 1st, 1801; Henry, January 20th, 1803; Elizabeth, December 7th, 1804 ; John, May 24 th,1806; Jacob, December 21 st, 1807; Philip, July 1 st, 1809 ; Daniel, January 7th, 1811 ; Polly, __ 21 st, 1813; Rebecca, December 10 th, 1814, in Fairfield County, Ohio; Peter, January 8 th, 1817; George, March 30 th, 1819.
In 1814 Mr. Powell, having now a wife and nine children, concluded to move to Fairfield County, Ohio, and make that their future home. As there were no railroads then, he provided himself with a large wagon, a good team of four horses, and started on the journey. The larger boys drove the cows, and the smaller children rode in the wagon.
One day little Philip, about five years old, got tired riding in the wagon, and concluded to walk and help drive the cows; but after walking awhile he got tired and fell so far in the rear that he was lost sight of; and it was forgotten that he was behind. However, he struggled on the best he could, but finally got into a deep mud-hole and stuck fast, not having sufficient strength to extricate himself. After awhile a man came along, and asked him where he was going. The boy said, "Oh, to Ohio." 'Who are you going with?" asked the man. "Oh, with father and the rest," replied the boy. "They are on ahead, but I can not get loose to catch up with them." The man pulled him out of the mud, put him on his horse, and hastened on until he overtook the
team, some two miles ahead. He asked Mr. Powell if he had lost a boy. Mr. Powell did not notice that one of the children was missing, and replied that he had not. The man then told the boy, who was behind him, to look around. When Mr. Powell saw the boy he said, "Well, now that does look like my Philip. If that don't
beat all."
Mr. Powell bought land in Fairfield County, Ohio, cleared it, and made improvements as fast as he could. With the help of his boys, who were willing workers, he soon had a large farm open. He also rented other farms, and raised and abundance of grain and stock. But as everything was low in price, it took a great deal for a small sum.
I will give a few items as an illustration. Mr. Mongold, an old bachelor, took a basket of eggs to town, and was only offered two cents a dozen for them. It so enraged the old man that he threw his eggs, one after another, against the building, for which act he was arrested, and had to pay a liberal fine.
Another man took a load of wheat to town (Lancaster), and a merchant told him he would give him ten cents a bushel for it if he would take it around to his stable and fill up a mud-hole, as he had no other use for it.
Mr. Powell hauled much of his wheat to Zanesville, a distance of nearly fifty miles, where the price ranged from twenty-five to forty cents per bushel and the greater part of that had to be taken in trade. He generally took a team of four horses, with forty or fifty bushels of wheat, and went as far as his brother Philip's the first day. The next morning several of the neighbors would come in, and from four to six teams start together. When they came to hills, which were many, they rendered each other assistance. It usually took them three days to make a trip to Zanesville and return home again. They would take in exchange for their wheat salt, sole-leather, nails, iron, glass, or anything they needed, with enough cash to pay their taxes. If these wants could be supplied they thought they were doing well.
Mr. Powell put up a grist mill, run by horse power, in which there was a cog wheel requiring from four to six horses to turn it. The horses were hitched to levers, and walked round in a ring. The big cog wheel turned smaller wheels, and they in their turn kept in motion the stone that ground the wheat. In those days grist mills were scarce, as steam-mills were not in use, and those run by water power were frequently stopped in the summer by the streams going dry. This mill was a great benefit to the community and many came from a distance to have their wheat ground.
He and his family were blessed with good health. All his children were married, and nearly all of them were fortunate in the selection of companions for life. The parents lived to a good old age. They moved to Hancock County, Ohio, in 1858, where they died. They are buried in the Powell Cemetery, Eagle Township, Hancock County, Ohio, where a marble tomb-stone marks their last resting-place.
In early life they were confirmed and taken into the German Reformed Church. They supposed that all that was necessary was to lead a moral life, go to church when convenient, pay the preacher, and take the sacrament of the Lord's-supper once or twice a year. But the thought of being born again, and of realizing a change of heart, did not enter their minds until the year 1840, when both were far advanced in years.
They were then awakened to a sense of their lost condition in sin and their great need of the saving efficacy of the atoning blood of Christ, and with penitent tears and humble supplication they sought the Lord and found in him an all-sufficient Savior. They then joined the United Brethren Church, and remained faithful until their death. She died June 24th, 1860, aged 82 years and 12 days. He died September 13th, 1863, aged 86 years and 12 days.
Approved August 4th, 1879.
From
Authentic Genealogical Memorial History of Philip Powell, of Mifflin County, Pa. Volume 1. 1880
By Rev John G Powell (1819-1886)
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