My Genealogy Hound

J. W. POWELL. Fulton County, was born in Adair County, Ky., September 3, 1825, and is a son of Capt. Robert and Martha E. (Dawson) Powell, natives of Virginia. The father settled in Adair County, about 1810, and subsequently represented that county in the legislature two terms; about 1827 he moved to Weakley County, Tenn.; soon after his arrival he was elected first sheriff of that county; while acting in this capacity, he and the famous Davy Crockett had one of the most sanguinary encounters, with bare fists, ever known in that region; both were badly used up. Subsequently they became fast friends. In 1829 he came to Fulton, then Hickman County, and located at Mills’ Point, now Hickman, where he opened a hotel, and subsequently bought a plantation, on which he resided until his death, in 1853, in the sixty-sixth year of his age. Capt. Powell was one of the first settlers in the Green River country, and one of the first to make the trip with flat-boats from northern Kentucky to New Orleans. In 1811 he was at New Madrid, Mo., on one of his trips, when the famous earthquake of that year took place; he ever afterward referred to his experience at that time as of the most peculiar and interesting of his life. His widow died in 1866, in the seventy-sixth year of her age. J. W. Powell was the eighth of a family of nine children. He remained home until 1847, when he went to Mississippi; he settled at Hernando, DeSoto County, where he went into the livery business, and also dealt in mules and horses. In the fall of 1849 he rented out his livery property to N. B. Forrest, afterward the noted Confederate general, and went to California, by way of the isthmus, where he remained eighteen months, and was generally successful. He returned, via the Nicaragua route, Central America, to Mississippi, and re-engaged in the livery business. In 1853 he came to Hickman, where he has since been engaged in business. In 1856 he began merchandising under the firm name of Rhodes & Powell, and continued until 1861, when, on account of the war, the firm retired. In 1870 he opened again in the general merchandise and produce business, and is now the oldest merchant in the place. In connection with his brother he is also running a flouring-mill, under the firm name of Powell & Bro., and is doing a good business. He also has a large farm, and is engaged in stock dealing quite extensively. Mr. Powell was married, in 1853, to Miss Editha J. Douglass of Taylor County, Ky. The result of this union was seven children, four of whom are now living: Martha E., wife of C. M. Adams; Cora Alice, wife of J. G. Wearne; Luella and William D. This lady died in 1869, aged thirty-eight years. Subject was next married in August, 1872, to Miss Elizabeth Moffat, who died in 1873, aged thirty-nine years. Mr. Powell’s third marriage in July, 1882, to Miss Martha E. Park, (daughter of Dr. Thomas Y. Park of Walker County, Ga.), by whom he has two sons: Ernest Park and Max West. Mr. Powell and family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. He is also a member of the Masonic fraternity.