My Genealogy Hound

JOHN W. POWELL, insurance agent and adjuster of Shippensburg, was born in Dauphin county, Pa., near the town of Dauphin, Oct. 9, 1837, a son of Daniel Powell, who was born in Powell’s Valley, named in honor of the family.

Daniel Powell was a general business man, and conducted a lumber business at Roxbury Gap for a number of years, dying there in 1874; he was an enterprising man, well and favorably known. He married Miss Catherine Bowers, born at Halifax, Dauphin county, who died Feb. 8, 1888, aged seventy-six years. She was a daughter of Michael Bowers, an old resident of Halifax. John Powell, the paternal grandfather, was born in Powell’s Valley, at a time when the Indians were still numerous in that locality. To Daniel and Catherine (Bowers) Powell were born the following children: Mary (deceased) was the wife of Frank Foltz; Sarah (deceased) was the wife of J. C. Atkinson; John W. is mentioned below; D. D. married Lydia McClure; Michael M. married Amanda Cramer; Adam married Lavinia Glass; Jacob A. married Sophia Stayer; Emma C. married W. Z. Kegerice, a hardware merchant of Fannettsburg, Franklin county (they have six children, all of whom have become a credit to their parents).

John W. Powell was educated in the schools of Roxbury and Shippensburg, up to the age of thirteen, when he began working upon the farm, continuing thus until he was twenty.

In 1858 Mr. Powell married Sarah J. Zimmerman, of near Pleasant Hall, Franklin county, and after his marriage settled at Roxbury, where he operated a sawmill and manufactured lumber, and at the same time managed a rented farm. Eight children have been born to himself and wife: Emma C. married S. C. Snoke; James M. is a farmer; William A. is a peach grower; Charles B. is superintendent of the Electric Light Plant; John B. is a plumber; David N. is a bookkeeper; Cora E. is a milliner; Sadie B. is at home (she was educated at the Shippensburg Normal School).

In 1895 Mr. Powell moved to Shippensburg, Pa., and embarked in an insurance business, and soon afterward was made adjuster of the Lurgan Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Mowersville, Franklin Co., Pa. He has traveled quite extensively, covering eleven counties, usually in the eastern part of Pennsylvania, and his time is fully occupied. In addition to his interest in the insurance business, Mr. Powell is connected , with a number of industries at Shippensburg, and is president of the Shippensburg Canning Company. He also owns a farm of 172 acres in Hopewell township, Cumberland county, located five miles north of Shippensburg.

Mr. Powell is a member of the order of Odd Fellows, and is very prominent in his lodge. He has an excellent home and office in Shippensburg, where he transacts his business, and in all of his operations he displays a fairness in dealing, combined with keen judgment and a thorough appreciation of true values, which make him peculiarly fitted for his work.