Hines, H. K. "An Illustrated History of the State of Oregon." Chicago: Lewis
Pub. Co. 1893.  p. 325.
 
B. F. POWERS

     a well-known agriculturist residing near Springfield, Lane county, Oregon,
was born in Allegany county,New York, in 1826, a son of Benjamin B. and Mary A.
(Powell) Powers, natives of Vermont.  The ancestors of these parents had for
generations been residents of the Green Mountain State, and the Powell family
formerly owned the town site of Woodstock. The father of our subject was a
cabinet-maker by trade, and followed this occupation in Maine until ,1824 when
he removed to Allegany county, New York. He built a grist-mill on Vandemark
creek, which he operated until 1833, when he emigrated to Illinois. He engaged
in farming and worked at his trade as opportunity offered, until 1852, when he
started with his wife and seven children to Oregon. His outfit consisted of
three wagons, each drawn by three yoke of oxen, one two-horse wagon, and ten
cows. They joined a train of seventy-two wagons, the company numbering 250
persons. Arriving at the Platt river the cholera settled upon the train, and
thirty-two deaths resulted, Mrs. Powers being among the number who were buried
upon the silent plain. They then divided into smaller companies and finished the
journey without particular incident. Arrived at the Dalles, they proceeded by
water and the river trail to the "mouth of Sandy," and then drove by Albany to
Lane county. Mr. Powers located on a donation claim near the present town of
Springfield, and engaged in farming. B. F. Powers was reared and educated in
Illinois, and crossed the plains with his parents in 1852, driving an ox team
and walking the entire distance. He bought 160 acres adjoining his father, and
at once engaged in farming, which has been the occupation of his life.
     He was married near Springfield, in 1864, to Miss Louisa M. Thomas, a
daughter of Jonathan Thomas, a pioneer of 1852. They have one child, Catherine
E., wife of C. L. Morton.
     Mr. Powers now owns 350 acres of the original settlement of the family, one
mile east of Springfield, and the fine condition of the land and all of his
surroundings indicate the thrift and wisdom with which they have been managed.
Formerly he dealt largely in sheep, cattle and horses, but of late years he has
given his attention to the raising of cereals, and sows 250 acres of grain
annually. Inheriting the energy characteristic of his New England ancestors,
with zeal and perseverance he has pursued his avocation, and has now one of the
best improved farms in Lane county.

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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in February 2007 by Diana Smith.
Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.