Shaver, F. A., Arthur P. Rose, R. F. Steele, and A. E. Adams, compilers.  "An
Illustrated History of Central Oregon." ("Embracing Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam,
Wheeler, Crook, Lake, & Klamath Counties")  Spokane, WA: Western Historical
Publishing Co., 1905.  p. 801.
 
MARCUS D. POWELL

     one of the prosperous ranchers of Crook county, and one well and favorably
known in the community in which he resides, was born in Linn county, Oregon,
November 21, 1853.
     His father, John Powell, a native of Tennessee, crossed the plains from
Missouri in 1852. He was a prominent worker in the theological field, and
assisted in founding the Baptist church at Prineville. His father, Joab Powell,
was a famous preacher in Oregon, Washington and California.
     The early education of our subject was received in Linn county. When
seventeen years of age, in 1870, he came to Prineville, where, in those pioneer
days of roughing it, there were no, public schools, but a short time after his
arrival the people of the vicinity organized a subscription school, securing as
teacher Mr. S. R. Slayton. This educational institution our subject attended and
made the most of the slender opportunities offered, and here he received the
greater part of his education. On attaining his majority he took a band of
cattle on shares and began, ranching on Beaver creek, where he remained about
three years. Subsequently he engaged for a short time in the mercantile
business, but again went on a farm where he continued six years. Then for six
years afterward Mr. Powell was in the grocery business in Prineville, and on
disposing of his interests in this enterprise he came to his present location,
which is called the "Hay Ranch."  This year Mr. Powell stacked between six
hundred and seven hundred tons of hay. His ranch at present consists of four
hundred acres—in this body—and four hundred and eighty acres in other parts of
the county.
     In 1880 our subject was married to Victoria Thompson, a native of Linn
county. She died in 1893. Her father was Amos Thompson. In 1894 Mr. Powell was
united in marriage to Mrs. Gerow Zevely born in Linn county. She is the daughter
of John M. Zevely. Their living children are Elizabeth and Lloyd. Ora, Marcus
and Becky are deceased.
     Politically Mr. Powell is a Republican, and was the first assessor elected
in Crook county. For the past two years he has served as county commissioner,
and during his official career as commissioner there have been a number of
valuable improvements made in the county. Fraternally he is a member of the A.
O. U. W.


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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in June 2010 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.