Hines, H. K. "An Illustrated History of the State of Oregon." Chicago: Lewis
Pub. Co. 1893.  p. 1184.
 
JUDGE RICHARDM. POWERS

     one of Oregon's pioneers, was born in Guilford county, North Carolina, June
5, 1831. His father, Allen Powers, was a native of North Carolina, and married
Miss Permelia Gibson, also of North Carolina, who immigrated to Henderson
county, Indiana, in 1838, when Indiana was but a wilderness, and located near
Danville, the county seat. He was a boot and shoemaker by trade, but carried on
the farm in connection with his trade. He died at the age of seventy-eight
years, in 1876, his wife having preceded him six years, at the age of seventy.
They had a family of nine children, of whom there are seven yet living, and
Richard was the sixth child. One brother was killed in the war.
     The early education of our subject was received in a log schoolhouse, where
the split logs formed the seats, and teaching was carried on in a very primitive
way. Later he was afforded the advantages at the Danville University, and when
he had completed his time a school he decided to learn a self-supporting trade,
and concluded that the trade of blacksmith would suit him, and after his
apprenticeship was over he concluded to join the emigration to the coast.  He
first went to Illinois, in the fall of 1852, where he fitted up an ox team and
prepared for the long journey, beginning it in the spring of 1853, and had
unusual good fortune until he reached Snake river; here his cattle began to die,
and when he landed at the Cascades he had only three living oxen. At this place
he sold out his outfit and went by boat to Portland, where he engaged in the
blacksmith business, remaining there until the next spring. At that time
Portland was a village of about 400 People, and after leaving this city he went
to Albany, where he followed his trade for a short time, and then went to Eugene
City. At this place he renewed an acquaintance with a young lady who had crossed
the plains in the same train as himself, and this resulted in the marriage of
Mr. Powers and Miss Elizabeth Winters, December 25, 1854, the bride being a
native of Zanesville, Ohio, daughter of Robert and Elmira Winters.  Mr. Powers
resided in Eugene City until 1860, then returned to Albany, where he remained
for fifteen years, following his trade. Success attended his efforts, and
everything seemed prosperous until 1871, when death came and removed his
faithful companion from his side.  Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs.
Powers, one of whom died in infancy, the others being: William, who resides in
Weston; Charles, a printer in San Francisco, California; Maud, married A. J.
Stanford, of Athena; and Richard is still at home. After the death of Mrs.
Powers Mr. Powers removed to Lebanon, where later he married Mrs. Mary Reynolds,
a native of Pennsylvania, who came to Oregon in 1861. She was the mother of four
children at the time of her marriage to Mr. Powers, two of whom are living,
Hattie and John. Mr. and Mrs. Powers resided in Lebanon seven years, but in 1879
came to Weston, where they built the hotel Delmonico, and successfully conducted
it for thirteen years; becoming tired of the business, however, in July, 1892,
Judge Powers rented it out, and removed to his fine residence, on a three-acre
plat of ground in the north end of Weston, where he expects to make extensive
improvements, and spend the remainder of his days. The Judge has filled some
important positions in Oregon, serving fourteen years as Justice of the Peace in
Albany and one year as City Recorder. He has been Justice of the Peace of Weston
ever since his arrival here. Governor Wood appointed Judge Powers, with Captain
Humphrey and Jacob Mann, to inspect and report on the old military road running
from Portland to Malheur, which required them forty days to review. Like almost
all of the old pioneers Judge Powers came in for his share of Indian fighting,
taking part in the Rogue river war in 1856ö57. He had many narrow escapes, and
took part in a number of battles with the Indians. He mentions one time when a
small squad of the soldiers surrounded a whole band of Indians on top of a
bluff. The latter had no way of escape, and in the morning Captain Perry, with
his whole band, killed all the Indians, leaving only a deaf and dumb Indian, who
managed to escape at that time, but was afterward captured. Judge Powers has
spent forty years in active life, and is well known as an old settler of Oregon.
For the last fourteen years he has been engaged in law business and in
collecting pensions for the soldiers. He is a life-long Democrat, and a member
of the Masonic order.

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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.