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. 776.
 
THOMAS J. POWELL

     one of the representative stockmen of Crook county and a leading citizen,
resides four and one-half miles northwest from Prineville. He was born in
Missouri, in 1845. His father, John Powell, was born in Tennessee, in 1818, and
was a man of great religious zeal, and a deacon in the Baptist church for fifty
years. Although a man without education, still he was well taught in the
scriptures. His father, John Powell, the grandfather of our subject, was  a
noted preacher, and a very powerful and commanding speaker. In 1852, our subject
was brought by his parents across the plains to Linn county and there the father
remained until 1870, then removed to Prineville, where he resided until his
death in 1891. The mother of our subject was Millie (York) Powell, a native of
North Carolina. Her mother lived to be ninety years of age. The family   settled
on a farm in Linn county and there this son remained until 1872, when he came to
the western part of what is now Crook county and settled on beaver creek, taking
a preemption. He also, bought state land and engaged in stock raising, handling
horses, cattle and sheep. For fifteen years he prosecuted that business and then
moved to his present location, where he took a homestead and also bought five
hundred acres. He retains his ranch of thirteen hundred acres an Beaver creek,
and his estate on McKay creek, an alfalfa field of four hundred acres, the
choicest in the entire country. Mr. Powell is one of the leading stockmen of the
country, both in numbers owned and in the success he has achieved in the
business. He has wrought many years faithfully and has not forgotten during that
time to always forward with zest and interest the measures for the benefit and
upbuilding of the county. He has hosts of friends and is an influential man. Mr.
Powell married Amanda J. Ritter, a native of Missouri. Her father, Jackson
Smith, was a pioneer of this state in 1852. Mr. and Mrs. Powell have the
following named children : F. A., a stockman in Crook county, who owns four
hundred and fifty head of cattle and a large body of land ; R. M., a sheepman in
the county, who has about sixteen hundred head of sheep, besides a nice farm;
Mrs. Lettie A. Miller, living in Manila, Philippine Islands. She went thither
alone to meet her husband, Lieutenant Miller, who was in the military service.
She was forced to travel three hundred miles from the town of Manila through a
country inhabited by vicious savages but yet her pluck was equal to the
occasion. Lieutenant Miller died ten days after her arrival.
     Politically Mr. Powell is a Republican. He always takes a keen interest in
these affairs, as also in educational matters and the general improvement and
building up of the country. Thomas J. Powell died April 21, 1905, at his home on
McKay creek.


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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in February 2009 by Diana Smith.
Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.