Powell, Edwin; 1905 Bio, Pitkin County, Colorado http://files.usgwarchives.net/co/pitkin/bios/powelle.txt --------------------------------------- Donated August 2001 Transcribed by Judy Crook from the book: Progressive Men of Western Colorado Published 1905, A.W. Bowen & Co., Chicago, Ill. --------------------------------------- Edwin Powell Beginning at the age of ten to earn his own living, and since then making his own way in the world, and having to fight not only the hard conditions of poverty and want of help, but one disaster after another in fire which swept away in a few hours the accumulations of years, Edwin Powell, of Pitkin county, one of the progressive and enterprising stock and ranch men of the Western slope in this state, has steadfastly persevered in his efforts for advancement, and as one point of vantage has been taken from him, has with resolute courage and persistent self-reliance sought another, until he has planted his feet firmly on stable ground and gathered around him a substantial and enduring prosperity. The story of his life, if it could be told at length and in detail, would furnish stimulus and incitement for many a struggling worker combating adverse circumstances, and show impressively that in the battle of life steadfast nerve, unyielding endurance and continuous effort are after all the best weapons of both aggression and defense. He is a native of Herefordshire, England, born on January 7, 1842, and the son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Watkins) Powell, also natives of that country, who emigrated to the United States and settled in Ontario county, New York, in 1868, he having come over three years previously. The father has devoted his life in this country to farming and fruit culture and has been fairly successful in his work. He is an active Republican in politics, and a member of the Episcopal church, as is also his wife. Both are living, the father at the age of ninety-six and the mother at that of ninety-eight. They were the parents of eight children, eight of whom are living: James, a resident of Crosswall, England; George, living in Ontario county, New York; Joseph, a citizen of the same location; Charles Benton, of Yates county, New York; Edwin, of Pitkin county, Colorado; Phebe, wife of John Donohue, of Southampton, England; Celia J., wife of Griff Thomas, of Hailey, Idaho; and John, living at Sacramento, California. Those who have died are Philip and Elizabeth and two who passed away in infancy. Edwin, the fifth in order of the living, had a few brief terms at the common schools of his native land, and at the age of ten began the battle of life for himself by working on farms in the neighborhood of his home. In 1865 he came to the United States and located in New York state, in Ontario county. There he was occupied in farming until the latter part of 1867, when he made a visit to his native land and remained some months. On his return to this country he took up his residence at Canandaigua, New York, and found employment in a spoke factory, first as engineer, next as sawyer, then at the end of a year as one-third owner of the plant and business. A few days after purchasing a one-third interest in the establishment, he bought half of another third, and at the end of three years bought all the rest of the interests besides what he already owned. The factory was known as the Canandaigua Spoke Works, and in connection he conducted a saw-mill and dealt largely in farm wagons, buggies and other vehicles, employing about fifteen men in the summer months and thirty in winter. In 1877 the factory burnt down and he lost fifteen thousand dollars' worth of property, on which he had an insurance of only three thousand dollars. He at once opened a new establishment of the same kind at Chapinville, in the same county, and a year later was again burned out. He then became proprietor of the Irondequoit flour mill, which he conducted two years successfully, selling out at the end of that period. He moved to Williamsport, Pennsylvania, and during the next five years conducted a planing mill in that city, but was again burned out and suffered a new loss of seven thousand dollars. In the meantime, on January 26, 1886, he patented a machine for sawing hoop poles, and on September 7th of the same year one for cutting hoops. From these he realized a good sum of money, and afterward passed a year at Williamsport, working as a millwright and pattern maker. In 1888 he came to Colorado and located at Aspen with his wife and three children, and two dollars in money. In a little while he accumulated some property, and soon afterward traded it for the ranch on which he now lives, which once belonged to the late Governor Waite. This comprises one hundred and twenty acres, with one hundred acres of it in a good state of productiveness, yielding timothy hay of excellent quality in abundance. He also raises some grain and vegetables for market, and numbers of cattle, horses and hogs. The first money he made in Aspen was from the sale of a mule purchased by the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad. Having good spruce timber on his ranch, in the years 1901, 1902 and 1903 he conducted a saw-mill with success and profit. In politics he supports the Republican party, and fraternally he is connected with the Masonic order. On February 8, 1875, he was married to Elizabeth J. Perr, a native of East Bloomfield, New York, daughter of Andrew and Ellen (Splann) Perr, who were born in Ireland and settled at East Bloomfield early in their married life, afterward removing to Rush and from there to Canandaigua, the father being a shoemaker, and in addition to working at his trade, conducting retail stores at a number of places. He died some years ago, and the mother now lives at Victor, New York. They had twelve children, one of whom died in infancy, and two others have since died. Mr. and Mrs. Powell have four children, Edwin J., Franklin A., George A. and Frederick W. Of these Edwin J. and George A. are residents of Aspen. The parents are members of the Protestant Episcopal church and active in its work. =================================================== Contributed for use by the USGenWeb Archive Project (http://www.usgenweb.org) and by the COGenWeb Archive Project USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. 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