Biography of: John L. Powell McCracken County, Kentucky Source; Biographical Sketches from, "Kentucky, History of the State" Main Author; William Henry Perrin 1887 **************************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free genealogical information on the Internet, data may be freely used for personal research and by non-commercial entities as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may not be reproduced in any format or presentation by other organizations or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for profit or any form of presentation, must obtain the written consent of the file submitter, or his legal representative and then contact the listed USGENWEB archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net. Submitted by: Vera Burnham vburnham@metrocast.net Date: September 6, 2002 **************************************************************************** John L. Powell was born July 7,1832, in Shelby County, Ky. His parents John and Dorcas (Marshall) Powell, were natives of Kentucky and followed the pursuits of agriculture. John L. was thus reared under the influence of farm life, meantime receiving a common English education. When eighteen years old he found that his health disqualified him for farm life, and set about obtaining a more complete and practical education; he therefore took an academic course, making a speciality of book-keeping. After teaching school a short time, he became a salesman in a merchantile house in his native county, and thus laid the foundation of his business career. He stepped from the position of salesman in a Louisville queensware house to the proprietorship of a small buisness in Henry County, Ky., doing a fair amount of business for two years; but desiring a location for a more extensive trade, he removed to Smithland, Ky., about 1857. He remained in the latter place until 1864, when he located in Paducah. He there engaged in the dry goods trade for two years; dealing also in cotton, and in 1869 established his present business. He does a wholesale and retail business in books and stationary and musical instruments, and has the most extensive house of the kind in the city. Mr. Powell is a member of the Methodist Church, a member of the K. of H. being past Grand Dictator of the State of Kentucky, and has done valuable service in his part of the State as an instituting officer. He is also a member of the order of the United Order Golden Cross and I.O.O.F. Mr. Powell was married in 1852 in Shelby County, Ky., to Miss Naomi N. daughter of Felding Neal. They have two daughters: Mattie E. and Mamie A. Powell.