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Biography of Robert Hare Powel

The man to whom Powelton owes its name and development is Robert Hare Powel, son of John Hare 
and Julia de Veaux Powel, who was born on the 16th of October, 1826, at his father's residence, 
Powelton, West Philadelphia. During his early life he was often taken to Europe by his parents, 
and was principally educated in France and England. In 1848 he left his house and drove from 
Philadelphia to Trough Creek Valley, Huntingdon Co., to examine and direct the estate owned 
by his father. Upon this property he resided from 1848 to 1855, and in the interim was married 
to Amy Smedley Bradley, daughter of John Bradley of Chester County. During his sojourn on the 
above property, Mr. Powel devoted himself to agricultural pursuits, and especially in rearing 
improved livestock, with which he had great success. He displayed them at various State 
exhibitions and received many premiums for their superiority, as shown by the records of the 
State Agricultural Society. The sheep and cattle were sent abroad in various directions, and 
it is thought much of the improvement now discernible in the breed of animals in Central 
Pennsylvania has resulted from his exertions. While occupied as a farmer he acted as a farmer, 
and was willing to assume the hardships of his position; often he, with his assistants, drove 
his own cattle and sheep to the Philadelphia market, and when he had completed the duties of 
his errand went to his home, corner of Nineteenth and Walnut Streets, and was always 
affectionately received by a kind father, who has long since passed away. In 1854 or thereabouts
the Broad Top Railroad was projected. He then conceived the idea of entering into coal 
operations. With a view to this end he exchanged a portion of his land in Trough Creek Valley 
(which had then been given him by his father) for the coal estate of Henry Miller, on Shoup's 
Run. The balance of his farm property he disposed of to Messrs. Isaac Cook and John Griffith. 
With the funds realized from these sales he entered into the coal business.

Much exertion was required in the introduction of this new fuel, none of it having previously 
reached tide-water. Carrying out his old motto, "that no one should be ashamed of an honorable 
occupation," he bought a horse and phaeton, and with the aid of two or three peach baskets, 
drove from city to city, determined to impress upon the manufacturers the utility of his product. 
At last he accomplished his end by inducing C. L. Bailey & Brother of Harrisburg to by one 
car-laod, and persuading at the same time C. E. Pennock & Co. and Brooks & Brother to send 
their cars to his works to obtain samples of this fuel.

For several years he carried on successfully the sale of Broad Top coal. In 1861 the Tyrone 
and Clearfield Railroad was completed, and Mr. Powel became conscious that it was important 
for him, occupying as he then did the position of the largest semi-bituminous coal shipper in 
the State, to secure mineral lands along that road. This he did by the purchase of several 
hundred acres at a point which was subsequently named "Powelton." About 1870 he secured the 
control of a large body of land in Clearfield County. This he highly improved, and introduced 
the first underground engine in that region. This estate is now operated under the firm-name 
of Robert Hare Powel & Co., which, beside himself, is composed of his brother-in-law, 
John C. Bradley, and his son, Robert Hare Powel, Jr. Shortly before the purchase in Clearfield 
County, Mr. Powel bought a property on the Youghiogheny River, the coal from which passes 
over the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, and is shipped from Baltimore. It may be stated in this 
connection that the traffic of Robert Hare Powel & Co. during the past year has reached almost 
eight hundred thousand tons, and would have exceeded that amount had it not been for the 
threatened strike during the early portion of the year.

Shortly after the introduction of Clearfield coal, Mr. Powel discovered that the demand for 
his Broad Top output gradually diminished; then he saw the necessity of guarding his interests 
in that region, and to do so purchased at various times a large extent of ore territory on and 
adjacent to Tussey Mountain, Huntingdon and Bedford Counties. Seeing clearly the future value 
of this estate, in connection with his Broad Top lands, he invested, year after year, much of 
his earnings in securing the necessary quantity of mineral to justify the erection of a blast 
furnance.

In 1879, entertaining the idea that he had acquired all that was essential for the success 
of this enterprise, he commenced its construction and the development of the iron ores. 

On the fifty-sixth anniversary of his birthday, Powelton Furnace (which was built with 
the most improved appliances) was put into blast amid the congratulations of several hundred 
people who had voluntarily assembled to witness the sight. Since that time this furnace has 
been remarkably successful, and is now producing from sixty-five to seventy tons of coke metal 
per day, of a quality unsurpassed by and produced in this country. This furnace is now managed 
by E. J. Bird, an English gentleman of great distinction, who was years ago commissioned by 
Queen Victoria and the Spanish government to erect furnaces withing their respective realms.

De Veaux Powel, the second son of Mr. Powel, controls the executive department of this 
establishment, and displays an ability which warrants its future success, when his father 
shall no longer be here to guide his head or hand.

Mr. Powel, since the age of twenty years, has devoted himself to the development of industrial 
enterprises.

The furnace plant and its connections, it is stated, will give employment to about eight hundred 
men. When this is taken into consideration, with the hundreds who are engaged in the development 
of his coal interests, an adequate conception may be formed of his efforts in the development of 
minerals and in the sustenance of the poorer class. It is asserted by one who has been in the 
employ of Mr. Powel for many years that he has contributed to the support annually of five 
thousand people for the past twenty-five years. This assertion was made before the furnace plant 
was constructed, which must necessarily largely augment this number. Mr. Powel has been 
admirably successful in the management of his men, who manifest great respect for him. For many 
years not one strike has originated at his colleries, but the men connected therewith have on 
almost every occasion, during such difficulty continued to work for him until compelled by 
outside pressure to abandon their posts.

Mr. Powel has five children. His eldest bears the name of his mother, Julia de Veaux, and is 
married to S. W. M. Peters, the son of Richard Peters, grandson of Judge Peters of Philadelphia; 
his eldest son has his own name; his second daughter is named after his sister and wife, Amy Ida 
Powel; De Veaux Powel is the next in age, and is the namesake of his great-grandfather, General 
De Veaux, who came to this country, settled in South Carolina, and ultimately moved to the banks 
of the Hudson River, where he built for himselft an elegant mansion.

Mr. Powel's youngest son is now about eighteen years of age, and is at present studying 
chemistry and mining engineering in order to fit himselft for his future position in the coal 
business. This young man has the name of Henry Baring, which was given him to perpetuate the 
name and memory of his uncle, as well as of the late Lord Ashburton, who married a relative 
of the family. Mr. Powel possesses great force of character, and is loved by his friends and 
respected by his enemies, as well as being a living example of the fact that a perfectly 
successful business can be conducted on strictly honorable principles.

(History of Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania by J. Simpson Africa (pg 232) published by Louis H. 
Everts in 1883 at Philadelphia, PA)