William M. Powers Biography


	This biography appears on pages 815-817 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. I (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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	WILLIAM M. POWERS. - Back to that cradle of so much of our 
national history, the Old Dominion state, must we turn in designating 
the place of nativity of Mr. Powers, who is one of the honored pioneer 
citizens of Yankton and a veteran of the war of the Rebellion. Mr. 
Powers was born in Culpeper county, Virginia, in the year 1845, and is 
the only survivor of the three children of Thomas and Amelia Powers. 
Owing to the fact that both his parents died when he was a child he 
knows but little concerning the family history on either side. His 
father was born in Ireland, whence he came to the United States as a 
young man, and his marriage was solemnized in Virginia, where he lived 
for some time afterward. He then removed to Shellsburg, Lafayette 
county, Wisconsin. He was a miner by occupation, and his accumulations 
usually went back into the ground, as the subject of this sketch 
expressed it. In 1852 he made the long and perilous overland trip to 
California, making the journey with an ox-team, and in the Golden state 
he died about four years later, having sent back to his family as much 
money as possible. The mother of the subject died of cholera while he 
was a mere child. He was thus left dependent upon his own exertions, 
and in addition to this untimely burden he also had a younger brother 
for whom he felt it incumbent to provide. Under these unpromising 
conditions he secured a position in the New York hotel, in Shellsburg, 
where he blackened boots and shoes and did such other work as came to 
hand, sparing no pains to provide for the proper care of his infant 
brother, whom he placed in a private family, paying one dollar and a 
quarter a week for his maintenance, and in this way enabling the boy to 
attend school when of proper age. The task of making this provision 
often tasked his energies to the utmost and caused him to become most 
fertile in expedients, while there can be no manner of doubt that thus 
was fostered that spirit of self-reliance and independence which has so 
signally conserved his success in the mature years of his life. After 
being employed in the hotel for two years Mr. Powers secured a place to 
work on a farm in that locality and also found a position for his 
brother on the same farm, the latter becoming a general chore boy, and 
while thus engaged both attended school during the winter terms and 
applied themselves diligently to study at night. They passed about 
three years on the farm and our subject then secured a position as 
driver of a stage on the route between Shellsburg and Benton, receiving 
in recompense for his services the sum of ten dollars a month. After 
being thus engaged for one year he apprenticed himself to learn the 
trade of harness making, at Shellsburg, receiving thirty-five dollars a 
year for the first two years and fifty dollars the third. Of his 
brother, Richard, it may be said that he died at Vicksburg, 
Mississippi, in 1894.  

	In 1861, at the age of sixteen years, Mr. Powers tendered his 
services in defense of the Union, whose integrity was in jeopardy 
through armed rebellion. He enlisted in Company C, Seventh Wisconsin 
Volunteer Infantry, and he continued in active service for three years, 
gaining the record of a loyal and valiant son of the Republic, and 
participating in many important battles. In the battle of Gainesville, 
Virginia, he was engaged with Jackson's division of Bragg's brigade, 
known as the "Iron brigade," which lost eight hundred and seventy five 
men in that memorable conflict. He also took part in the second battle 
of Bull Run, and in the battle of Antietam he was wounded so severely 
as to render it necessary for him to remain for two months in the 
hospital at Washington. He then rejoined his regiment, with which he 
proceeded into Virginia, and he was at the front in the battles of 
Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, the three days' battle of the Wilderness, 
Spottsylvania, etc. His command was a part of the Army of the Potomac 
and was engaged in conflict with the Confederate forces all the way to 
Petersburg. He was mustered out in 1864, receiving his honorable 
discharge in September of that year, and he then returned to Lancaster, 
Wisconsin, where he had enlisted. He was ill for a period of six months 
after his return and then entered into partnership with a Mr. Collins, 
under whom he had served his apprenticeship at the harness trade. Three 
months later he purchased his partner's interest in the harness shop, 
where he gave employment to nine workmen, and he worked assiduously, 
secured good prices for his products and accumulated money. Finally his 
health became so impaired that he found it necessary to seek other 
occupation. He accordingly purchased a livery business in Lancaster, 
and one month later disposed of his harness business. He continued the 
livery enterprise about three years and was successful in the same. In 
1873 he came to the territory of Dakota, arriving in Yankton, which was 
then the capital, on the 10th of April of that year, and shortly 
afterward he purchased, for a consideration of ten thousand dollars, a 
livery and transfer business in this city, and he built up an extensive 
and important enterprise, operating an omnibus and transfer line and 
general livery and also engaging in the buying and selling of horses, 
which he shipped in from Iowa and Wisconsin. He showed much 
discrimination and good judgment in this branch of his business and his 
success was cumulative from the start. In 1897 Mr. Powers retired from 
active business, since which time he has given his attention to the 
buying and handling of farm and city realty, in which he has dealt upon 
an extensive scale, being the owner of much valuable real estate in 
Yankton and in other portions of the state. He is a Republican in his 
political proclivities, his first presidential vote having been cast 
for Lincoln while he was with his regiment at the front, and he has 
ever maintained his allegiance to the grand old party which stood 
exponent of the government policy during that most crucial epoch in our 
nation's history. He served four terms as a member of the board of 
aldermen of Yankton, while the strong hold which he has upon the 
confidence and esteem of the people of the city is manifest when we 
revert to the fact that he was mayor of the city for four terms, giving 
an administration which redounded to his credit and to the best 
interests of the municipality. He was for two terms a member of the 
board of county commissioners and for four years served as a member of 
the board of trustees of the state hospital for the insane, having been 
president of the board during his last year of service. In the spring 
of 1903 a further appreciative distinction was given Mr. Powers. in his 
appointment as a member of the state board of charities and 
corrections, comprising five members, the board having control of seven 
state institutions. Fraternally, he is identified with the Grand Army 
of the Republic, the Masonic order and the Independent Order of Odd 
Fellows.  

	In July, 1896, Mr. Powers was united in marriage to Miss Hattie 
Ury, of Wisconsin, one child having been born of this union, Ida 
Powers, now living in Chicago. The subject was again married, in 
Yankton, to Mrs. L. M. Purdy, who was born in Yankton, there being no 
issue from this marriage. Mr. Powers was on the World's Fair Commission 
from Dakota, at Chicago. Religiously he supports the Congregational 
church. He is one of the well-known pioneers of the state and it is a 
matter of satisfaction to be able to enter this brief outline of his 
career in this history.