EARLY DAYS IN GREENBUSH

Aaron Powers was born in the state of Connecticut, February 1, 1782. He was a son of Nicholas and Phebe Powers. He left his native state, in 1805, and went to North Bend, Ohio, where he was married to Martha Colby. She was born in New Hampshire, April 3,1787. She came with her parents to North Bend, Ohio, in 1805. They moved into a stone house where they kept hotel, many distinguished men stopping with them, among them William H. Harrison who boarded with them for some time. Martha Colby’s mother was a Williams. Her brother, William Williams was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. It is said of Aaron Powers that he attended school but very little. Certain it is that he acquired a considerable education. This he did by hard study, buying his own books. He was noted for his great memory and few excelled him as a grammarian in his day. Mr. Powers taught school at North Bend, Ohio, for five years. He taught his first term for ten dollars, but received fifteen dollars for each term thereafter. He entered one hundred and twenty-five acres of land in Butler county, Ohio, and moved there in 1811, where he resided until 1839, when he moved to Greenbush, Illinois. He bought a farm on section seventeen, of Abram Johnson, where he resided up to the time of his death. Mr. Powers was a Methodist preacher and preached his first sermon here about one week after his arrival. This meeting was held in a log schoolhouse a short distance from his residence, about ten persons gathering to hear him. About the time he was ready to begin service, Sammy Brown appeared. He came with his wife in a wagon from Oquawka, where he then resided. Mr. Brown had formerly lived in Ohio, where he was a member of the same conference with Mr. Powers. They were rejoiced to see each other.

To Aaron Powers and wife were born the following-named children:

Aaron, who married Mary Ricard. He died at White Hall, in Green county, Illinois.

Joseph C., married Nancy Acre in Butler county, Ohio. He died January 11, 1867, at the age of 57 years. His wife died January 25, 1864.

Clarissa, who died when she was only two or three years old.

Solon, married Mary Morris. He died at Edwardsville, Illinois, in 1854.

Milton, married Martha Orley; supposed to have died in California.

Benjamin Abbot, married Rachel Carmack. He went to California, in 1861, where he died in 1891. Eliza, married A. G. Pearce. She died January 22, 1896, at the age of 77 years. He died October 19, 1895, at the age of 79 years.

Martha, married William Garrett. She died, in 1844, and was buried at Knoxville, Illinois.

Colby and Phebe were twins. Colby married Ann Duke. She came from England. She died in 1844. Colby afterwards married Louisa Nelson, in Michigan. He died in Kansas, in 1903.

James, who was found dead in his bed on the morning of October 26, 1841. He was sixteen years old.

Mary G., married Stephen W. Starr, in 1850. He died August 16, 1874, at the age of 64 years.

Daniel Davidson, married Mary Damitz. Both died in Anderson county, Kansas.

In politics Aaron Powers was a democrat up to the time Abraham Lincoln received his first nomination for president; afterwards, a republican. In religion he was first a Methodist; he afterwards joined the Mormons; becoming dissatisfied with the Mormons, he joined the Missionary Baptists and remained a member of that denomination up to the time of his death, which occurred March 26, 1862. His wife Martha died May 12, 1861, at the age of 74 years.