William Dempsey Powell was born on New Year's Day, 1846, in Carlsville, Illinois. Sixteen years later, during the War Between the States, he volunteered in the 152nd Illinois Regiment and served with Union forces.
After the War, Powell went to Kansas where he located a cattle ranch on the Little Caney River. And it was here, in 1871, that he married Julia Allen.
Four years later he decided to stake his future in Arizona. So he set out with several neighbors in a wagon train, driving his Circle P cattle along with him. When the group of pioneers reached New Mexico, some of the party dropped out because of reports of attacking Indians on the route ahead. But Powell stuck to his guns and five months later arrived in the vicinity of Flagstaff.
Here Powell built a log cabin and settled his cattle at Clay Park. He was one of the first men to start a cattle outfit in that locality, when, in those days, Flagstaff was merely a camping place for cross-country travelers.
In 1875, Powell bought the BB cattle and range and soon had his outfit spread from Beaverhead Tanks to Marshall and Mary's Lakes and as far east as Winona. With this expansion, he discontinued the Circle P brand, using only the BB and soon became a leading figure in Flagstaff where he built the Powell Opera House in 1885 and helped to establish a college for teachers.
In later years, his sons, Venia and Dempsey, joined him as partners in the cattle business and were active in establishing a butcher shop in Flagstaff, a lumber yard in Jerome, and a store in Flagstaff in partnership with a son-in-law, Merritt Fisher. They also acquired farm land near Mesa and a cattle range near Aguila where they were active in developing the community.
William Powell's wife died in 1914, and he himself passed away on August 25, 1936. His Grand Army of the Republic flag is now displayed in the Flagstaff Museum as a token of respect for this early pioneer."
After the War, Powell went to Kansas where he located a cattle ranch on the Little Caney River. And it was here, in 1871, that he married Julia Allen.
Four years later he decided to stake his future in Arizona. So he set out with several neighbors in a wagon train, driving his Circle P cattle along with him. When the group of pioneers reached New Mexico, some of the party dropped out because of reports of attacking Indians on the route ahead. But Powell stuck to his guns and five months later arrived in the vicinity of Flagstaff.
Here Powell built a log cabin and settled his cattle at Clay Park. He was one of the first men to start a cattle outfit in that locality, when, in those days, Flagstaff was merely a camping place for cross-country travelers.
In 1875, Powell bought the BB cattle and range and soon had his outfit spread from Beaverhead Tanks to Marshall and Mary's Lakes and as far east as Winona. With this expansion, he discontinued the Circle P brand, using only the BB and soon became a leading figure in Flagstaff where he built the Powell Opera House in 1885 and helped to establish a college for teachers.
In later years, his sons, Venia and Dempsey, joined him as partners in the cattle business and were active in establishing a butcher shop in Flagstaff, a lumber yard in Jerome, and a store in Flagstaff in partnership with a son-in-law, Merritt Fisher. They also acquired farm land near Mesa and a cattle range near Aguila where they were active in developing the community.
William Powell's wife died in 1914, and he himself passed away on August 25, 1936. His Grand Army of the Republic flag is now displayed in the Flagstaff Museum as a token of respect for this early pioneer."
William Dempsey Powell was born on New Year's Day, 1846, in Carlsville, Illinois. Sixteen years later, during the War Between the States, he volunteered in the 152nd Illinois Regiment and served with Union forces.
After the War, Powell went to Kansas where he located a cattle ranch on the Little Caney River. And it was here, in 1871, that he married Julia Allen.
Four years later he decided to stake his future in Arizona. So he set out with several neighbors in a wagon train, driving his Circle P cattle along with him. When the group of pioneers reached New Mexico, some of the party dropped out because of reports of attacking Indians on the route ahead. But Powell stuck to his guns and five months later arrived in the vicinity of Flagstaff.
Here Powell built a log cabin and settled his cattle at Clay Park. He was one of the first men to start a cattle outfit in that locality, when, in those days, Flagstaff was merely a camping place for cross-country travelers.
In 1875, Powell bought the BB cattle and range and soon had his outfit spread from Beaverhead Tanks to Marshall and Mary's Lakes and as far east as Winona. With this expansion, he discontinued the Circle P brand, using only the BB and soon became a leading figure in Flagstaff where he built the Powell Opera House in 1885 and helped to establish a college for teachers.
In later years, his sons, Venia and Dempsey, joined him as partners in the cattle business and were active in establishing a butcher shop in Flagstaff, a lumber yard in Jerome, and a store in Flagstaff in partnership with a son-in-law, Merritt Fisher. They also acquired farm land near Mesa and a cattle range near Aguila where they were active in developing the community.
William Powell's wife died in 1914, and he himself passed away on August 25, 1936. His Grand Army of the Republic flag is now displayed in the Flagstaff Museum as a token of respect for this early pioneer."
After the War, Powell went to Kansas where he located a cattle ranch on the Little Caney River. And it was here, in 1871, that he married Julia Allen.
Four years later he decided to stake his future in Arizona. So he set out with several neighbors in a wagon train, driving his Circle P cattle along with him. When the group of pioneers reached New Mexico, some of the party dropped out because of reports of attacking Indians on the route ahead. But Powell stuck to his guns and five months later arrived in the vicinity of Flagstaff.
Here Powell built a log cabin and settled his cattle at Clay Park. He was one of the first men to start a cattle outfit in that locality, when, in those days, Flagstaff was merely a camping place for cross-country travelers.
In 1875, Powell bought the BB cattle and range and soon had his outfit spread from Beaverhead Tanks to Marshall and Mary's Lakes and as far east as Winona. With this expansion, he discontinued the Circle P brand, using only the BB and soon became a leading figure in Flagstaff where he built the Powell Opera House in 1885 and helped to establish a college for teachers.
In later years, his sons, Venia and Dempsey, joined him as partners in the cattle business and were active in establishing a butcher shop in Flagstaff, a lumber yard in Jerome, and a store in Flagstaff in partnership with a son-in-law, Merritt Fisher. They also acquired farm land near Mesa and a cattle range near Aguila where they were active in developing the community.
William Powell's wife died in 1914, and he himself passed away on August 25, 1936. His Grand Army of the Republic flag is now displayed in the Flagstaff Museum as a token of respect for this early pioneer."
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Private, 152nd Illinois Infantry
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