Death of Hon. Oliver S. Powell
Died, in this city on the morning of the 26th, Oliver S. Powell in the 58th year of his age instantly killed by being caught in a shaft in his sugar mill.
Mr. Powell was born at Madrid, N.Y. In 1842 he removed to Illinois, where he remained until he came to River Falls, in 1850. Ten years later he intermarried with I. Elmira Nichols, who survives him. He leaves seven children, four girls and three boys. They are indebted to their father for the richest boon that can ever fall to the lot of a child, a model home-training. And they are entitled to the lasting solace that his last earthly thought of them was beclouded by no dissatisfaction with their present, or misgiving as to their future.
As a neighbor obliging and sympathetic, always rejoicing in the prosperity of his neighbors, he had a helping hand for all, and those lips now forever sealed had other things than scandal to publish of his fellows.
He was not without human frailties, but in the essentials of his nature, he was an honorable, earnest, reliable, generous, brave and at times heroic man. It was natural for him to be on the right side of things. In his convictions he was abiding, sometimes intense, but too broad and liberal to be a crank. His understanding of human nature was unusual; and when he chose to exert his influence he was a power. No mention is made of the public position he held. They are often accident, and mean but little.
"The rank is but the guinea's stamp.
The gowd's the man for a' that."
But his public spirit will be remembered as his pre-eminent quality What a misnomer would a history of River Falls be with the name of Oliver Powell left out!
Whenever there has been an enerprise afloat looking toward the material or moral good of the place, this busy man was never busy or tired; this man of rigid personal economy never frugal. With ready hand, open pocket and dauntless eye, he was ever in the forefront of the effort. There is no a protestant church here that did not have a site given it by Mr. Powell. What do not our schools owe to him? Was there ever a rail-road in sight? he was the first to the front, and the last to leave the field.
That these words are the verdict of the community, the gloom that settled upon the city at the announcement of his tragic end full faithfuly attests.
"Oh, why should he spirit of mortal be proud?
Like a swift-fleeting meteor, a fast -flyinf cloud,
A flash of the lightning, a break of the wave,
Man passes from life to the rest in the grave,"
S.
POWELL, Oliver S. (and NICHOLS family) was born June 19, 1831, in Madrid, N. Y., and moved to Augusta, Ill., in 1843, where he lived eight years. His education was obtained in the district schools. In 1849 he went to Stillwater, Minn., bringing the first threshing machine north of Prairie du Chien. He threshed the first grain in the county in the fall of that year for Mr. Fisk on a farm three miles below Stillwater. In November, 1849, he located in River Falls, pre-empting the south half of the southeast quarter of section 36, town 28, range 19, land lying north of those claimed by his brother Nathaniel, and which afterward became a part of the city of River Falls. In 1852 these brothers built the first sawmill, which was situated just below the Greenwood mill. This was burned in 1876. In 1854 the village, called at that time Kinnickinnic, was platted by the Powell brothers, 200 acres being included in the tract. This plat included the upper waterfalls, which are in the city limits, and were donated to C. B. Cox to induce him to put a flouring mill on that site. The name River Falls dates from the establishment of the first postoffice, in 1854. The first frame building in River Falls was built in 1852, by N. N. and O. L. Powell, and was used two years for a dwelling, and afterwards converted into what was known as the "Old Pioneer Store." "Uncle Charlie Cox" and Osburn Strahl got the lumber out for it, and it was sawed at Mr. Cox's mill, just built in Clifton Hollow. Deacon William Powell and Horace Taylor drew the lumber with ox teams. Nathaniel Powell died February 7, 1862, before the place had much of a start. This left Oliver, the younger brother, alone in charge of the principal affairs of the firm, and as subsequent years proved, he was an important factor in the building up of the place, and the general development of the country round about. Overflowing with energy and good will, he was the head man of the neighborhood. Mr. Powell was a representative in the state assembly in 1870-71-72, and in connection with Prof. A. H. Weld, father of Judge Weld, was largely instrumental in locating the fourth State Normal school here. As a neighbor Mr. Powell was obliging and sympathetic, always rejoicing in the prosperity of his neighbors. He had a helping hand for all. It was natural for him to be on the right side of things. In his convictions he was abiding, sometimes intense, but too broad and liberal to be a crank. His understanding of human nature was unusual, and when he chose to exert his influence, he was a power. His public spirit was his pre-eminent quality. Whenever there was an enterprise afloat looking toward the material or moral good of the place, he never was too busy or too tired to help. With ready hand, open pocket, and dauntless eye, he was ever in the forefront of the effort; and when his useful career was cut short in his cane mill, September 26, 1888, it was a loss. His place has never been filled. Mr. Powell married L. Elmira Nichols, of River Falls, Wis., September 23, 1860. Mrs. Powell was born in Braintree, Vt., January 6, 1841. In 1846 her parents moved to Illinois, and in 1854 came to River Falls. Her education was obtained in the public schools and the historic "Old Academy." Mrs. Powell's parents were among the early settlers of River Falls, her parents having come here in 1854. Since her early girlhood she has been a member of the Congregational church and has always taken an active part in the church work. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Powell. Lucy M., wife of Elbridge Currier, of River Falls; Sarah Hayden Powell; Amy E., wife of Charles H. A. Bliss, of Los Angeles, Cal.; Harvey O., who was married to Elizabeth Knox, of Brewster, N. Y.; Newell N., who was married to Cora A. Houston, of River Falls, Wis.; Lyman T., who was married to Eleanor McCord, of Chippewa Falls, Wis.; Miriam, wife of Dr. F. C. Miller, Appleton, Minn. Reference: Taken from "History of the St. Croix Valley", published in 1909
Died, in this city on the morning of the 26th, Oliver S. Powell in the 58th year of his age instantly killed by being caught in a shaft in his sugar mill.
Mr. Powell was born at Madrid, N.Y. In 1842 he removed to Illinois, where he remained until he came to River Falls, in 1850. Ten years later he intermarried with I. Elmira Nichols, who survives him. He leaves seven children, four girls and three boys. They are indebted to their father for the richest boon that can ever fall to the lot of a child, a model home-training. And they are entitled to the lasting solace that his last earthly thought of them was beclouded by no dissatisfaction with their present, or misgiving as to their future.
As a neighbor obliging and sympathetic, always rejoicing in the prosperity of his neighbors, he had a helping hand for all, and those lips now forever sealed had other things than scandal to publish of his fellows.
He was not without human frailties, but in the essentials of his nature, he was an honorable, earnest, reliable, generous, brave and at times heroic man. It was natural for him to be on the right side of things. In his convictions he was abiding, sometimes intense, but too broad and liberal to be a crank. His understanding of human nature was unusual; and when he chose to exert his influence he was a power. No mention is made of the public position he held. They are often accident, and mean but little.
"The rank is but the guinea's stamp.
The gowd's the man for a' that."
But his public spirit will be remembered as his pre-eminent quality What a misnomer would a history of River Falls be with the name of Oliver Powell left out!
Whenever there has been an enerprise afloat looking toward the material or moral good of the place, this busy man was never busy or tired; this man of rigid personal economy never frugal. With ready hand, open pocket and dauntless eye, he was ever in the forefront of the effort. There is no a protestant church here that did not have a site given it by Mr. Powell. What do not our schools owe to him? Was there ever a rail-road in sight? he was the first to the front, and the last to leave the field.
That these words are the verdict of the community, the gloom that settled upon the city at the announcement of his tragic end full faithfuly attests.
"Oh, why should he spirit of mortal be proud?
Like a swift-fleeting meteor, a fast -flyinf cloud,
A flash of the lightning, a break of the wave,
Man passes from life to the rest in the grave,"
S.
POWELL, Oliver S. (and NICHOLS family) was born June 19, 1831, in Madrid, N. Y., and moved to Augusta, Ill., in 1843, where he lived eight years. His education was obtained in the district schools. In 1849 he went to Stillwater, Minn., bringing the first threshing machine north of Prairie du Chien. He threshed the first grain in the county in the fall of that year for Mr. Fisk on a farm three miles below Stillwater. In November, 1849, he located in River Falls, pre-empting the south half of the southeast quarter of section 36, town 28, range 19, land lying north of those claimed by his brother Nathaniel, and which afterward became a part of the city of River Falls. In 1852 these brothers built the first sawmill, which was situated just below the Greenwood mill. This was burned in 1876. In 1854 the village, called at that time Kinnickinnic, was platted by the Powell brothers, 200 acres being included in the tract. This plat included the upper waterfalls, which are in the city limits, and were donated to C. B. Cox to induce him to put a flouring mill on that site. The name River Falls dates from the establishment of the first postoffice, in 1854. The first frame building in River Falls was built in 1852, by N. N. and O. L. Powell, and was used two years for a dwelling, and afterwards converted into what was known as the "Old Pioneer Store." "Uncle Charlie Cox" and Osburn Strahl got the lumber out for it, and it was sawed at Mr. Cox's mill, just built in Clifton Hollow. Deacon William Powell and Horace Taylor drew the lumber with ox teams. Nathaniel Powell died February 7, 1862, before the place had much of a start. This left Oliver, the younger brother, alone in charge of the principal affairs of the firm, and as subsequent years proved, he was an important factor in the building up of the place, and the general development of the country round about. Overflowing with energy and good will, he was the head man of the neighborhood. Mr. Powell was a representative in the state assembly in 1870-71-72, and in connection with Prof. A. H. Weld, father of Judge Weld, was largely instrumental in locating the fourth State Normal school here. As a neighbor Mr. Powell was obliging and sympathetic, always rejoicing in the prosperity of his neighbors. He had a helping hand for all. It was natural for him to be on the right side of things. In his convictions he was abiding, sometimes intense, but too broad and liberal to be a crank. His understanding of human nature was unusual, and when he chose to exert his influence, he was a power. His public spirit was his pre-eminent quality. Whenever there was an enterprise afloat looking toward the material or moral good of the place, he never was too busy or too tired to help. With ready hand, open pocket, and dauntless eye, he was ever in the forefront of the effort; and when his useful career was cut short in his cane mill, September 26, 1888, it was a loss. His place has never been filled. Mr. Powell married L. Elmira Nichols, of River Falls, Wis., September 23, 1860. Mrs. Powell was born in Braintree, Vt., January 6, 1841. In 1846 her parents moved to Illinois, and in 1854 came to River Falls. Her education was obtained in the public schools and the historic "Old Academy." Mrs. Powell's parents were among the early settlers of River Falls, her parents having come here in 1854. Since her early girlhood she has been a member of the Congregational church and has always taken an active part in the church work. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Powell. Lucy M., wife of Elbridge Currier, of River Falls; Sarah Hayden Powell; Amy E., wife of Charles H. A. Bliss, of Los Angeles, Cal.; Harvey O., who was married to Elizabeth Knox, of Brewster, N. Y.; Newell N., who was married to Cora A. Houston, of River Falls, Wis.; Lyman T., who was married to Eleanor McCord, of Chippewa Falls, Wis.; Miriam, wife of Dr. F. C. Miller, Appleton, Minn. Reference: Taken from "History of the St. Croix Valley", published in 1909
Death of Hon. Oliver S. Powell
Died, in this city on the morning of the 26th, Oliver S. Powell in the 58th year of his age instantly killed by being caught in a shaft in his sugar mill.
Mr. Powell was born at Madrid, N.Y. In 1842 he removed to Illinois, where he remained until he came to River Falls, in 1850. Ten years later he intermarried with I. Elmira Nichols, who survives him. He leaves seven children, four girls and three boys. They are indebted to their father for the richest boon that can ever fall to the lot of a child, a model home-training. And they are entitled to the lasting solace that his last earthly thought of them was beclouded by no dissatisfaction with their present, or misgiving as to their future.
As a neighbor obliging and sympathetic, always rejoicing in the prosperity of his neighbors, he had a helping hand for all, and those lips now forever sealed had other things than scandal to publish of his fellows.
He was not without human frailties, but in the essentials of his nature, he was an honorable, earnest, reliable, generous, brave and at times heroic man. It was natural for him to be on the right side of things. In his convictions he was abiding, sometimes intense, but too broad and liberal to be a crank. His understanding of human nature was unusual; and when he chose to exert his influence he was a power. No mention is made of the public position he held. They are often accident, and mean but little.
"The rank is but the guinea's stamp.
The gowd's the man for a' that."
But his public spirit will be remembered as his pre-eminent quality What a misnomer would a history of River Falls be with the name of Oliver Powell left out!
Whenever there has been an enerprise afloat looking toward the material or moral good of the place, this busy man was never busy or tired; this man of rigid personal economy never frugal. With ready hand, open pocket and dauntless eye, he was ever in the forefront of the effort. There is no a protestant church here that did not have a site given it by Mr. Powell. What do not our schools owe to him? Was there ever a rail-road in sight? he was the first to the front, and the last to leave the field.
That these words are the verdict of the community, the gloom that settled upon the city at the announcement of his tragic end full faithfuly attests.
"Oh, why should he spirit of mortal be proud?
Like a swift-fleeting meteor, a fast -flyinf cloud,
A flash of the lightning, a break of the wave,
Man passes from life to the rest in the grave,"
S.
POWELL, Oliver S. (and NICHOLS family) was born June 19, 1831, in Madrid, N. Y., and moved to Augusta, Ill., in 1843, where he lived eight years. His education was obtained in the district schools. In 1849 he went to Stillwater, Minn., bringing the first threshing machine north of Prairie du Chien. He threshed the first grain in the county in the fall of that year for Mr. Fisk on a farm three miles below Stillwater. In November, 1849, he located in River Falls, pre-empting the south half of the southeast quarter of section 36, town 28, range 19, land lying north of those claimed by his brother Nathaniel, and which afterward became a part of the city of River Falls. In 1852 these brothers built the first sawmill, which was situated just below the Greenwood mill. This was burned in 1876. In 1854 the village, called at that time Kinnickinnic, was platted by the Powell brothers, 200 acres being included in the tract. This plat included the upper waterfalls, which are in the city limits, and were donated to C. B. Cox to induce him to put a flouring mill on that site. The name River Falls dates from the establishment of the first postoffice, in 1854. The first frame building in River Falls was built in 1852, by N. N. and O. L. Powell, and was used two years for a dwelling, and afterwards converted into what was known as the "Old Pioneer Store." "Uncle Charlie Cox" and Osburn Strahl got the lumber out for it, and it was sawed at Mr. Cox's mill, just built in Clifton Hollow. Deacon William Powell and Horace Taylor drew the lumber with ox teams. Nathaniel Powell died February 7, 1862, before the place had much of a start. This left Oliver, the younger brother, alone in charge of the principal affairs of the firm, and as subsequent years proved, he was an important factor in the building up of the place, and the general development of the country round about. Overflowing with energy and good will, he was the head man of the neighborhood. Mr. Powell was a representative in the state assembly in 1870-71-72, and in connection with Prof. A. H. Weld, father of Judge Weld, was largely instrumental in locating the fourth State Normal school here. As a neighbor Mr. Powell was obliging and sympathetic, always rejoicing in the prosperity of his neighbors. He had a helping hand for all. It was natural for him to be on the right side of things. In his convictions he was abiding, sometimes intense, but too broad and liberal to be a crank. His understanding of human nature was unusual, and when he chose to exert his influence, he was a power. His public spirit was his pre-eminent quality. Whenever there was an enterprise afloat looking toward the material or moral good of the place, he never was too busy or too tired to help. With ready hand, open pocket, and dauntless eye, he was ever in the forefront of the effort; and when his useful career was cut short in his cane mill, September 26, 1888, it was a loss. His place has never been filled. Mr. Powell married L. Elmira Nichols, of River Falls, Wis., September 23, 1860. Mrs. Powell was born in Braintree, Vt., January 6, 1841. In 1846 her parents moved to Illinois, and in 1854 came to River Falls. Her education was obtained in the public schools and the historic "Old Academy." Mrs. Powell's parents were among the early settlers of River Falls, her parents having come here in 1854. Since her early girlhood she has been a member of the Congregational church and has always taken an active part in the church work. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Powell. Lucy M., wife of Elbridge Currier, of River Falls; Sarah Hayden Powell; Amy E., wife of Charles H. A. Bliss, of Los Angeles, Cal.; Harvey O., who was married to Elizabeth Knox, of Brewster, N. Y.; Newell N., who was married to Cora A. Houston, of River Falls, Wis.; Lyman T., who was married to Eleanor McCord, of Chippewa Falls, Wis.; Miriam, wife of Dr. F. C. Miller, Appleton, Minn. Reference: Taken from "History of the St. Croix Valley", published in 1909
Died, in this city on the morning of the 26th, Oliver S. Powell in the 58th year of his age instantly killed by being caught in a shaft in his sugar mill.
Mr. Powell was born at Madrid, N.Y. In 1842 he removed to Illinois, where he remained until he came to River Falls, in 1850. Ten years later he intermarried with I. Elmira Nichols, who survives him. He leaves seven children, four girls and three boys. They are indebted to their father for the richest boon that can ever fall to the lot of a child, a model home-training. And they are entitled to the lasting solace that his last earthly thought of them was beclouded by no dissatisfaction with their present, or misgiving as to their future.
As a neighbor obliging and sympathetic, always rejoicing in the prosperity of his neighbors, he had a helping hand for all, and those lips now forever sealed had other things than scandal to publish of his fellows.
He was not without human frailties, but in the essentials of his nature, he was an honorable, earnest, reliable, generous, brave and at times heroic man. It was natural for him to be on the right side of things. In his convictions he was abiding, sometimes intense, but too broad and liberal to be a crank. His understanding of human nature was unusual; and when he chose to exert his influence he was a power. No mention is made of the public position he held. They are often accident, and mean but little.
"The rank is but the guinea's stamp.
The gowd's the man for a' that."
But his public spirit will be remembered as his pre-eminent quality What a misnomer would a history of River Falls be with the name of Oliver Powell left out!
Whenever there has been an enerprise afloat looking toward the material or moral good of the place, this busy man was never busy or tired; this man of rigid personal economy never frugal. With ready hand, open pocket and dauntless eye, he was ever in the forefront of the effort. There is no a protestant church here that did not have a site given it by Mr. Powell. What do not our schools owe to him? Was there ever a rail-road in sight? he was the first to the front, and the last to leave the field.
That these words are the verdict of the community, the gloom that settled upon the city at the announcement of his tragic end full faithfuly attests.
"Oh, why should he spirit of mortal be proud?
Like a swift-fleeting meteor, a fast -flyinf cloud,
A flash of the lightning, a break of the wave,
Man passes from life to the rest in the grave,"
S.
POWELL, Oliver S. (and NICHOLS family) was born June 19, 1831, in Madrid, N. Y., and moved to Augusta, Ill., in 1843, where he lived eight years. His education was obtained in the district schools. In 1849 he went to Stillwater, Minn., bringing the first threshing machine north of Prairie du Chien. He threshed the first grain in the county in the fall of that year for Mr. Fisk on a farm three miles below Stillwater. In November, 1849, he located in River Falls, pre-empting the south half of the southeast quarter of section 36, town 28, range 19, land lying north of those claimed by his brother Nathaniel, and which afterward became a part of the city of River Falls. In 1852 these brothers built the first sawmill, which was situated just below the Greenwood mill. This was burned in 1876. In 1854 the village, called at that time Kinnickinnic, was platted by the Powell brothers, 200 acres being included in the tract. This plat included the upper waterfalls, which are in the city limits, and were donated to C. B. Cox to induce him to put a flouring mill on that site. The name River Falls dates from the establishment of the first postoffice, in 1854. The first frame building in River Falls was built in 1852, by N. N. and O. L. Powell, and was used two years for a dwelling, and afterwards converted into what was known as the "Old Pioneer Store." "Uncle Charlie Cox" and Osburn Strahl got the lumber out for it, and it was sawed at Mr. Cox's mill, just built in Clifton Hollow. Deacon William Powell and Horace Taylor drew the lumber with ox teams. Nathaniel Powell died February 7, 1862, before the place had much of a start. This left Oliver, the younger brother, alone in charge of the principal affairs of the firm, and as subsequent years proved, he was an important factor in the building up of the place, and the general development of the country round about. Overflowing with energy and good will, he was the head man of the neighborhood. Mr. Powell was a representative in the state assembly in 1870-71-72, and in connection with Prof. A. H. Weld, father of Judge Weld, was largely instrumental in locating the fourth State Normal school here. As a neighbor Mr. Powell was obliging and sympathetic, always rejoicing in the prosperity of his neighbors. He had a helping hand for all. It was natural for him to be on the right side of things. In his convictions he was abiding, sometimes intense, but too broad and liberal to be a crank. His understanding of human nature was unusual, and when he chose to exert his influence, he was a power. His public spirit was his pre-eminent quality. Whenever there was an enterprise afloat looking toward the material or moral good of the place, he never was too busy or too tired to help. With ready hand, open pocket, and dauntless eye, he was ever in the forefront of the effort; and when his useful career was cut short in his cane mill, September 26, 1888, it was a loss. His place has never been filled. Mr. Powell married L. Elmira Nichols, of River Falls, Wis., September 23, 1860. Mrs. Powell was born in Braintree, Vt., January 6, 1841. In 1846 her parents moved to Illinois, and in 1854 came to River Falls. Her education was obtained in the public schools and the historic "Old Academy." Mrs. Powell's parents were among the early settlers of River Falls, her parents having come here in 1854. Since her early girlhood she has been a member of the Congregational church and has always taken an active part in the church work. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Powell. Lucy M., wife of Elbridge Currier, of River Falls; Sarah Hayden Powell; Amy E., wife of Charles H. A. Bliss, of Los Angeles, Cal.; Harvey O., who was married to Elizabeth Knox, of Brewster, N. Y.; Newell N., who was married to Cora A. Houston, of River Falls, Wis.; Lyman T., who was married to Eleanor McCord, of Chippewa Falls, Wis.; Miriam, wife of Dr. F. C. Miller, Appleton, Minn. Reference: Taken from "History of the St. Croix Valley", published in 1909
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