(This information comes from the History of Lee County found in: "Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Lee County".)
Abijah was born in Greenwich, New Hampshire County, Massachusetts on Dec. 16, 1814, son of Joseph and Sally (POWERS) POWERS, and a grandson of Col. Thomas POWERS.
In the spring of 1838 Josseph POWERS and his son Abijah came west, and after reaching Rock Island, proceeded by boat to Dixon (then Dixon's Ferry) and entered land in Section 31, Palmyra Township, where the former died April 28, 1853; his wife surviving him several years, and dying at the age of seventy-six.
Abijah POWERS began life in the West without capital, working at first by the mouth as a farm-hand. He entered land in Lee County in 1838, which he later purchased of the Government with money saved while employed at farm labor. By industrious habits and careful management, Mr. POWERS developed the his land into a modern farm, and at the time of his death-July 24, 1891-owned, in addition to his home farm of 300 acres, several other valuable farms in Lee and Whiteside Counties.
In September, 1839, he married Miss Amanda M. SPROUT, born in Greenwich, MA, daughter of Ezra and Dency (NEWLAND) SPROUT, also natives of the Bay State. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. POWERS, viz.: Alfred A., who died at the age of six years; Helen, who became the wife of Anson THUMMEL of Palmyra Township and died in 1889; Elvira, wife of Capt. Charles ECKLES, a soldier in the Federal Army during the late Rebellion and now a prominent farmer near Marshalltown, Iowa; Mary, who married J. C. NICKERSON, a commission merchant in Chicago; Warren F., who married Mary MILLER and is now a prominent farmer in Whiteside County, IL; Austin, who married Adelia TALLMAN and now owns and conducts the home farm in Palmyra Township. Mrs. POWERS resides on t he old homestead with her son Austin.
Abijah POWERS was a Republican in political views, and held a number of local offices including that of Township Supervisor in which he served five years. In 1876 he was elected Representative from his district to the Thirtieth General Assembly of Illinois. Mr. POWERS was a member of the Congregational Church at Prairieville, in which he served as deacon for many years.
Abijah was born in Greenwich, New Hampshire County, Massachusetts on Dec. 16, 1814, son of Joseph and Sally (POWERS) POWERS, and a grandson of Col. Thomas POWERS.
In the spring of 1838 Josseph POWERS and his son Abijah came west, and after reaching Rock Island, proceeded by boat to Dixon (then Dixon's Ferry) and entered land in Section 31, Palmyra Township, where the former died April 28, 1853; his wife surviving him several years, and dying at the age of seventy-six.
Abijah POWERS began life in the West without capital, working at first by the mouth as a farm-hand. He entered land in Lee County in 1838, which he later purchased of the Government with money saved while employed at farm labor. By industrious habits and careful management, Mr. POWERS developed the his land into a modern farm, and at the time of his death-July 24, 1891-owned, in addition to his home farm of 300 acres, several other valuable farms in Lee and Whiteside Counties.
In September, 1839, he married Miss Amanda M. SPROUT, born in Greenwich, MA, daughter of Ezra and Dency (NEWLAND) SPROUT, also natives of the Bay State. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. POWERS, viz.: Alfred A., who died at the age of six years; Helen, who became the wife of Anson THUMMEL of Palmyra Township and died in 1889; Elvira, wife of Capt. Charles ECKLES, a soldier in the Federal Army during the late Rebellion and now a prominent farmer near Marshalltown, Iowa; Mary, who married J. C. NICKERSON, a commission merchant in Chicago; Warren F., who married Mary MILLER and is now a prominent farmer in Whiteside County, IL; Austin, who married Adelia TALLMAN and now owns and conducts the home farm in Palmyra Township. Mrs. POWERS resides on t he old homestead with her son Austin.
Abijah POWERS was a Republican in political views, and held a number of local offices including that of Township Supervisor in which he served five years. In 1876 he was elected Representative from his district to the Thirtieth General Assembly of Illinois. Mr. POWERS was a member of the Congregational Church at Prairieville, in which he served as deacon for many years.
(This information comes from the History of Lee County found in: "Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Lee County".)
Abijah was born in Greenwich, New Hampshire County, Massachusetts on Dec. 16, 1814, son of Joseph and Sally (POWERS) POWERS, and a grandson of Col. Thomas POWERS.
In the spring of 1838 Josseph POWERS and his son Abijah came west, and after reaching Rock Island, proceeded by boat to Dixon (then Dixon's Ferry) and entered land in Section 31, Palmyra Township, where the former died April 28, 1853; his wife surviving him several years, and dying at the age of seventy-six.
Abijah POWERS began life in the West without capital, working at first by the mouth as a farm-hand. He entered land in Lee County in 1838, which he later purchased of the Government with money saved while employed at farm labor. By industrious habits and careful management, Mr. POWERS developed the his land into a modern farm, and at the time of his death-July 24, 1891-owned, in addition to his home farm of 300 acres, several other valuable farms in Lee and Whiteside Counties.
In September, 1839, he married Miss Amanda M. SPROUT, born in Greenwich, MA, daughter of Ezra and Dency (NEWLAND) SPROUT, also natives of the Bay State. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. POWERS, viz.: Alfred A., who died at the age of six years; Helen, who became the wife of Anson THUMMEL of Palmyra Township and died in 1889; Elvira, wife of Capt. Charles ECKLES, a soldier in the Federal Army during the late Rebellion and now a prominent farmer near Marshalltown, Iowa; Mary, who married J. C. NICKERSON, a commission merchant in Chicago; Warren F., who married Mary MILLER and is now a prominent farmer in Whiteside County, IL; Austin, who married Adelia TALLMAN and now owns and conducts the home farm in Palmyra Township. Mrs. POWERS resides on t he old homestead with her son Austin.
Abijah POWERS was a Republican in political views, and held a number of local offices including that of Township Supervisor in which he served five years. In 1876 he was elected Representative from his district to the Thirtieth General Assembly of Illinois. Mr. POWERS was a member of the Congregational Church at Prairieville, in which he served as deacon for many years.
Abijah was born in Greenwich, New Hampshire County, Massachusetts on Dec. 16, 1814, son of Joseph and Sally (POWERS) POWERS, and a grandson of Col. Thomas POWERS.
In the spring of 1838 Josseph POWERS and his son Abijah came west, and after reaching Rock Island, proceeded by boat to Dixon (then Dixon's Ferry) and entered land in Section 31, Palmyra Township, where the former died April 28, 1853; his wife surviving him several years, and dying at the age of seventy-six.
Abijah POWERS began life in the West without capital, working at first by the mouth as a farm-hand. He entered land in Lee County in 1838, which he later purchased of the Government with money saved while employed at farm labor. By industrious habits and careful management, Mr. POWERS developed the his land into a modern farm, and at the time of his death-July 24, 1891-owned, in addition to his home farm of 300 acres, several other valuable farms in Lee and Whiteside Counties.
In September, 1839, he married Miss Amanda M. SPROUT, born in Greenwich, MA, daughter of Ezra and Dency (NEWLAND) SPROUT, also natives of the Bay State. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. POWERS, viz.: Alfred A., who died at the age of six years; Helen, who became the wife of Anson THUMMEL of Palmyra Township and died in 1889; Elvira, wife of Capt. Charles ECKLES, a soldier in the Federal Army during the late Rebellion and now a prominent farmer near Marshalltown, Iowa; Mary, who married J. C. NICKERSON, a commission merchant in Chicago; Warren F., who married Mary MILLER and is now a prominent farmer in Whiteside County, IL; Austin, who married Adelia TALLMAN and now owns and conducts the home farm in Palmyra Township. Mrs. POWERS resides on t he old homestead with her son Austin.
Abijah POWERS was a Republican in political views, and held a number of local offices including that of Township Supervisor in which he served five years. In 1876 he was elected Representative from his district to the Thirtieth General Assembly of Illinois. Mr. POWERS was a member of the Congregational Church at Prairieville, in which he served as deacon for many years.
Inscription
Abijah POWERS
Dec. 16, 1814 July 24, 1891
Amanda POWERS
Sep. 30, 1819 Jan. 7, 1912
Alfred A. POWERS
May 7, 1841 Aug. 5, 1847
Gravesite Details
There is a large POWERS family marker surrounded by individually named markers nearby. Abijah's marker says: A. POWERS
Family Members
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Records on Ancestry
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