James Powers was named for his grandfather, and while the elder James lived, he went by "Junior." However, he dropped the suffix in his later adult years. As a young man James joined the American Civil War, enlisting and mustering into Company D, 12th Michigan Infantry as an infantry replacement on 31 August 1864. The very next day he married Irena Hannah Keyes. The officiator of the ceremony was his father in law, Orlando Keyes, who had enlisted as chaplain of the same unit. James merged with his unit in Arkansas, and spent the rest of the war guarding railroads at Camden and serving as a hospital steward in Little Rock. He returned to his home in Climax, Kalamazoo County, Michigan at muster out on 9 September 1865. With Irena he had two sons, and he farmed for many years in Climax Township. He suffered an injury from farm equipment in 1867, but this did not prevent him from serving a term in the Michigan State Legislature. James and his wife later lived in Marshall, Calhoun County, Michigan with one of their sons. By the turn of the century cataracts had blinded him and he had developed other disabilities. Irena became more frail with time; James suffered a stroke in 1915 and needed constant assistance. Other living arrangements had to be made. James and his wife moved to Seattle in 1920 to live with their other son. He died at his son's home, and following a parlor funeral his body was cremated. His ashes were unclaimed until 2016.
James Powers was named for his grandfather, and while the elder James lived, he went by "Junior." However, he dropped the suffix in his later adult years. As a young man James joined the American Civil War, enlisting and mustering into Company D, 12th Michigan Infantry as an infantry replacement on 31 August 1864. The very next day he married Irena Hannah Keyes. The officiator of the ceremony was his father in law, Orlando Keyes, who had enlisted as chaplain of the same unit. James merged with his unit in Arkansas, and spent the rest of the war guarding railroads at Camden and serving as a hospital steward in Little Rock. He returned to his home in Climax, Kalamazoo County, Michigan at muster out on 9 September 1865. With Irena he had two sons, and he farmed for many years in Climax Township. He suffered an injury from farm equipment in 1867, but this did not prevent him from serving a term in the Michigan State Legislature. James and his wife later lived in Marshall, Calhoun County, Michigan with one of their sons. By the turn of the century cataracts had blinded him and he had developed other disabilities. Irena became more frail with time; James suffered a stroke in 1915 and needed constant assistance. Other living arrangements had to be made. James and his wife moved to Seattle in 1920 to live with their other son. He died at his son's home, and following a parlor funeral his body was cremated. His ashes were unclaimed until 2016.
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