William Henry Powell II was born 1863 in Edgecombe County, NC, the 5th of 9 known children (6 boys / 3 girls) born to CSA Capt. William Henry Powell Sr. and his wife, Anne Blount Lawrence.
He was the paternal grandson of wealthy planter, Jesse Harrison Powell and his (1st) wife Sally Hester Moore; gr-grandson of William H. Powell & Mary Harrison of Edgecombe; and a direct descendant of George Powell & Ann Connor of Norfolk, VA who settled in Bertie County in the early 1700's. He was the maternal grandson of Dr. Josiah Lawrence & Mary Eliza Toole of Tarboro. His great uncle, Dr. Joseph J. Powell (1807-1861) was a prominent Halifax County physician who purchased an Edgecombe County farm in 1845 and developed it into "Coolmore" Plantation.
William H. "Buck" Powell became an enterprising salesman, and in 1893, the 30-year old married 28-year old Helen Porter, daughter of wealthy planter John J. Porter and his (2nd) wife, Cynthia Jeffreys.
The couple resided in Tarboro and would have 4 known children: William H. Jr/III (c. 1894), Cynthia Ann (1897-1899), Elizabeth (c. 1901), and Helen (c. 1903).
In 1895, soon after his marriage, Buck Powell teamed up with another enterprising young man, George Holderness, who had just arrived in Tarboro from Caswell County, NC. The two men organized the Tarboro Telephone Company that within two years grew from 75 lines to over 150, and later became Carolina Telephone & Telegraph. Buck Powell served as President and George Holderness was Secretary and Treasurer.
In 1926, the company merged with Horne Telephone & Telegraph and expanded to 35 counties in North Carolina. In later years, their company was purchased by by Sprint and merged with the United Telephone System of North Carolina to become Sprint Carolina Telephone. For a while, the Carolina Telephone and United Telephone System names were used together and both companies were synonymous, but that scheme was later discontinued. Sprint later dropped Carolina Telephone from the name and used just the Sprint brand name and logo. In 2006 Sprint's landline service officially became Embarq.
In 1905, the Powell's purchased the now historic "Morris House" at 902 Main Street, from the widow and original owner, Sarah Lichtenstein Morris, wife of Jewish merchant, and one time Mayor of Tarboro, Henry Morris. The house was built ca. 1895 and was sited on the corner of Main & Baker Streets, on land once owned by Helen's father, J. J. Porter, who had the land divided into lots and sold after his death.
When the Powell‘s moved into the Morris house in 1905 with their 3 children, several family member lived nearby. Helen Porter's sister, Lucy, lived across the street, having married Thomas Gaitlin, and they built the house at 805 Main Street. Her stepbrother Joseph Ely Powell and his wife Sarah Anderson Powell, lived a few doors south at 904 Main Street. Buck's bother, Frank Powell, lived a few blocks away on 406 Trade Street, eventually moving to 211 Wilson Street (ca. 1920).
Buck Powell died in 1912, at the age of 49, leaving Helen a widow with three children under the age of 18. She would remain in the "Morris House" until her death in 1922.
As for their children, son William H. Powell, Jr., stayed in Tarboro opening a men's clothing store, but later married and moved to Bertie County. Upon Helen Porter Powell's death, the house was left to her two daughters, Elizabeth and Helen, who by then had married. Elizabeth Powell married Charles Edward Blake, from Norfolk, in 1905. Helen married William Mahler from Wilmington, NC, son of German immigrants who became a successful realtor in that town. William eventually became Superintendent of Schools for Edgecombe County (c. 1930). The sisters would live in the house together with their husbands. Helen Mahler's son, William August Mahler, married and had a daughter who married Jonathan Franklin Havens. Their daughter, Cythina Elizabeth Havens married Jason Ryan Beaudoin of Greenville in 2006.
He was the paternal grandson of wealthy planter, Jesse Harrison Powell and his (1st) wife Sally Hester Moore; gr-grandson of William H. Powell & Mary Harrison of Edgecombe; and a direct descendant of George Powell & Ann Connor of Norfolk, VA who settled in Bertie County in the early 1700's. He was the maternal grandson of Dr. Josiah Lawrence & Mary Eliza Toole of Tarboro. His great uncle, Dr. Joseph J. Powell (1807-1861) was a prominent Halifax County physician who purchased an Edgecombe County farm in 1845 and developed it into "Coolmore" Plantation.
William H. "Buck" Powell became an enterprising salesman, and in 1893, the 30-year old married 28-year old Helen Porter, daughter of wealthy planter John J. Porter and his (2nd) wife, Cynthia Jeffreys.
The couple resided in Tarboro and would have 4 known children: William H. Jr/III (c. 1894), Cynthia Ann (1897-1899), Elizabeth (c. 1901), and Helen (c. 1903).
In 1895, soon after his marriage, Buck Powell teamed up with another enterprising young man, George Holderness, who had just arrived in Tarboro from Caswell County, NC. The two men organized the Tarboro Telephone Company that within two years grew from 75 lines to over 150, and later became Carolina Telephone & Telegraph. Buck Powell served as President and George Holderness was Secretary and Treasurer.
In 1926, the company merged with Horne Telephone & Telegraph and expanded to 35 counties in North Carolina. In later years, their company was purchased by by Sprint and merged with the United Telephone System of North Carolina to become Sprint Carolina Telephone. For a while, the Carolina Telephone and United Telephone System names were used together and both companies were synonymous, but that scheme was later discontinued. Sprint later dropped Carolina Telephone from the name and used just the Sprint brand name and logo. In 2006 Sprint's landline service officially became Embarq.
In 1905, the Powell's purchased the now historic "Morris House" at 902 Main Street, from the widow and original owner, Sarah Lichtenstein Morris, wife of Jewish merchant, and one time Mayor of Tarboro, Henry Morris. The house was built ca. 1895 and was sited on the corner of Main & Baker Streets, on land once owned by Helen's father, J. J. Porter, who had the land divided into lots and sold after his death.
When the Powell‘s moved into the Morris house in 1905 with their 3 children, several family member lived nearby. Helen Porter's sister, Lucy, lived across the street, having married Thomas Gaitlin, and they built the house at 805 Main Street. Her stepbrother Joseph Ely Powell and his wife Sarah Anderson Powell, lived a few doors south at 904 Main Street. Buck's bother, Frank Powell, lived a few blocks away on 406 Trade Street, eventually moving to 211 Wilson Street (ca. 1920).
Buck Powell died in 1912, at the age of 49, leaving Helen a widow with three children under the age of 18. She would remain in the "Morris House" until her death in 1922.
As for their children, son William H. Powell, Jr., stayed in Tarboro opening a men's clothing store, but later married and moved to Bertie County. Upon Helen Porter Powell's death, the house was left to her two daughters, Elizabeth and Helen, who by then had married. Elizabeth Powell married Charles Edward Blake, from Norfolk, in 1905. Helen married William Mahler from Wilmington, NC, son of German immigrants who became a successful realtor in that town. William eventually became Superintendent of Schools for Edgecombe County (c. 1930). The sisters would live in the house together with their husbands. Helen Mahler's son, William August Mahler, married and had a daughter who married Jonathan Franklin Havens. Their daughter, Cythina Elizabeth Havens married Jason Ryan Beaudoin of Greenville in 2006.
William Henry Powell II was born 1863 in Edgecombe County, NC, the 5th of 9 known children (6 boys / 3 girls) born to CSA Capt. William Henry Powell Sr. and his wife, Anne Blount Lawrence.
He was the paternal grandson of wealthy planter, Jesse Harrison Powell and his (1st) wife Sally Hester Moore; gr-grandson of William H. Powell & Mary Harrison of Edgecombe; and a direct descendant of George Powell & Ann Connor of Norfolk, VA who settled in Bertie County in the early 1700's. He was the maternal grandson of Dr. Josiah Lawrence & Mary Eliza Toole of Tarboro. His great uncle, Dr. Joseph J. Powell (1807-1861) was a prominent Halifax County physician who purchased an Edgecombe County farm in 1845 and developed it into "Coolmore" Plantation.
William H. "Buck" Powell became an enterprising salesman, and in 1893, the 30-year old married 28-year old Helen Porter, daughter of wealthy planter John J. Porter and his (2nd) wife, Cynthia Jeffreys.
The couple resided in Tarboro and would have 4 known children: William H. Jr/III (c. 1894), Cynthia Ann (1897-1899), Elizabeth (c. 1901), and Helen (c. 1903).
In 1895, soon after his marriage, Buck Powell teamed up with another enterprising young man, George Holderness, who had just arrived in Tarboro from Caswell County, NC. The two men organized the Tarboro Telephone Company that within two years grew from 75 lines to over 150, and later became Carolina Telephone & Telegraph. Buck Powell served as President and George Holderness was Secretary and Treasurer.
In 1926, the company merged with Horne Telephone & Telegraph and expanded to 35 counties in North Carolina. In later years, their company was purchased by by Sprint and merged with the United Telephone System of North Carolina to become Sprint Carolina Telephone. For a while, the Carolina Telephone and United Telephone System names were used together and both companies were synonymous, but that scheme was later discontinued. Sprint later dropped Carolina Telephone from the name and used just the Sprint brand name and logo. In 2006 Sprint's landline service officially became Embarq.
In 1905, the Powell's purchased the now historic "Morris House" at 902 Main Street, from the widow and original owner, Sarah Lichtenstein Morris, wife of Jewish merchant, and one time Mayor of Tarboro, Henry Morris. The house was built ca. 1895 and was sited on the corner of Main & Baker Streets, on land once owned by Helen's father, J. J. Porter, who had the land divided into lots and sold after his death.
When the Powell‘s moved into the Morris house in 1905 with their 3 children, several family member lived nearby. Helen Porter's sister, Lucy, lived across the street, having married Thomas Gaitlin, and they built the house at 805 Main Street. Her stepbrother Joseph Ely Powell and his wife Sarah Anderson Powell, lived a few doors south at 904 Main Street. Buck's bother, Frank Powell, lived a few blocks away on 406 Trade Street, eventually moving to 211 Wilson Street (ca. 1920).
Buck Powell died in 1912, at the age of 49, leaving Helen a widow with three children under the age of 18. She would remain in the "Morris House" until her death in 1922.
As for their children, son William H. Powell, Jr., stayed in Tarboro opening a men's clothing store, but later married and moved to Bertie County. Upon Helen Porter Powell's death, the house was left to her two daughters, Elizabeth and Helen, who by then had married. Elizabeth Powell married Charles Edward Blake, from Norfolk, in 1905. Helen married William Mahler from Wilmington, NC, son of German immigrants who became a successful realtor in that town. William eventually became Superintendent of Schools for Edgecombe County (c. 1930). The sisters would live in the house together with their husbands. Helen Mahler's son, William August Mahler, married and had a daughter who married Jonathan Franklin Havens. Their daughter, Cythina Elizabeth Havens married Jason Ryan Beaudoin of Greenville in 2006.
He was the paternal grandson of wealthy planter, Jesse Harrison Powell and his (1st) wife Sally Hester Moore; gr-grandson of William H. Powell & Mary Harrison of Edgecombe; and a direct descendant of George Powell & Ann Connor of Norfolk, VA who settled in Bertie County in the early 1700's. He was the maternal grandson of Dr. Josiah Lawrence & Mary Eliza Toole of Tarboro. His great uncle, Dr. Joseph J. Powell (1807-1861) was a prominent Halifax County physician who purchased an Edgecombe County farm in 1845 and developed it into "Coolmore" Plantation.
William H. "Buck" Powell became an enterprising salesman, and in 1893, the 30-year old married 28-year old Helen Porter, daughter of wealthy planter John J. Porter and his (2nd) wife, Cynthia Jeffreys.
The couple resided in Tarboro and would have 4 known children: William H. Jr/III (c. 1894), Cynthia Ann (1897-1899), Elizabeth (c. 1901), and Helen (c. 1903).
In 1895, soon after his marriage, Buck Powell teamed up with another enterprising young man, George Holderness, who had just arrived in Tarboro from Caswell County, NC. The two men organized the Tarboro Telephone Company that within two years grew from 75 lines to over 150, and later became Carolina Telephone & Telegraph. Buck Powell served as President and George Holderness was Secretary and Treasurer.
In 1926, the company merged with Horne Telephone & Telegraph and expanded to 35 counties in North Carolina. In later years, their company was purchased by by Sprint and merged with the United Telephone System of North Carolina to become Sprint Carolina Telephone. For a while, the Carolina Telephone and United Telephone System names were used together and both companies were synonymous, but that scheme was later discontinued. Sprint later dropped Carolina Telephone from the name and used just the Sprint brand name and logo. In 2006 Sprint's landline service officially became Embarq.
In 1905, the Powell's purchased the now historic "Morris House" at 902 Main Street, from the widow and original owner, Sarah Lichtenstein Morris, wife of Jewish merchant, and one time Mayor of Tarboro, Henry Morris. The house was built ca. 1895 and was sited on the corner of Main & Baker Streets, on land once owned by Helen's father, J. J. Porter, who had the land divided into lots and sold after his death.
When the Powell‘s moved into the Morris house in 1905 with their 3 children, several family member lived nearby. Helen Porter's sister, Lucy, lived across the street, having married Thomas Gaitlin, and they built the house at 805 Main Street. Her stepbrother Joseph Ely Powell and his wife Sarah Anderson Powell, lived a few doors south at 904 Main Street. Buck's bother, Frank Powell, lived a few blocks away on 406 Trade Street, eventually moving to 211 Wilson Street (ca. 1920).
Buck Powell died in 1912, at the age of 49, leaving Helen a widow with three children under the age of 18. She would remain in the "Morris House" until her death in 1922.
As for their children, son William H. Powell, Jr., stayed in Tarboro opening a men's clothing store, but later married and moved to Bertie County. Upon Helen Porter Powell's death, the house was left to her two daughters, Elizabeth and Helen, who by then had married. Elizabeth Powell married Charles Edward Blake, from Norfolk, in 1905. Helen married William Mahler from Wilmington, NC, son of German immigrants who became a successful realtor in that town. William eventually became Superintendent of Schools for Edgecombe County (c. 1930). The sisters would live in the house together with their husbands. Helen Mahler's son, William August Mahler, married and had a daughter who married Jonathan Franklin Havens. Their daughter, Cythina Elizabeth Havens married Jason Ryan Beaudoin of Greenville in 2006.
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