AMERICA THE GREAT MELTING POT

Contact information on HOME page

Direct descendant is highlighted in red

buried: Cave Hill Cemetery, Louisville, F. 336 #12

Plot Map at Cave Hill Cemetery Plot of A. J. Powers

Jefferson Co., KY death records for Caroline Powers

FATHER

Elias Childers

MOTHER

probably Harriet Richards although the death certificate for Caroline, filed by her son John,  says Mary Stulter

HUSBAND

Andrew Jackson Powers

CHILDREN

1. William Jack Powers b. 25 Nov 1871 Death records says born 25 Nov 1867 to Andrew Jackson Powers and Caroline Childers and died 11 Aug 1951

William Jack Powers photo courtesy of Wanda Oliver

2.John Powers b. 08 May 1875

3. Anna B. Powers b. 25 Nov 1876
married: William E. Graham
died: 10 Mar 1945

4. Florence (Sarah) Powers b. Apr 1878

5. Charles E Powers b. 06 Sep 1879
married Bertha Wadlinger in Cincinnati.

6. May Ida Powers b. Dec 1882 married Fr. Hoffman  02 Apr 1903 Jefferson Co., KY married William Phillip Earheart

May Ida Powers Earheart holding a grandchild, possibly Frank Rush

7. Fred H. Powers b. 10 Jan 1884 married: Helen Roseberry died: 31 Dec 1944

Fred H. Powers

DAUGHTER of Caroline Childers Powers born 3 years after the death of her husband

1. Elsie (Alcy) Powers  b. 20 Apr 1887

Biography of Caroline Childers
by Susan Brooke  July 2013
with research assistance and editing from Anne Cope   <[email protected]>

The first record we have of Caroline is in the 1860 census when she was nine and living with her father, Elias Childers and her step-mother Eliza.  Caroline married the widower, Andrew Jackson Powers, in Feb 1869 when she was sixteen.   In June of 1870 when the 1870 census was taken, Caroline and A. J. Powers were listed right below John "Chilters" age 68, blacksmith.  And when she married A. J. Powers, the person giving consent was John G. Childers.  It is likely that this John Childers was the grandfather of Caroline.  As further evidence, at Cave Hill Cemetery in Louisville, in Section F Lot 321 are buried two of the wives of Elias Childers, three of his children, and Marianda Childers, who was the first wife of John G. Childers and therefore the mother of Elias Childers. 

John Childers, blacksmith, is found in Louisville as early as the 1850 census.  He put an estray notice in the Louisville Democrat in 1857 saying his residence was on "Van Buren Street, near the telegraph pole, on the Point, over Beargrass."  He had married Miranda Prine or Pryon in Virginia in 1820.  He was married to a Margaret in 1860. April 23, 1861 he married Mary E. Hall.  Feb 9, 1869 he married Mary Jane Evans, aged about 14.  July 18, 1869 he married Mary Catherine Logsdon, aged 32.  And he was making such a ruckus in town that the local paper ridiculed him. (2)

Caroline was also caught up in his life.  The Louisville Daily Express wrote on September 28, 1869, "Jack Powers and wife last week were engaged in a peace warrant case with Jno. Childers.  This morning they brought suit before Justice Doane, for pay due from Childers to Mrs. Powers for six months' services.  A jury was summoned, the case tried and a verdict rendered, giving Mrs. P. the sum of fifty-two dollars for her six months' work.  Little enough, one would think."

John Childers, living next door to Caroline and A. J. Powers had a young girl living with him, probably a daughter with wife, Mary Hall, named Victoria, who was eight years old at the time of the suit.  It is possible that Caroline had been living in the household of John Childers for some time.  Her mother had died when she was three and her father remarried.  She might have moved in with her grandfather, John Childers. Possibly Caroline had been caring forVictoria.  But then Caroline married and moved out of that household.  Possibly she continued to care for Victoria.   Caroline had been married for just over six months at the time of the law suit.

Three days after Caroline filed her suit against John Childers, his wife, Mary Catherine, filed a suit against him saying he had tried to kill her.  See the article from  The Louisville Daily Express of September 1, 1869  posted below. (1)  In November they ran another article entitled, "Old Man Childers, Again," making fun of his troubles. (2) John Childers was run over and killed on June 12, 1880.

So, Caroline and her husband were living next door to John G. Childers in 1870.  In the 1871 city directory Jack Powers, butcher, was living at 27 Marion between Van Buren & Irvine but by 1873 they had moved to 725 Main, near Adams.   They then lived on Story and later on Cabel near Franklin.  By 1883 they had settled at 119 Cabel  where Caroline continued to live through 1896.  Caroline and A. J. Powers had seven children together.  A. J. Powers was a butcher.  He had a heart attack and fell down some stairs and died on December 17, 1883.  Caroline was seven months pregnant with her son, Fred H. Powers at the time.  Her oldest child, William, was only twelve.

Three years later she gave birth to Elsie Lee Powers on April 20, 1887.  The father seems to have been Robert Lee Dickinson who was ten years younger than Caroline.  In September of 1887 an article ran in the Louisville Courier-Journal under the headline, "A Widow's Sorrow." (3) It claims that Caroline was twenty-three when she was actually thirty-five.  The article also states that she is the mother of two young girls aged four and two.  She had seven children, not including the new baby, at that time.  However, the youngest two were May aged 5 and Fred aged 3.  The article also states that the baby is two weeks old.  Elsie was five months old.  So, we know the reporter did not check all the facts.  However, the article implies that Caroline was courted by Lee Dickinson, who she did not know was married.  And that when he refused to pay her $500 for support of his child, she brought a suit against him.  The article also implies that Lee Dickinson did not have a good reputation having been involved in some "shooting and cutting scrapes."  Caroline was supposed to have received $1000 from a life insurance policy on Andrew Jackson Powers.  Four days after this article ran, Caroline was in the courts again. (4) Lee Dickinson's father had run a "card" in the paper on September 19 accusing Caroline of having a scheme to extort money and accusing her son, William, of being arrested for a "cutting scrape."  She filed for $5,000 damages on behalf of herself and her son William. Caroline asked to "sue as a pauper, thus avoiding damages in case of an adverse decision.  She signed the paper with her mark, showing that she was as illiterate as poor."  She knew her way around the court system.  Robert Lee Dickinson left Louisville and lived in Indiana for a year.

The paternity case was settled in 1889.  When Lee Dickinson moved back to Louisville, Caroline immediately filed a bastardy warrant against him. (5) Robert Lee Dickinson appeared in court, nicely dressed and clean shaven, giving off a very nice appearance.  His lawyers brought forth witnesses that said that "Mrs. Powers had been residing on 'the Point' and consorted with both white and colored people of low character.  She resented this and talked out in open court.  She said she 'was white' and wouldn't stand any such imputations, and had to be threatened with punishment for contempt of court before she would desist.  The jury promptly returned a verdict of not guilty." (6)

So, here she was, a widow with eight children.   Her oldest two sons, William Jack and John, had dropped out of school even before their father died.  William Jack had a 2nd grade education and John had a 3rd grade education. So, they were probably working and bringing some income into the family.  Caroline may have received some life insurance money as was indicated in the newspaper article, (3) but it was probably less than the amount stated.  Her daughters, Anna and Sarah, dropped out of school around 1887.  Anna had a 5th grade education and Sarah a 4th grade education.  They probably also brought some income into the family.  But in 1890 she still had four young children.  Charles was still in school and eventually got a 7th grade education.  Ida and Fred stayed in school until 1894 with Ida getting a 6th grade education and Fred a 4th grade education.  Elsie, her youngest, did not drop out of school until 1897 getting a 4th grade education.

Caroline's father, Elias Childers, died in August of 1900.  His cemetery lot at Cave Hill Cemetery was already filled with two of his wives, some children and his mother.  His surviving children thought there had been a mistake and they sued.  The Courier-Journal for October 25, 1900 reads, "Fifty years ago Elias Childers, now deceased, is said to have bought a lot in Cave Hill Cemetery with ten burial spaces.  Eight of his family were buried in the lot, but it is alleged that before his death, on August 25, the Cave Hill Cemetery Company had permitted two unknown persons to be buried in the remaining two spaces, so that when he died the company refused to permit him to be buried in the lot.  Yesterday his children, May Martin, Charles Childers, Cummings Childers, Minna Brown and Caroline Powers sued the company for $2,500 for alleged humiliation."  So, Caroline was once again in the courts, this time with her siblings.  In Feb of 1902, they lost their case. 

 However, with the death of her father, Caroline and her siblings inherited his land on Van Buren.  The Courier-Journal of May 17 1901 reads, "Caroline Powers filed a petition for the sale of the property on the north side of Van Buren street 242 feet east of Adams, and for the division of the proceeds among herself, Cummins Childers, Charles Childers, Mary Martin and Minnie Brown."

Caroline is listed in the city directories as a widow living at 119 Cabel until 1897, when she moved to Frankfort with her son, Johm. and then in 1898 to Smyser.  But she was back at 119 Cabel in 1900 and lived there until 1904.  She may have been taking in sewing, but there is no occupation listed for her.  But in 1913 she was listed as a "dressmaker."

Then, in 1904 she had to move out of 119 Cabel.  (7) An article in the Courier-Journal reads, "Caroline Powers sued Mary A Stoll to quiet her title to a piece of property on the east side of Cabel street, near Fulton.  She claims title by right of adverse possession."  Possibly Andrew Jackson Powers had purchased or rented the residence at 119 Cabel with the help of his brother-in-law, John Bascom Stoll, the banker, and Caroline could not make the payments.  She must have lost that law suit because subsequent city directories have her at a different address every year after that.  All of her children, except John, Charles and  Elsie, were married.

I imagine Caroline as a spitfire who was dealt of tough hand and certainly had a hard life, but she was not going to take it all lying down.  She certainly knew her way around the court system.   You can also get a glimpse of her as a mother in the Louisville Courier-Journal of Dec 24, 1903.  Her daughter, Elsie (Alcy) had purchased some furniture on the installment plan and it had been forcibly repossessed.  (8)  Caroline brought a law suit on behalf of her daughter. 

And Caroline was not through with the courts yet. There is an article in the Courier-Journal for December 16, 1910. "Caroline Powers sued Michael Reynolds for $100 as damages and for rent."

Caroline died in 1921 at the age of 69.  She had led an interesting life.

#1 Louisville Daily Express October 1, 1869 pg 4

Mary Catherine Childers sued out a peace warrant charging her husband, Jno. G. Childers, witih threatening to kill her.  The case came up today before Justice Doane, and the following facts were developed.  The evidence went to show that Mr. C. was kind to him until very lately, when a friend of hers persuaded her she was not lawfully married.  She thereupon declared she would not stay with him, but only moved her bed to the kitchen for two nights.  She did not seem afraid of him, but to judge from appearances he would be but a child in her hands.  In view of all the facts the court held each to bail in $100 for one month, hoping in that time they would become reconciled.  The history of the case is somewhat peculiar and we give it as follows. John G. is an old citizen of Louisville, some 68 or 70 years old, and resides in that part of the city known as the Point.  He is a man of extensive experience in regard to connubial felicity, etc.; has been four times legally married, and how often he has been illegally so, no one knows -- not even himself.  Sometime during last winter he was married to a girl, said to be about thirteen or fourteen years old.  This girl he took to his house and after a trial of two or three weeks, finding that she could not subserve the purposes for which he married her, and perform the duties he thinks should be performed by a dutiful wife to a doting husband, he discarded her - turned her out of his house, and sued for a divorce, to obtain which he alleged and proved many and divers charges, deception, want of true allegiance, etc.  John succeeded in getting a divorce, and on the day after the decree was rendered stepped into the County Court clerk's office, accompanied by a fine looking Irish woman, thirty-two years old, and weighing from 275 to 325 pounds, and demanded a license to marry.  The clerk, knowing of the pendency of a suit in the Chancery Court for a divorce, refused to issue the license desired.  Just at this juncture, in stepped John's attorney, and vouched for his ability to contract marriage, whereupon John got what he went for, and departed rejoicing.  On his way home he meet a clergyman who pronounced the said John and his inamorata husband and wife.  For weeks everything went on swimmingly.  Various were the boasts made by John of perfect happiness, etc.  He loved the very ground his new spouse walked on, the seat she sat on, etc.  Forgetful of the words of an ancient philosopher, that "no man should be pronounced hapy cute-obitum," John thought his bliss would never come to an end.  But alas! human calculations fail; they failed, and effectually.

#2 Louisville Evening Express Nov 10, 1869 pg 1

Old Man Childers Again On the first of October, the Express gave all the particulars in reference to John G. Childers - his numerous matrimonial adventures, including his last - and the troubles in which he has been involved with his present wife, a robust, hearty woman, who since the first of October, has continued to live in the house with him; but, as already stated under the influence of an outside friend.  She will have nothing to do with him.  Sunday night she went off to church, locking all the doors, while he was away.  On his return, he climbed in at a window, and then taking off all the locks, went to a neighbor's house.  When she came home from church she was so enraged that she nailed up all the doors and windows, so that he could not get in again.  It seems he had a demijohn of good whisky in the house, and she had a similar jug filled with molasses.  When he left the house that night, he took his demijohn with him, and the next night invited some friends to have a jolly old time with him.  They gathered around the festive board, glasses, etc. were all ready, the demijohn was tapped - but the liquor wouldn't come when he wanted it, and when it did, it proved that he had the molasses jug.  In great haste he ran to the house after the other jug.  He found it on the floor with the cork out and upside down and all his fine whisky gone.  This so enraged him that he threatened to whip his wife, though she was strong enough to throw him out of the window.  In view of his threats, however, she had him before Justice Clement, who, on hearing all the facts, dismissed the case at John's cost.  The old man is now under bail before Justice Doane, as well as the wife, but they don't seem to get along together at all.

# 3 Louisville Courir-Journal September 18, 1887 pg 7

A Widow's Sorrow Handsome Mrs. Powers, Aged Twenty-Three, Accuses Lee Dickinson of Betraying Her. The Latter Flies When Confronted With His Alleged Child and a Demand For Money - A Tale of the "Point." A child recently born to Mrs. Caroline Powers, a handsome widow, twenty-three years of age, has loosened the tongues of all the scandal-mongers living in that closely-settled locality known as the "Point." The child was born two weeks ago, and within the last few days Lee Dickinson, son of John A Dickinson, of the Dickinson Furniture Company, left the city and State, and is now living in Indiana. Lee Dickinson is twenty-two years of age and of pleasing address.  Although of good family, his reputation has not been above reproach, and he has figured in several shooting and cutting scrapes, none of which redound to his credit. Until lately he was employed in his father's large furniture establishment at 249 Fifth street, but has been idle for the past three months.  When he was but nineteen years of age he eloped rom this city with Miss Annie Hillery, then but sixteen years of age, and the daughter of respectable people living on the "Point" and married her in Jeffersonville. Young Dickinson's parents opposed the match, as did also Mr. and Mrs. Hillery, and consequently the elopement.  Since their marriage Dickinson and is wife, with their little boy, have resided on Franklin street, near Shelby. Shortly after young Dickinson's marriage Mrs. Powers, whose husband had been dead but a short while, took a house on Fulton street, near Cabel, where she has since lived.  She was a very handsome woman, behaved decorously, and was seemingly wrapped up in her two little girls, aged respectively four and two years.  Mrs. Powers was soon very popular with the neighbors, and became acquainted with young Dickinson.  Dickinson's visits to Mrs. Powers' house finally caused much talk and unfavorable comment, which at last reached the ears of Mrs. Dickinson, and frequent quarrels with her husband resulted.  About one month ago Dickinson's visits to the fascinating young widow ceased, and upon the birth of her child she openly accused Dickinson of beings its father.  Soon after Mrs. Powers had an interview with Dickinson, and asked him for $500 to provide for the support of his child.  Dickinson was thoroughly frightened at her threats of exposure, and promised to give her the money if he could succeed in obtaining it from his father.  Mrs. Powers met him again on Tuesday last, and again demanded the money.  The young man told her that after a consultation with his father they had decided not to give her a cent.  Mrs. Powers returned home, and the next day took out a warrant for Dickinson's arrest, charging him with being the father of her child.  In some manner the young man got wind of what was going on, and last Wednesday night left the city surreptitiously and is now at Lafayette, Ind.  His young wife and child returned to Mr. Hillery's where they are now. Dickinson's friends and family claim that Mrs. Powers is a fair blackmailer, and her scheme was simply to extort money from him, believing that his father would pay any sum to keep the matter from being made public.  His friends claims that Mrs. Powers' reputation is not what is should be, and accuse her of having enticed young Dickinson into her house. Mrs. Powers was left $1,000 life insurance by her husband, and has friends who claim that she has always had a good reputation, and that she did not know Dickinson was married when he first began his attentions to her.

#4 Louisville Courier Journal September 22, 1887 pg 8

Caroline Powers filed suit in the Common Plea Court yesterday against John A. Dickinson for $5,000 damages for an alleged malicious and defamatory card published in the Courier-Journal September 19.  In this he denied the charges against his son in connection with Mrs. Powers.  He alleged that he considered the story a scheme to extort money. In the Common Pleas Court a similar suit was filed for William Powers by his next friend, Caroline powers, against the same defendant.  Damage are wanted in the sum of $5,000 for a statement in the same card, in which it is alleged that the son had been arrested for participating in a cutting scrape.  Mrs. Powers asks in her petition that she may be allowed to sue as a pauper, thus avoiding damages in case of an adverse decision.  She signed the paper with her mark, showing that she is as illiterate as poor  John McAfee is her attorney in the case.

#5 Louisville Courier-Journal May 30, 1889  pg 8

Father of a Girl Baby The Relationship Alleged to Exist Between Caroline Power's Infant and John Dickinson Mrs. Caroline Powers, a widow, has sworn out a bastardly warrant against Robert Dickinson, in which she charges that he is the father of her illegitimate girl baby, born April 20. Dickinson is about twenty-eight years of age and is the son of John A Dickinson, the furniture man.  He left the city about a year ago on account of trouble with the woman, it is said, and a full account of the case was published at the time.  He only returned a few days ago, and the warrant is the result.

#6 Louisville Courier-Journal July 3, 1889 pg 6

A Verdict for Dickinson The trial on the bastardy warrant sworn out some weeks since by Mrs. Caroline Powers, a widow, against Robert Dickinson occurred in the County Court yesterday before Special Judge James T. A. Baker and a jury.  The verdict was a prompt acquittal for the defendant. The hearing of testimony occupied the entire morning session and there was a crowded court-room to listen to it.  Dickinson is a young married man and has been absent from the city until presently.  Shortly after he left a warrant was issued against him at Mrs. Powers' instances, who charged him with being the father of her girl baby. Dickinson impressed the jury with his beardless face, his youthful appearance and his quiet bearing.  He said he hoped me might be paralyzed if his relations with Mrs. Powers had not always been entirely proper. Mr. Junius Klein conducted the case for the commonwealth, on behalf of Mrs. Powers, and Mr. John R. M. Polk for Dickinson.  The latter introduced witnesses to break down Mrs. Powers' character, and tried to show that since her husband's death she had been residing on 'The Point,' and consorted with both white and colored people of low character.  She resented this and talked out in open court.  She said she 'was white' and wouldn't stand any such imputations, and had to be threatened with punishment for contempt of court before she would desist.  The jury promptly returned a verdict of not guilty.

#8 Louisville Courier-Journal December 24, 1903  pg. 10

Alleges Forcible Removal Alcy Powers, by her mother, Caroline Powers sued James Greene for $500 damages.  The plaintiff purchased $145.25 worth of furniture on the installment plan and she charges that the defendant entered her house and removed the articles forciby.