AMERICA THE GREAT MELTING POT
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Direct descendant is highlighted in red
| Fred Henry Powers | |||
| Born: 10 Feb 1884 Jefferson Co., KY
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The birth records have the date of birth all over the place 1. 1900 census = Jan 1884 2. SS Death Index = Jan 10, 1885 3. WWI Draft Registration = Jan 10, 1883 4. Death Certificate = Jan 10, 1884 |
 Fred H Powers |
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| Married: 1st to Minnie My 11 Apr 1904 Jefferson Co., KY Married: 2nd to Helen Roseberry |
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| Died: 31 Dec 1944 Jefferson Co., KY Buried: Eastern Cemetery, Louisville, Jefferson Co., KY |
 Photo from findagrave and Bobby Hunt |
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FATHER
MOTHER
WIFE
Minnie My
b. Abt 1889
d. 12 Feb 1944 Cincinnati, Hamilton Co., OH
| Helen Gool Rosebery b. 21 Mar 1909 d. 16 Feb 1984 |
 Helen Roseberry Powers |
CHILDREN with Minnie My
1. Myrtle Powers
b. 30 Nov 1906 Jefferson Co., KY
m. John Heimbach
d. 15 Apr 1988 Brown Co., OH
CHILDREN with Helen Roseberry
| 1. Helen Jeanette Powers b.11 Sep 1928 |
 Jeanette Powers about 15 with her mother at age about 35 |
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| 2. Doris Maedell Powers b. 14 Aug 1930 d. 08 Jan 2011 |
 Doris M Powers |
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| 3. Charlotte L Powers b. 30 May 1934 d. 14 Sep 2009 |
 Charlotte L Powers |
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| 4. Joseph Edgar Powers b. 13 Nov 1937 d. 18 Oct 2003 |
 Joseph E Powers |
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| 5. Donald F. Powers b. 03 Jun 1940 d. 07 Feb 1994 |
 Donald F Powers |
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| 6. Fred Henry Powers b. 21 May 1945 d. 05 Mar 2002 |
 Fred H Powers, Jr. |
Information provided by Angela Clemons at [email protected] and Laura Belew [email protected]
Biography of Fred Henry Powers
by Susan Brooke
May 2013
Fred H Powers was born shortly after his father's death. Oral history has it that Jack, (Andrew Jackson Powers) had a heart attack and fell down some steps when Caroline was pregnant with Fred. So, Fred never knew his father.
Fred lived at home, working as an operator or machine hand until he married Minnie My in 1904. Shortly after his marriage the young couple moved to Stoll Av. in Louisville and Fred worked as a "butter maker" and driver. Fred disappeared from the Louisville City Directories around 1913 and next appears in Cincinnati where he was registering for the draft for WWI. (1)
His draft registration card reads that he was living at 1706 Central in Cincinnati working as a blacksmith for Ferd. Linser. The 1920 census for Cincinnati has Fred and Minnie and their daughter Myrtle at the same address with Fred working in a blacksmith shop. (2) On the draft registration card he lists his next of kin as "Carrie Powers, Wife" with an address of 818 E. Walnut, Louisville, Jefferson, KY. This does not make much sense as we know Minnie, his wife, was living in Cincinnati with him in the 1920 census. However, Fred's mother, Caroline, was living at that address, 818 E Walnut in Louisville, in the 1919 Louisville City Directory. (3)
The marriage to Minnie ended some time after the 1920 census was taken and Fred came back to Louisville where he married Helen Roseberry, half sister to his brother John's wife, Hattie. In the 1930 census for Louisville Fred H Powers worked as an automotive mechanic in the Dairy industry. He paid $20 a month rent, and he resided with his wife, Helen, and newborn daughter, Helen J, at 1813 Frankfort. (4) The next year, 1931, Fred H Powers was listed in the Louisville City Directory as a "helper" for D N Ewings Sons and his residence was 1716 Frankfort where he remained through 1940. (5)
But the Depression had taken its toll. In the 1940 census for Louisville, Fred Powers was employed in the construction of a WPA building. He had worked 26 weeks in 1939 and earned $600. In the week previous to the census he had worked 24 hours. He had a 4th grade education. His rent was now only $8 a month. He died four years later in 1944 at the age of 59.
Oral history and the WWI draft record say he was dark complected, had dark hair, but blue eyes, and was a small man. He was a sheet metal worker and also a wonderful carpenter. He attended the Lutheran church. When he died both his wife and oldest daughter were expecting a baby. In those days it was thought that if you went to funeral parlor or saw a dead person, your baby would be marked. Therefore neither of them attended the funeral or had anything to do with the planning of funeral. That is why his death certificate lists the informer as his half sister, Mrs. Elsie L Wallace. Laura Belew [email protected]
SOURCES
1.  WWI Draft Registration Card |
WWI Draft card lists John Henry Powers as lliving at 1706 Central,
Cin, Ham, Ohio His date of birth is Jan 10, 1883 He works as a blacksmith at Ferd Lenser, 1509 Pacten St, City, Ham. His next of kin is Carrie Powers, wife, res. 818 E. Walnut, Louisville, Jefferson, KY He is described as of medium height and build, with black hair and blue eyes. |
2. 1920 census for Cincinnati, OH |
In the 1920 census Fred H Powers is working at a blacksmith shop. His address was listed as 1760 Central Ave and the 1760 crossed out to read 1706. |
| 3 .  1919 Louisville City Directory Caroline E Powers |
The 1919 Louisville city Directory lists, Caroline E Powers, wid. Jas, r. 818 E. Walnut |
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4. 1930 census Louisville, KY |
In the 1930 census for Louisville Fred H Powers worked as an automotive mechanic in the Dairy industry. He paid $20 a month rent, and his residence with his wife, Helen, and newborn daughter, Helen J, was 1813 Frankfort |
| 5 .  1940 census Louisville, KY |