AMERICA THE GREAT MELTING POT
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Direct descendant is highlighted in red
Jacob Huff Powers Born: 16 Nov 1818 OH |
see FAMILY TREE |
| Married: 30 April 1848 Louisville, Jefferson Co., IN Died: 29 Nov 1881 Franklin, Johnson Co., IN Buried: 02 Dec 1881 Greenlawn Cemetery, Johnson Co., IN |
FATHER
MOTHER
Nancy Wills Huff b. 1796 NJ
WIFE
CHILDREN
1. Leroy Egbert. Powers
b. 1849 KY
d. 05 Jun 1850
2. Isaac Henry Powers
b. 07 Jun 1851
Sparta, White, TN
m. Abt. 1871 Hennetta McCaffrey
m. 7 Nov 1882 Mary Alice Spillman
d. 27 Jul 1908
Indianapolis, Marion, IN
3. Mary Francis Powers
b. 06 Apr 1854 Sparta, White, TN
4. Hester Ann Powers
b. 10 Sep 1856
Sparta, White, TN
m. 7 Nov 1874 George W Shryock
m. Abt. 1908 William H Fry
d. 26 Mar 1948 Grantsburg,
Crawford, IN
5. Lafayette Simms Powers
b. 08 Nov 1859
Sparta, White, TN
m. 8 Jun 1882 Eliza J Criffin
6.
Susan Catherine Powers
b. 01 Jun 1862 Sparta, White, TN
m. 12 Jun 1879
James Stephens
m. 3 May 1882 William G. Spillman
m. Abt. 1898 Aron Holm
d. 19 Sep 1928 Cody, Wyoming
7. Sarah Frances Powers
Jacob Powers
by Susan Brooke
July 2013
According to the bible records kept by Elijah Bronson, Jacob Huff Powers was born in Ohio
on 16 Nov 1818. (1) By tracing marriage and census records, we can connect him
to some of his siblings. Many of them claim their mother as Nancy Powers. For
instance when Susan Powers married Jesse H Jones in Louisville, KY on 15 May
1848. Jacob Powers gave consent and Susan stated that her mother was Nancy
Powers. (2) In the 1844 tax records for Louisville, Jacob Powers, butcher, was
living at the same address as Mrs. N. Powers. (3) In the 1850 census
for Louisville, Leroy Tomlinson, butcher, who had married Eliza Jane Powers in
Cincinnati on 23 May 1839, is living with an Isaac Powers aged 18 and a Nancy
Powers aged 54 born in NJ. (4) (5) Leroy Tomlinson gave permission for
Mary Ann Powers to marry John B. Stoll in Louisville on 4 Apr 1843. And Mary Ann
Powers also stated that her mother was Nancy Powers. (6) Elmira Powers married
Henry Stoll, a brother to John B. Stoll, on 4 Oct 1853 in Louisville. (7)
Her obituary states that she was the daughter of Isaac F Powers and Nancy
Powers. (8) And In 1870 Blanche Powers, aged 13, and daughter of Andrew J
Powers, was living with Jesse and Susan Powers Jones in Louisville. (9) Thus we
have as siblings of Jacob Huff Powers: Susan Powers married to Jesse Jones,
Eliza Jane Powers married to Leroy Tomlinson, Mary Ann Powers married to John B
Stoll, Elmira Powers married to Henry Stoll and Andrew J. Powers. (10) And their
parents were Isaac F Powers and wife Nancy.
We know his family was living in
Cincinnati in 1824 when his brother, Andrew Jackson Powers, was born.
There is no evidence of Jacob in Cincinnati. However, Leroy Tomlinson,
Jacob's brother-in-law, is there living with a Mrs. Ann Powers in the 1840
City Directory. (11)
Jacob first shows up in Louisville in the 1844 tax
records listed as living at the same address as Mrs. N Powers. In May of 1846 he enlisted for the Mexican War from Louisville. He was
on detached service at a camp near Saltillo, Mexico on Dec 28th, 1846.(12) He
was in the First Kentucky Infantry, I company, under the supervision of
Capt. Benjamin F. Stewart. February of 1847 three men from each
company were assigned to guard a train of 110 wagons and 300 pack mules
traveling from Saltillo to Monterey. Five
miles north of Marin they were attacked and surrounded. All the "waggoners were
killed except about twenty who made their escape." Captain Smith gave the
order to surrender. Jacob was captured on February 24, 1847. (13) Somehow
he managed to escape and brought the news into camp. According to a
Captain Conrad Shroeder who posted a letter on Feb 25, "Jacob Powers was among
them also, but escaped and brought the news into camp. He had neither
shoes or cap when he arrived, and I never saw a poor fellow look so bad.
He was wandering all day and night in the chaparral before he found us." (14)
A little more than a year later Jacob married Sarah Bronson in
Louisville on April 30, 1848. (15) In the 1849 tax records J. H. Powers
is listed next to his brother Andrew J Powers. Jacob Powers lived at Cor Camp & Ma
with one horse valued at $25 and 1 gold watch. (16) In the 1850 census for
Louisville, Jefferson Co., KY, Jacob Powers was living with his wife and young
son in the same residence as Sarah's brother, George E. Bronson who was deaf.
(17) His mother, Nancy, was living with Jacob's sister, Eliza who had
married Leroy Tomlinson. Jacob and Leroy are both listed as butchers.
Sometime in the
1850's Jacob and Sarah moved to White Co., TN. In 1854 Jacob put up a deed on his home and
wood shop in Sparta, TN to raise money. (18) Jacob and Montgomery C.
Dibrell were apparently starting the Sparta Building and Loan Association. (19) Sarah's parents,
Elijah W Bronson and his wife Fanny lived in
the adjoining county of Cumberland in Crossville, TN. In the 1860 census
Jacob's real estate was valued at $500 and his personal worth at $400. (20)
The Civil War brought tremendous hardship to this family
and most families suffered emotionally and financially. Eastern
Tennessee was divided by the War and the Bronson family was split right down the
middle. Sarah Bronson's nephew was fighting for the Union in 1863.
Her brother was fighting for the Confederacy and captured in 1863. Her
brother-in-law was killed while fighting for the Confederacy in 1863. One
brother had a son named Jefferson Lee Bronson and another brother had a son
named Abraham Lincoln Bronson. I do not know how Jacob and Sarah felt
about the issues, but since they left Tennessee to live in a Northern State,
they may have sided with the Union.
We know Jacob Powers was visiting back in Louisville in September of 1868 for a reunion of
the soldiers who had fought in the Mexican American War. (21) And his wife,
Sarah, wrote a letter from Tennessee to her sister Hester on 29 Mar 1870 saying she was late in
answering because all her children had measles except the oldest and that she
should move back to Tennessee. But by the 1870 census Jacob was in Johnson Co.,
IN, with no monetary value listed after his name. He was a gunsmith, and
the value of his wife's real estate was $3,500; Sarah's personal wealth was $6,650.
(22) Sarah's
Uncle Silas had just died leaving her $15,000. Sarah's father also died
about 1868 and left his daughters to inherit free from the control and
management of their husbands. When Sarah and Jacob
moved from TN to Johnson Co., IN, it was Sarah who was purchasing the land.
Jacob Powers attended the North Western Christian University Business School
in 1871. (23) He was still listed as a gunsmith in the 1880 census. Then
in 1881 both he and his wife, Sarah Bronson Powers, died of typhoid pneumonia.
Jacob was 63 years old and his wife Sarah only 54. (24)
Sources
1) The bible records indicate his full name was Jacob HUFF Powers born 16 Nov 1818
 |
 Bible kept by Elijah Bronson |
 Bible transcribed by DAR |
(2)
Kentucky County Marriage Records
fhl 482707 image 517
Jesse H Jones to
Susan C. Powers 15 May 1848
daughter of Nancy Powers, consent of Jacob Powers
| (3)
1844 tax record for Louisville, Eastern District, Jefferson
Co., KY fhl film 8055 image 603 J. H. Powers Wash, Camp and Weng Mrs. N Powers " " & " |
 |
(4)
1850 census Louisville, Jefferson, KY
Leroy C Tomlinson, age 40, butcher,
born in KY
Eliza Tomlinson, age 33, born in OH
Franklin Tomlinson, age 13,
born in KY
Isaac F Powers, age 18, butcher, born in OH
Nancy Powers, age
54, born in NJ
(5)
Ohio County Marriage Records
fhl Hamilton County Marriage Records
1839-41 Vol A8 image 63
Leroy C Tomlinson to Eliza Jane Powers, 23 May 1839,
Hamilton Co., OH
(6)
Kentucky County Marriages
fhl film 482707 image 580
John B Stoll to
Mary Ann Powers 4 Apr 1843
daughter of Nancy Powers with oath of Leroy C
Tomlinson
(7)Kentucky
County Marriages
fhl film 482707 image 14
Henry Stoll to Elmira
Powers 4 Oct 1853
sworn to by John B Stoll
|
(8) Obituary of Elmira Powers Stoll
Mrs. Elmira Stoll, wife of Henry Stoll, and daughter of Isaac F. and Nancy Powers, was born in Cincinnati, Ohio,
September 15
1831; was married October 5,
1853 and died in Louisville, Ky.,
July 14, 1867. She
was a woman of lively temperament and cheerful spirits. Fluent in
conversation, with a cheerful smile ever playing on her countenance, she
was always a pleasant companion in social circles. Social and hospitable
in her disposition, she gathered around her a large circle of friends,
and to them made her home a pleasant resort.
She united with the Methodist church in her youth and remained a devoted
member of the same to the day of her death.After an illness of several days she died peacefully and in hope of heaven. Her last words were "We all must die; I am prepared". Her departure has made cheerless the home of a bereaved husband, and left three children without a mother's tender care. Her funeral services were attended by a very large concourse of sorrowing friends, at the Shelby Street Church, where she first gave herself to God, and where for many years she had worshiped Him. She has gone from the Church below to a home on high. J. W. C. |
 Louisville Daily Democrat, December 17, 1867 pg 2 |
(9) 1870 census Louisville, Jefferson, KY
(10) Jacob Huff Powers and his siblings
1.Eliza Jane Powers b. Abt. 1817 OH
Married to Leroy Tomlinson. In 1850 Louisville, Jefferson Co., KY, Nancy and
Isaac Powers are living with them. Leroy C. Tomlinson gave consent for Mary Ann
Powers to marry John B. Stoll on 4 April 1843
2. Jacob Huff Powers
b. 16 Nov 1818 OH
Gave consent for Susan Powers to marry Jesse H. Jones on 15 May 1845
3. Andrew J. Powers b. 23 Feb 1824
Cincinnati, Hamilton Co., OH
In 1860 Louisville, Jefferson Co., KY his daughter Blanch Powers is 3. In 1860
Blanche aged 13 is living with Jesse and Susan Jones in Louisville.
4. Susan C. Powers b. 15 Apr 1828 OH (date of
birth taken from headstone) Obviously either this date of birth or the date of
birth of her sister, Mary Ann Powers, is incorrect.
In her marriage record 15 May 1845 in Louisville, Jefferson Co., KY to Jesse H.
Jones, it is stated she is the "daughter of Nancy Powers who consents hereto as
provided by the oath of Jacob Powers"
5. Mary Ann Powers b. 10 Sep 1828 OH (date of
birth taken from death certificate)
In marriage record 4 Apr 1843 Louisville to John B. Stoll it states she is
"daughter of Nancy Powers who consents as provided by the oath of Leroy
Tomlinson. Leroy Tomlinson was the husband of Eliza Jane Powers.
6. Elmira Powers b. 15 Sep 1831 Cincinnati,
Hamilton Co., OH
Married 04 Oct 1853 Louisville, Jefferson Co., KY to Henry Stoll as bound by
John B. Stoll. Her sister Mary Ann Powers was married to John B. Stoll.
7. Isaac F. Powers b. Abt 1832 OH
Living in household of Leroy and Eliza Jane Powers Tomlinson in 1850,
Louisville, Jefferson Co., KY
8.Sarah Alice Powers b. 13 Mar 1835 KY
listed as Sarah A. Powers born about 1835 and living with Jesse and Susan C
Powers Jones in Lafayette, Floyd, Indiana in 1850
listed as Alace Powers born about 1840 and .living with Elmira Powers Stoll in
Louisville Ward 1, Jefferson, Kentucky in 1860 census
permission to marry in 1860 given by John B. Stoll
oral history from Lulu Jones Ridgeway has it that there was a sister Alice.
courtesy of Anne Cope at
[email protected]
(11) 1839-1840 Shaffer's Advertising Cincinnati Directory
Leroy
Tomlinson, boards at Mrs. Ann Powers
| (12) Document on file at the National Archives in Washington |
 |
| (13) Those reported captured on Feb 24, 1847
were: Capt Smith of the US Quartermaster's Department 1st Lieut W. P Barbour J. Seabough T Pinckston G. A. Phillips Geo. Crawford R. Cockrill A Waterbury James Warnick John Welch Christopher Davis H. Gruths Valentine Nachent T Englemonn Josiah S Jewell N. P. Gilbert J Fogerty |
D Newman Henry Hiesman (or Hurmann) Wm. Wrothman Wm. Truler Corporal U. Gwynn W. Taylor Chas. Bibb James Glass Wm. Crumm Sergeant Joseph Marsh James Stewart Edward Downing Thos. Barry Flavius Fairbanks F. A. Miller W. Carpenter |
 Louisville Morning Courier April 10, 1847 |
| (14) Letter from Captain Conrad Shroeder Citadel Fort, near Monterey 25th February, 1847 One of my men, by the name of Shultz, who went up to Saltillo to escort a train, was murdered on the 23d of February. On the 22d of this month the Mexicans took a train of 110 wagons, and 300 pack mules on the road between here and Cerrulvo. This train was loaded with provisions, and was escorted down to Camargo by Lt. Barbour, of the Oldham Forresters, and thirty of our regiment - three out of each company. The Mexicans attacked them, took them, and killed all the waggoners except about twenty, who made their escape. What they have done with the escort God only knows. The three men out of my company were Wm Troxler, Wm Wrotman, and J. Hurmann. James Stewart and A. downing were among the prisoners. Jacob Powers was among them also, but escaped and brought the news into camp. He had neither shoes or cap when he arrived, and I never saw a poor fellow look so bad. He was wandering all day and night in the chaparral before he found us. T. Miller, of Capt. Bullen's company, was killed. He was offered quarter, but he preferred death to being a Mexican prisoner. I am sorry to tell you that one of my men, named George Wolf, who went to escort some ammunition in Taylor's camp, lost his right hand by an accident in loading his piece. It will have to be amputated. |
 Louisville Morning Courier April 7, 1847 |
(15)
Marriage Register from Louisville Town Records
fhl film 482707 image 396
"April 29th Jacob H. Powers and Sarah F. Bronson She having parents who
reside out of this state and she living with John Harper who consents hereto
in person. Married 30th April 1848 & license returned by Wm Holman"
Louisville Marriage Register, pg 195
| (16)
Tax record of 1849 for Louisville, Eastern District, Jefferson
Co., KY fhl film 8057 image 100 J. H. Powers Cor Camp & Ma 1 horse value $25 1 gold watch total value $25. And J Powers Cor Gy & Ma |
 |
(17)
1850 census Louisville, Jefferson, KY
Jacob H Powers, age 30, Butcher,
born in Ohio
Sarah Powers, age 21
Leroy E Powers, age 1, born in KY
George E. Bronson, age 26, clerk, born in OH, deaf and dumb
|
| (19) Act of the state of Tennessee passed by the general assembly | Sec. 12. Be it further enacted, That M. C. Dibrell, Jacob Powers, John L James, Joseph Snodgrass, Wayman Clark, Wm Clayton, J. G. Mitchell, and such other persons as may be associated with them and their assigns, be, and they are hereby declared to be a body corporate and politic by the name and style of the Sparta Building and Loan Association, with all the powers and privileges, and subject to all the restrictions of the Memphis Building Association, passed February 1st, 1854, chapter twenty-three. |
(20) 1860 census for White Co., TN
| (21) The Veterans of Mexico reunion in 1868 Those attending: Company A: J. Randolph Bull, Corp. Delos T. Bllgh, John Gulman, Frank M Schell, Chas. Osborn, Felix H Graff, First Sergeant James Hazlett, Thos. J. Carey, E G. Wiggington, James H. Huber, A. A. Williams, Ben. F. Fuller, Lorenzo Owens, Robt. Mills, Capt. J. F. Huber. Company C. Sergeant W. G. Parsons, Geo. Burt, Thos. Stevens, A. Waterbury, Geo Burnett, Company D Capt F Kerr, Lieut. Louis Becker, Lieut. Jacob Pfalzer, Sergts A Hilgar, Wm H. Kube, Peter Weber, Corp. Jos. Fisher, A. Werner, U. Steigtetter. Company E Lieut Jos. C. Baird, John D. Pope, John L Martz, Ben. Lucas, Lafayette D. Anderson. Company F Mitchell Lapacile, John Fogarty, John McGreary. Company G John H. Wheeler, Oliver H. Stratton. Company I Lieut. Wm White, A. J. Kriel, WM, Weller, Wm. Varble, Louis Leighton, W. L. G. McPherson, Jos. L. Crundall, Jacob Powers, W. C. Williams. Company K Lieut. E. M. Stone, Geo. W. Anderson, Peter S Brown, Sergt. J. Wilson Green, Sergt. Lewis Robards, T. T. Summers, John W. Walton, Arbay Robinson, Thos. Q. Berry, W. M. Tilden, Robt. S. White, John T. Mullen, John P. Richards, Samuel McHugh. |
 Louisville Daily Courier September 22, 1868 |
(22) 1870 census Johnson Co., IN
(23)
North Western Christian University Business School
J Huff Powers of
Franklin
(24) The obituary in the Franklin Democrat in Johnson County for Friday, December 2, 1881 reads, "Jacob H. Powers died at his home in Greenwood Tuesday night and his wife Sarah F. Powers died yesterday morning, both of typhoid pneumonia. They will be brought to this city for internment today."
Obit of Jacob H. Powers from The Democrat, Franklin, IN Friday, Dec. 2, 1881
Buried: Greenlawn Cemetery
