ID: I1410
Name: Aaron POWERS
Given Name: Aaron
Surname: Powers
Prefix: Reverend 1
Sex: M
Birth: 1 Feb 1782 in The Great Neck (Waterford), New London, Connecticut
Burial: Aft 26 Mar 1862 Bond cemetery, Greenbush, Warren, Illinois
Note: Aaron left Connecticut in 1805 and went to North Bend, Ohio where he was married to Martha Colby. It is said that Aaron Powers had very little formal education but that he acquired a considerable education on his own by hard studying and buying his own books. He was noted for his great memory and few excelled him as a grammarian of his day. He taught school at North Bend for 5 yrs. His first term earned him $10 but he received $15 for each term thereafter. He bought 125 acres of land at Butler County, Ohio and moved there in 1811. He resided there until he moved to Warren County, Illinois in 1839 where he bought a farm at Greenbush Township and resided there at the time of his death. The first white man settled there around 1828. It is claimed that Aaron Powers brought the first cook stove into the settlement when he came in 1839. Aaron was a Methodist Preacher. He was one of the first preachers at Walker Chapel at the Methodist Episcopal Church in Reilly Township, Butler County, Ohio. The Walker Chapel Methodist Episcopal Church was organized as early as 1830 at the houses of the first members. About the same time this Church recieved a lot on which to build a house of worship. This lot adjoined the one on which school-house No. 4 stands, one mile northeast of the present Church. Until 1844 or 1845 the society worshipped in the school-house. This lot was then sold, and the proceeds applied in payment of the lot on which the chapel now stands. This church was built in 1845, and dedicated by the Rev. George W. WALKER, for whom the chapel was named. During the last three years of the civil war it enjoyed considerable prosperity. James T. FAUCETT and Henry CUBBERLY have contributed greatly to the advancement of this society. It is now next to Ebenezer in importance as an appointment on the circuit. George ALLHANDS was one of the early class-leaders, and services were held on his farm as early as 1818. Dr. Andrew KING and James STEPHENS owned the land on which the church stands, and also where the graveyard now is. Among the early members were: Caleb STEPHENS, Elisha LANDON, Jacob HANSEL, William ANTHONY, Mr. MACK, and Micajah ANTHONY, with their wives. Aaron POWERS was one of the first preachers. He preached his first sermon at Greenbush, Illinois about one week after his arrival in a log school house a short distance from his home. He later joined the Mormon Church but became dissatisfied and joined the Missionary Baptists where he remained until his death. In Politics, Aaron was a Democrat up to the time of the Abe Lincoln nomination for president. He then switched to being a Republican. Aaron was left out of his father's will as the family did not know where he was.
Miscellaneous Information:
The Justice of the Peace that married Aaron and Martha was named Joseph Hunter.
The Miami Valley Genealogical Index for Ohio shows the following:
NAMEYEARTYPEPAGESUBCOUNTY
Powers, Aaron1807MarrColby, Martha Bu
Powers, Aaron1820Cen065Reiley Twp Bu
Powers, Aaron1830Cen179Reiley Twp Bu
Butler County, Ohio Marriage Records Book (Volume 1/Page 11):
Recorded April 6th 1807
Married on the 9th day of February 1807 by Joseph Hunter Esquire a Justice of the peace for the county aforesaid - Aaron Powers to Martha Colby.
Deed Records Book C:
Butler County, Ohio Land Records, Vol. 1, 1803-1816, Shirley Keller Mikesell, Heritage Books, Inc., 1997
Deed dated 1813. Stephen Armstrong & Ruth his wife to James Mapes, all of Reily Twp. S 35, T 4, R 1. Signed Stephen Armstrong, Ruth (x) Armstrong. Witn: Aaron Powers, Charles Steward. rec 1813. pp 370, 371
Deed dated 1813. Aaron Powers & Martha his wife to Stephen Armstrong. S-T-R as above. Signed Aaron Powers, Martha Powers. Witn: James Mapes, Charles Steward. JP John Burk. rec 1813. p 371
Deed dated 1813. Stephen Armstrong & ruth his wife to Charles Stewart. S 35, T 4, R 1; bound by land of witn. Signed Stephen Armstrong, Ruth (x) Armstrong. Witn: Aaron Powers, James Mapes. rec 1813. pp 419, 420
Reily Township List and Valuation of Real Property made in the year 1834 (by James McBride -- Appraiser):
OWNER'S NAMERANGETOWNSECTPART/SECTIONACRESVALUE
Solon Powers1421NE pt NE qrtr 32100
Aaron Powers1435E pt SW qrtr 103515
Aaron Powers1435One Tannery 50
An advertisement from the Western Telegraph in Rossville, Ohio dated 14 February 1839 (it ran for about 7 weeks):
THE subscriber desires to inform the public that he wishes to sell his Farm, to go to the west. It is situated ten miles west of Hamilton, on the State road leading from Hamilton to Brookville, containing one hundred and one acres and twenty-hundredths of an acre; 70 acres of which are in a high state of cultivation; a large Orchard of select grafted fruit; a good barn and valuable Locust nurcery; 40 acres in a good state for corn this year; wheat crop given in. For privilege and convenience, not surpassed by any of the size in Butler county; the soil is good and well watered.
AARON POWERS.
For information, enquire of Aaron Powers jr. School teacher, in Hamilton.
Feb 14 1839-14
Illinois Public Land Purchase:
Name:POWERS AARON
Section:W2NW
Price:13
Total:1040
Date:19 September 1854
Volume:340
Page:134
Type:FD
Sect:27
Twnship:07N
Range:13W
Meridian:3
Acres:8000
Corr-Tag:0
ID:334122
SocStat:
Blank:
Reside:060
Illinois Public Land Purchase:
Name:POWERS AARON
Section:SENE
Price:13
Total:520
Date:19 September 1854
Volume:340
Page:134
Type:FD
Sect:28
Twnship:07N
Range:13W
Meridian:3
Acres:4000
Corr-Tag:0
ID:334123
SocStat:
Blank:
Reside:060
Illinois Public Land Purchase:
Name:POWERS AARON
Section:SESE
Price:13
Total:520
Date:19 September 1854
Volume:340
Page:134
Type:FD
Sect:21
Twnship:07N
Range:13W
Meridian:3
Acres:4000
Corr-Tag:0
ID:334124
SocStat:
Blank:
Reside:060
Illinois Public Land Purchase:
Name:POWERS AARON
Section:SWSW
Price:13
Total:520
Date:19 September 1854
Volume:340
Page:134
Type:FD
Sect:22
Twnship:07N
Range:13W
Meridian:3
Acres:4000
Corr-Tag:0
ID:334125
SocStat:
Blank:
Reside:060
Illinois BLM Land Records for Aaron Powers (6/1/1857) 200 acres:
PARTSBLOCKTWPRANGESECMERIDSTATECOUNTY
SESE 21/ 7-N 13-W No 3rd PM IL Jersey
SWSW 22/ 7-N 13-W No 3rd PM IL Jersey
W½NW 27/ 7-N 13-W No 3rd PM IL Jersey
SENE 28/ 7-N 13-W No 3rd PM IL Jersey
Warren County Index, Will Book 1831 - 1915:
POWERS, Aaron Date Aug 23, 1862 executor Caroline Powelson box 62
Last Will and Testament of Aaron Powers:
This last Will and Testament of Aaron Powers of Warren County and State of Illinois. I, Aaron Powers being of sound mind do make and publish this my last will and Testament, in manner as follows:
First It is my will that my Son in law, A.G. Pearce be the Executor of this my will.
Second It is my will that all sums of money that I have paid to any or either of my children heretofore as I may hereafter make a fair and true statement of the amount and to whom paid or of all sums that I may after the date of this will pay to any of my children as may be shown by receipts, the sum shall be reckoned as a part of each recipients share as money then on hand, so that there may be an equalizing in the final division of my property.
I, Aaron Powers have paid to my son Joseph C. Powers ($750.00) Seven hundred and fifty dollars, and I have paid to my son John M. $284 Two hundred and Eighty four Dollars, and I have paid to Benjamin A. $735 Seven Hundred and Thirty five Dollars, and I have paid to Daniel D. $365 Three Hundred and Sixty five Dollars, to my Daughter Eliza $93 Ninety three Dollars, I have paid to my son Colby deceased $144, One Hundred and forty four Dollars and to be a part of my Grand son James share - I have paid to my son Aaron deceased $300 Three Hundred Dollars and to be a part of his children's shares - I have paid by Solon deceased $300 Three Hundred Dollars and to be a part or all his two childrens shares. I have paid to Martha Jane my daughter deceased $125 One Hundred and Twenty five Dollars, and to be reckoned in the account of her Daughter Eliza Janes portion.
Third It is my will that my Executor sell at publick sale so soon as may be after my decease a all my Estate real and personal of which I shall be possessed and on such terms of payment as may be most advisable and my Executor shall dispose of the proceeds of said Sale when collected to paying expense debts and legacies hereinafter named.
It is my will that one third the money arising from the Sale of my property be put at interest during the life time of my wife and she to recover the annual interest after meeting the expense of its supervision and after her death the said one third to be divided among my children and grand children as the other two thirds shall hereafter be directed to de divided.
It is my will that the remaining two thirds of my Estate be divided among my children and grand children as follows: I give unto my son Joseph C., John M., Benjamin A., Daniel D. Powers my four sons and Eliza Pearce and Mary G. Starr my two daughters equal shares of my estate and to their heirs and assigns. And to my daughter Phebe I give or order to be put at interest for her support during her life a sum equal to three times that given to either of my six children first named and at her death to be divided as my other property. And to the Children of my son Aaron dec'd, and to the children of my son Solon deceased, and to the child of my son Colby deceased, and to the child of my daughter Martha Jane deceased, I give each child (being my grand children) a sum equal to one sixth (1/6) of either or anyone of my six children first named, making the portion of each of these my grand children equal to one sixth of Joseph C. Powers.
In witness I have hereunto put my hand and seal this seventh day of August in the year One Thousand and Eight Hundred and Fifty Seven
Aaron Powers {Seal}
The above Instrument consisting of one sheet was here subscribed to by Aaron Powers testator in the presence of each of us and was at the same time declared by him to be his last Will and Testament and we at his request sign our names hereto as attesting witnesses.
AttestR. A. Saunders
George Snapp.
Aaron's tombstone inscription reads:
"Blessed and Holy is he who hath a part in the first resurrection for of such the second death hath no power."
1820 United States Federal Census of Butler County, Ohio: Page 65/Reily Twp
MALEMALEMALEMALEMALEMALEFMLEFMLEFMLEFMLEFMLE
NAME-1010-1616-1816-2626-4545+-1010-1616-2626-4545+#AG
Aaron Powers320010100101
1830 Unites States Federal Census of Butler County, Ohio: Page 179/Reily Twp Males
NAME-55-1010-1515-2020-3030-4040-5050-6060-7070-8080-9090-100100
Aaron Powers121220100000 |
Home Page: My Direct Line Powers Genealogy