William S. Powers' Group Sheet

William and Addie (More) Powers
My Paternal Great-Grandparents

William Seldon Powers married Addie More 25 April 1888 in Lapeer County, Michigan.  He immigrated to Michigan from Grimsby, Ontario, Canada, about 1880 give or take a year.  Addie became an alien and had to be naturalized when she married William (a Canadian and alien) even though she was born and raised in Lapeer County, Michigan, USA.

Source - William S. Powers When He Was Still An Alien

Newspaper items regarding Powers's in Lapeer County.

Naturalization papers for William in 1931.

1934 Flint City Directory

Allen, Wm R (Mae A) rail opr Eastern Mich Rys r 1701 E. Hamilton

Powers, Marion G. (Marian J) autowkr  h 1530 Colorado

Powers, Ralph (Beatrice) bodywkr  r 1661 Beach

Powers, William S. (Addie M) carp  h 1530 Colorado

William S Powers

[Burial] Place Dryden, Lapeer, Michigan

Birth Date 27 Aug 1859

Death Date 10 Jul 1939

Cemetery Thornville Cemetery

Name Addie More Powers

Event Type Death

Event Date 21 May 1947

Gender Female

Father's Name Moore

Mother's Name Richmond

[Buried in Thornville Cemetery]

See her obituary in the Flint (Mich.) Journal here.

A brief history of our Powers family written by Marion Garrison Powers.

William S. Powers entry at Wikitree.

Addie Mae (Powers) Allen

Addie Mae Powers, daughter of William S. and Addie (More) Powers, married William Roy Allen as his second wife. Their children were William, Elizabeth Jane, and Marion George Allen.

Name Addie May Powers

Gender Female

Christening Place Calhoun, Michigan

Birth Date 28 Feb 1898

Birthplace Battle Creek, Calhoun, Mich

Father's Name Wm. S. Powers

Mother's Name Addie M. Powers

Census 1900

Battle Creek city Ward 1, Calhoun, Michigan

William S Po??S Head M 41 Canada Eng

Addie M Po??S Wife F 36 Michigan

Na?? S Po??S Son M 7 Michigan

Ralph N Po??S Son M 4 Michigan

Addie M Po??S Daughter F 2 Michigan

Cynthia Moor Mother-in-law F 71 New York

Mary F Greene Servant F 29 Ohio

Census 1900
Allegan, Michigan, United States
Robert Reid Head M 73 Ireland
Jennie Reid Wife F 54 Ohio
William Allen Servant M 14 Michigan
Mildred Martin Servant F 18 Indiana
[The Reids were in-laws of William's aunt, Ida Shepard - Ida lived next door]

 March 1, 1906 (Oregon Twp) in the Lapeer Clarion newspaper:
Willie Allen leaves for Douglas on March 5th to work for the summer.  On Wednesday evening 20 or more of his young friends gave him a surprise.  The evening was spent playing Flinch and other games and at a late hour they departed for their several homes wishing Willie God speed in his absence. [Douglas, Allegan County, Michigan]

William R. Allen married 1st, Mildred Wooley, February 1909; she and their infant child died in 1916.

Census 1910
Saugatuck, Allegan, Michigan
William R Allen Head M 24 Michigan
[fruit farm manager]
Mildred E Allen Wife F 27 Michigan
William Coxford Hired man M 23 Canada

Census 1910

Dryden, Lapeer, Michigan

William S Powers Head M 50 Canada

Adda M Powers Wife F 45 Michigan

Ward S Powers Son M 16 Michigan

Ralph N Powers Son M 13 Michigan

Adda M Powers Daughter F 12 Michigan

Cynthia J Powers Daughter F 9 Michigan

Marion G Powers Son M 3 Michigan

[All of the children who became adults were listed in this census]

Addie Powers' marriage to William Roy Allen:

Name Wm R Allen

Age (Expanded) 30 years

Birth Year 1887

Birthplace Lapeer

Spouse's Name A Mae Powers

Spouse's Age (Expanded) 18 years

Spouse's Birth Year 1899

Spouse's Birthplace Lapeer Co.

Event Date 13 Jan 1917

Event Place Flint, Genesee, Michigan

Father's Name Wm S Allen

Mother's Name Emily Sheppard

Spouse's Father's Name Wm Powers

Spouse's Mother's Name Addie Moore

Name William Roy Allen

Draft Registration

 Date 1917-1918

Flint City no 1, Michigan

Birth Date 07 Mar 1881

Birthplace , , United States

[1205 S. Saginaw Street]

[2nd finger right hand off at 1st joint]

Census 1920

Flint Ward 3, Genesee, Michigan

[336 W. Twelfth Street, Flint]

William R Allan Head M 33 Michigan

Annie May Allan Wife F 21 Michigan

William R Allan Son M 1 Michigan

Elizabeth Jane Allan Daughter F 0 Michigan

1920 Flint City Directory
Allen, Wm R (Addie) mtrmn, res: 336 W. 12th

1924 Flint City Directory
Allen, Wm R. (A. May) mtrmn h 221 W. 13th

Census 1930

Flint, Genesee, Michigan

[Rented 2001 Dwight Ave, $25]

William R Allen Head M 43 Michigan

[street car operator]

Addie M Allen Wife F 33 Michigan

W Ralph Allen Son M 11 Michigan

E Jane Allen Daughter F 10 Michigan

M George Allen Son M 5 Michigan

1934 Flint City Directory

Allen, Wm R (Mae A) rail opr Eastern Mich Rys r 1701 E. Hamilton

Census, 1940

Flint City, Genesee, Michigan

[Owned Home @ 1701 Hamilton Ave; valued $3300]

  William Allen M 54 Michigan

[trolley coach driver]

Addie Allen F 42 Michigan

William R Allen M 21 Michigan

Elizabeth Allen F 20 Michigan

Marion G Allen M 15 Michigan

California, Death Index, 1940-1997

name: Addie Mae Allen

event: Death

event date: 03 Feb 1981

Los Angeles, California, United States

birth date: 28 Feb 1898

birthplace: Michigan

gender: Female

father: Powers

mother: Moore

See two letters by Marion George Allen here and here.

Gardner Odell's Minor Children

Michigan, Probate Records...Genesee Estate files 1857-1883...:

Image 273

File# 1020

Mtter of William G. Odell

Gardner Odell, dec'd, late of Calhoun Co.

Margaret E. Sinnott of Genesee County has 3 minor children in said county:

John Charles F. Odell, age 12

Cynthia M. Odell, age 10

William G. Odell, age 6

15 May 1869

Also mentioned: Solyman Carpenter

Name Egerton Willson

Age (Expanded) 52 years

Birth Year 1841

Birthplace Canada

Spouse's Name Cynthia O'Dell Mccallum

Spouse's Age (Expanded) 34 years

Spouse's Birth Year 1859

Spouse's Birthplace  Flint, Michigan

Event Date 18 Oct 1893

Event Place Cadillac, Wexford, Michigan

Father's Name John Willson

Mother's Name Margaret Lawrence

Spouse's Father's Name Gardner O'Dell

Spouse's Mother's Name Margaret Wheaton

Census 1860

Athens, Calhoun, Michigan, United States

Gardner Odell M 39 New York

Margaret Odell F 26 New York

Charles Odell M 4 Michigan

Cynthia Odell F 1 Michigan

See Margaret's Widow's Pension from Gardner Odell's Civil War service here.

Beatrice And The Most Handsome Man In Flint

Beatrice Cameron and her friend Suzanne met "the most handsome man in Flint*" at a local fair some time before May 29, 1924, Beatrice's wedding day.  

In 1923, Beatrice was a machine operator at the Marvel Carburetor Company and lived at 609 Warren Avenue in Flint, Michigan.  Beatrice's future husband, Ralph N. Powers, was an auto worker who lived on South Saginaw Street, right in the heart of the City of Flint,   

When Beatrice was born on July 4, 1900, in Arenac County, Michigan, Ralph was almost four years old and living in Battle Creek.  

*Ralph N. Powers - as related to me by his daughter, who quoted an in-law of Ralph's sister Cynthia June (Powers) Brown.  

Ralph N. Powers' 4 Generation Chart

Ralph Newman Powers' profile at Wikitree and the dynamic tree view here.  He's my paternal grandfather.

Ralph N. Powers

Ralph N. Powers was born in Battle Creek, Michigan, in 1896.  Why his parents moved there is a mystery to me.  Ralph's mother, Addie More, was born (1864) and raised in Lapeer County, Michigan. Although she died at the home of her daughter, Addie Mae (Powers) Allen, in California (1947), she was buried in Thornville Cemetery in Lapeer.

William S. Powers was born in Grimsby, Ontario, Canada (1859).  He and Addie More married in Lapeer on 25 April 1888. Their (adult) children were Ward, Ralph, Addie Mae, Cynthia June, and Marion Garrison Powers.  After William's death (1939), his widow continued to live with her youngest son, Marion, in Flint, Michigan.

John Powers (born in 1834 in Canada or possibly Ireland) married 1st Mary Agnes Kennedy (1834-1908), of Ontario, Canada.  They were the parents of Clara Estelle, William, John E., James A.,  and Harry G. Powers, who were all born in Canada, Harry being the possible exception.  John married again; that record provided the names (Michael Powers and Mary McGovern) of John's Irish parents who moved to Canada.

Mary Agnes and John Powers

Mary Agnes was the daughter of David Kennedy and Ann Howard.  The Kennedy's children also included Wilber, Melissa, Howard, and probably others.  Ann was the daughter of William Howard and Mary (LNU).  I don't know the identity of David Kennedy's ancestors.

Addie (More) Powers was the daughter of James More and Cynthia Richmond.  Other More children included John Frank, James Levi, Ward B., Charles Austin, and Mary. James was born in Scotland about 1815 and died in Lapeer in 1870.  James' parents were William More and Margaret Norrie according to family tradition.  Cynthia (1829-1912) was the daughter of Thomas P. Richmond and Laura Backus. Cynthia's known siblings were Almina and Emory.

Hatches Of Homer, Michigan

Major Timothy Hatch of Hartford, Ct., and His Descendants:

Frederick R. Hatch, b. 1803, married, in May 1824, Mila G. Hamilton.  In May, 1835, the family removed to Burneyville (now Homer), Michigan [from Massachusetts].  The journey then required thirty days.

Frederick's mother was Sarah Walker Shepherd, a niece of General William Shepherd who was involved in Shay's Rebellion.  His father was Timothy Hatch, son of Major Timothy Hatch.

Albion Local History Database

From the Albion, Michigan, Library's database in Calhoun County:

"The Albion Area Obituary Collection includes over 52,000 obituaries and Riverside Cemetery records dating from the 1830’s. Most have been entered into the database index, which is updated monthly as new obituaries are obtained."

These are not members of my Powers family, but were a few Powers' found in the database (though my Powers family did briefly live in Calhoun County):

Last Name	First	Middle	Birthdate	Death Date
POWERS	Carrie	E.	04/29/1874	5/12/61
POWERS	Clarence	Giles	04/29/1874	5/4/49
POWERS	Edwin	John	12/16/15	5/30/03
Powers	Elizabeth	Ann	01/18/1866	1/4/53

A Dwight Descendant (Frances Squier) In Homer, Michigan

 From The History Of The Descendants Of John Dwight, Of Dedham, Mass., Volume 2:

 


9.  i.  Fanny Ann Squier, b. Jan. 3, 1824, m. April 14, 1840, Zechariah Umsteed, a blacksmith in Homer, Mich.  She d. Oct. 2, 1841.

Michigan Marriages, 1822-1995
Groom's Name:     Zechariah Umstad
Bride's Name:     Francis A. Squires
Marriage Date:     14 Apr 1840
Marriage Place:     Jackson,Michigan

Zechariah was remarried and still living in Homer, Calhoun County, Michigan, in 1850.

United States Census, 1850
Name:     Zakariah Umsted
Residence:     Homer, Calhoun, Michigan
Calculated Birth Year:     1814
Birthplace:     Maryland
      Zakariah Umsted     M     36y
    Sarah A Umsted     F     37y
    James Umsted     M     4y
    Eli Jones     M     19y
    Elizabeth Rogers     F     21y
    Alburt Sherwood     M     25y

 

United States Census, 1870
Name:     Zacariah Umpstead
Estimated Birth Year:     1813
Gender:     Male
Age in 1870:     57y
Birthplace:     Maryland
Home in 1870:     Michigan, United States
     Zacariah Umpstead     M     57y
    Sarah Umpstead     F     48y
    James Umpstead     M     24y
    Harriet Maitenson     F     20y

Michigan Deaths and Burials, 1800-1995
Name:     Z Umstad
Gender:     Male
Death Date:     05 Sep 1891
Death Place:     Marshall, Calhoun, Michigan
Age:     78
Birth Date:     1813
Birthplace:     Maryland
Occupation:     Farmer
Marital Status:     Married

My grandkids have Squier ancestors, but it is unknown if there is a link to Frances (Fanny) Squier, the "Dwight" descendant.  This is the Andrew Squier to whom they are related..  We summer in Homer, Michigan, and that is the Homer connection.

Generations Online

Volumes 1 through 20 of Generations, the publication of the Calhoun County, Michigan, Genealogical Society, is online and is indexed.

Powers Family History By Marion G. Powers

Below is a brief history of John Powers and his son, William.

I treasure the information (below) given to me by William Powers' son, Marion G. Powers (my great-uncle). Uncle Marion was not interested in genealogy, but was gracious enough to share what he knew with me.

POWERS FAMILY

John N. Powers was born in Ireland in 1834. Came to America in 1850 with two older brothers, landed in Nova Scotia. Came over on a Tramp Steamer and often told of the rough and tiresome trip.

Captain was a hard task master and was not very good to the boys and they had to work very hard and not much food.

It is not known how long the brothers were together but John was left by himself and drifted West in Canada to Area of Grimsby, Ontario.

All he knew what work to do was digging ditches, which he did and worked some on farms. He had a hard time to get some clothes together.

In 1855 he met and married Agnes Kennedy of English descent and to this union five children were born: Clara in 1857 and William S. in 1859, John E. in 1861, James in 1863, Harry in 1865.

They lived in Canada until after the children were born and then came to America and settled in Dryden, Michigan. William went to Detroit and worked there earned money to buy a lot in Dryden and built a house for his parents. William was twenty-nine when he met and married Addie M. More of Thornville, Michigan. They lived in Detroit for a short time and then moved to Battle Creek where he was employed by the Advance Machine Company and they lived on Upton Ave, Battle Creek for many years.

Their first son was born dead in 1890, then in 1893 Ward Stanley was born. Ralph Newman born in 1897, July 27th. Addie Mae born Feb. 28, 1898, and Cynthia June in 1900, June 18th.

In 1901 William quit the Advance Company and moved to a farm in Dryden township, Lapeer County. The farm was taken up from the Government by Addie's father and was now in her mother's name. William and Addie purchased same from her, Mrs. James More, in about 1904. This was the year that Charles Arthur was born and lived 6 days.

Farming was a hard job in those years but they made a living for the family. Then in 1906 Marion Garrison was born and that wast he last member of the family.

The farm was sold and the family moved to Flint and William worked for the Buick Motor factory and did carpenter work for himself. He passed on in 1939 and was buried in Thornville Cemetery Mich.

Addie lived until May 1947 and was buried beside her husband in Thornville.

Ward passed on in 1953 in Washington, D.C. in 1953 Oct. and as he fought in the WWI he was buried in Arlington Cemetery, Virginia.

Ralph died in Oct. 1965 and was buried in Cemetery on Hill Rd., Grand Blanc.

June died April 1976 and was buried in Flint Memorial Cemetery, Flint, Michigan.

Making A Move - The William Powers Family

From the Lapeer County Press (5 September 1900):

William S. Powers of Battle Creek with his family has moved into one of Mac Smith's houses on the west side of Pine st.

Google map screen shot of Pine Street - Exact Address Unknown

Addie, Mrs. William S. Powers, was born and raised in Lapeer County, Michigan.

Wordless Wednesday - Underground Railroad Statue - Battle Creek, MI

Underground Railroad statue in Battle Creek, Michigan: