Powell, Sr., William H.

Born: 1818-XX-XX Wales, United Kingdom

Died: 1903-XX-XX La Salle County, Illinois

Flourished: La Salle County, Illinois

William H. Powell, Sr. was a farmer, public servant, public administrator, and Republican. He moved to La Salle County, Illinois in 1837. He served in a variety of roles for the county over time, including as justice of the peace, notary public, assessor, and tax collector. In 1844, he married Elizabeth Warner, with whom he had four children. By 1850, he lived in the unincorporated community of Northville in La Salle County and owned $1,500 in real estate. Powell was a member of the Illinois State Teachers’ Institute and served as that organization’s secretary in 1853 and as its president in 1855. By 1856, he lived in Peoria County, Illinois. In September of that year, he served as one of that county’s representatives to the Illinois Republican Party convention. During the election of 1856, the voters of Illinois elected him superintendent of public instruction for the state. He served in this position until 1858. By 1860, he was living in La Salle County and owned $4,800 in real estate and another $500 in personal property. His wife Elizabeth died in 1865. He still lived in Northville when he died.

The History of Peoria County Illinois (Chicago: Johnson, 1880), 197; The Past and Present of La Salle County, Illinois (Chicago: H. F. Kett, 1877), 445; U.S. Census Office, Seventh Census of the United States (1850), La Salle County, IL, 350; Illinois Daily Journal (Springfield), 29 December 1853, 2:3; Daily Illinois State Journal (Springfield), 27 December 1855, 2:4; 25 September 1856, 2:1-2; 20 November 1856, 2:2; The Weekly Pantagraph (Bloomington, IL), 6 June 1856, 2:3; U.S. Census Office, Eighth Census of the United States (1860), La Salle County, IL, 67; Gravestone, Northville Cemetery, La Salle County, IL.