Gen. Eugene Powell
Gen. Eugene Powell, whose death occurred March 17, 1907, at Columbus, Ohio, of which city he was a resident during the latter years of his life, was a native of Delaware, Ohio, and a resident there until his removal to Columbus in 1888. He is well remembered by the people of Delaware County as a man of sterling qualities and unimpeachable integrity, ome who was devoted to those things held most sacred in life—family, religion and country. He was not of that type given to the acquirement of riches, to the exclusion of the development of the finer qualities of manhood, although he was successful in a business way. He was charitably inclined, and was ever ready to give assistance to the families to those patriots who gave their lives in defense of the Union, or to those who emerged from that terrible struggle in impaired health, unfit to cope in the business world with those more fortunate. He bore an honorable record for services, as private and officer, during the Civil War, and in after years was frequently called upon to serve the public in fiduciary capacity. As soldier or public officer, be conscientiously gave his best efforts, and the place he held in the esteem and confidence of his fellow men is one time cannot change.
General Powell was born in the family home on what is now the campus of Ohio Weslevan University, November 16, 1835, and was a son of Thomas Watkin and Elizabeth (Gordon) Powell, concerning whom an extended account appears on another page of this work. The Powell family traces its lineage back to the Ancient Britons, in the Saxon invasion of Great Britain, in the Fifth Century of the Christian Era. It became established in South Wales, where Thomas W. Powell was born in November, 1797. He was four years of age when brought to America by his parents, who located at Utica, New York, where he was reared and educated. As above mentioned an account is elsewhere given of his subsequent career at Canton and Perrysburg, Ohio, and at Delaware, the scene of bis greatest activity, and of his fame as lawyer and author.
Eugene Powell was reared in Delaware, attended the public school and Ohio Wesleyan University. Upon leaving school he went to Conneaut, Pennsylvania, with an uncle, David Powell, a well known manufacturer. He erected the first water works plant in Cincinnati, Ohio, and after an absence of two years returned to Delaware, Ohio. He soon after enlisted as a private in the same company with Colonel Crawford, 4th Reg. O. V. I., for service during the Civil War. He was elected captain, and later was transferred to the 66th Reg. O. V. I., of which be was made major; he was advanced to lieutenant-colonel, acting colonel, in which capacity he served until near the close of the war, then became colonel of the 193d Reg. O. V. I. After the battle of Antietam, in which he was wounded in the face and neck, he was brevet brigadier-general. He was in many of the important engagements of the war, among them: Rich Mountain, Romney, Winchester, Ft. Republic, Cedar Mountain, Winchester, Antietam, Chancellorsville, Dumfries, Gettysburg, Lookout Mountain. Dug Gap, Resaca, New Hope Church, Peach Tree Creek, Atlanta, Savannah. He was in the campaign through the Carolinas and then came north to Washington, D. C., where he was mustered out. He was offered the commission of major in the regular army of the United States, but declined in order to return to peaceful pursuits. His longest serice was with the 66th Regiment, in which he enjoyed the greatest popularity among officers and men. Owing to temporary physical disability he was about to resign his commission at one time, but General Thomas would not have it so, and with the comment that "Powell was too good an officer to lose," sent him to the military hospital at Lookout Mountain. He was peculiarly well fitted for military service, of commanding presence, being of good physique and handsome features, and a natural born leader of men. When a boy he had organized a military company in Delaware, and a brilliant army career was before him had he wished to enter the regular army at the close of the war. He was modest and unassuming, and was scrupulously neat in his personal appearance, it being noticed that when his regiment came in irom a long march, tired and eager for rest, he was never too weary to first make himself tidy.
Upon his return from the front, or soon after, he was appointed by President Johnson as internal revenue collector, an office he filled for several years. He was a Democrat in politics, but always reserved the right to vote as he pleased, regardless of party affiliations. He was elected to the Ohio Stale Legislature in 1871 and 1873, serving his constituents in a most capable manner. He helped organize the Delaware Fence Company, which he managed, and was secretary of the Board of Managers of the Ohio Penitentiary. He later served as National Bank Examiner for several years. He was a member of the committee which disburses State funds to families of indegent soldiers, under appointment of Governor Nash, and was appointed by the same governor to the committee that built Memorial Hall, at Columbus.
General Powell was joined in marriage with Miss Louise Falconer, a daughter of Cyrus Falconer, M. D., of Hamilton, Ohio, one of the best known physicians of Southern Ohio. Three children blessed this union: Mary Louise, wife of Captain Alexander T. Ovenshine, Seventh Regiment, U. S. A., stationed at Fort Leavenworth. Kansas; Elizabeth, whose death occurred just six weeks prior to that of her father, was wife of Captain Hjalmar Erickson, Seventh Regiment, C. S. A., stationed at Fort Brady, Michigan; and Frederick Falconer is a member of the class of 1909, Ohio State University. Mrs. Powell is a member of the Broad Street Presbyterian Church, which her husband also attended and supported liberally. She was a member of the Ladies' Christian Union of Delaware, serving as ward visitor; and was one of the original board of trustees of the Children's Home, of which she served as secretary several years, also as president. She continued active in this work until her removal from Delaware, which was looked upon as an irreparable loss to the city. A woman of culture and refinement, of true Christian character, active in the work of alleviating the sufferings of humanity, she had won her way into the hearts of the people who much regretted her departure. General Powell was for many years an active member of Wells Post,G. A. R., of Columbus; and of the Loyal Legion.
From 20th Century History of Delaware County, Ohio, and Representative Citizens, Edited and compiled by James R. Lytle, Delaware, Ohio, Biographical Publishing Co., Chicago, 1908