John Llewellyn Powell was born in Pontypridd, Glamorgan, Wales on 26 May 1885. He was the son of Albert Powell and Caroline Hughes. [1]
His parents brought the family to the United States from Wales in 1887, when John was about two years old. The family was settled in Washington by about June of 1891, when John's youngest sister, Rozena, was born there.[2] In 1900, they lived on Meadow Street, West Ride in the town Colfax, Whitman County, Washington.[3] His father had found work as a janitor and John's uncle, David Hughes, who had immigrated in 1890, lived with them and contributed to the household income as a salesman.[4]
John and Grace Edith Logsdon of Endicott in Whitman County, Washington applied for a marriage license as of 5 Apr 1907.[5] They married, possibly the same day but most probably that same year and probably in Endicott, since Grace lived there.
After their marriage, they moved to the city of Palouse, near the Idaho border in Whitman County, where their son, Alva Lowell Powell, was born on 16 Jan 1908.[6] They soon moved south to the city of Walla Walla in Walla Walla County, Washington, where Alva died on 7 Aug 1908, in his seventh month, of "cholera infantum."[7][8]
At the time of the 1910 census, Grace and John were living with Grace's parents in Endicott, where John worked as a barber.[9] After Grace died of a bowel obstruction on 29 Nov 1911,[10] he remained in Endicott.
In 1913, John remarried in Colfax. His second wife was Gertrude H. "Gertie" Gould, a resident of La Crosse in Whitman County,[11] where they lived after their marriage. They were living there when John registered for the World War I draft.[12]
While living in La Crosse, John changed careers, becoming the manager of a restaurant by 1920, while Gertie worked in the restaurant as a waitress.[13] They were apparently unable to have children of their own, so they adopted a daughter, Thelma, born in about 1925.[14][15]
It may have been in the 1920s that John adopted the anglicized "Lewis" in place of his original middle name of "Llewellyn," since he seems to have been known by the name of "Lew" at the time of the 1930 census. At that time, he had again changed careers and now owned his own confectionary shop. He also owned their house, valued at $2,000 and rented a radio.[16] Before 1940, he bought and ran his own restaurant, although they were again living in a rented house.[17]
Gertrude H. "Gertie" (Gould) Powell had died by about 1952, when John, at the age of 67, married a third time. On 26 Nov 1952, John and Elizabeth Goetz (or Getz) were married in Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon.[18]
On 9 Jun 1954, about a year and a half after his remarriage, John Lewis Powell died of lung cancer at the age of 69 in Colfax, Whitman County, where he was buried in the Colfax Cemetery on 11 Jun 1954.[19][20]
Obituaries
John was in an obituary on 11 June 1954 in Spokane, Washington, United States. [21] His sister, Mrs. J. M. Gifford, survived him.
Sources
↑ Powell, John Llewelyn (Mother's maiden name: Hughes): England & Wales General Register Office,
GRO Online Indexes - Birth, GRO Reference: Volume 11 A, 1885 Jul-Aug-Sep, Pontypridd, p. 437, (accessed 1 Feb 2023).
↑ "Powell Rozena," daughter, white, female, b. June 1891. est. age 8, single, b. Washington, both parents b. Wales, at school, able to read and write: United States Census, 1900, Precinct No. 46, Colfax City, Whitman County, Washington, Enumeration District No. 95, Sheet No. 1 A, Family No. 10, Line 45, FamilySource.org (accessed 19 Jun 2022).
↑ "Powell John L.," son, white, male, b. May 1885, est. age 15, single, b. Wales, both parents b. Wales, immigrated 1887, in the United States 12 years, at school, able to read and write: United States Census, 1900, Precinct No. 46, Colfax City, Whitman County, Washington, Enumeration District No. 95, Sheet No. 1 A, Family No. 10, Line 43, FamilySource.org (accessed 19 Jun 2022).
↑ "Powell Albert," head, white, male, b. Aug 1849, est. age 50, married 20 years, b. Wales, father b. Wales, mother b. England, immigrated 1887, in the country 12 years, naturalized citizen, occupation: janitor, able to read and write: United States Census, 1900, Precinct No. 46, Colfax City, Whitman County, Washington, Enumeration District No. 95, Sheet No. 1 A, Family No. 10, Line 40; Line 46: "Hughes David," brother-in-law, white, male, b. May 1873, est. age 27, single, b. Wales, both parents b. Wales, immigrated 1890, in the United States 10 years, not naturalized, occupation: salesman "Agr Emp," able to read and write, FamilySource.org (accessed 19 Jun 2022).
↑ "Marriage Licenses have been issued by the county auditor to the following: ... John L. Powell of Colfax and Grace E. Logsdon of Endicott:" "Marriage Licenses," The Colfax Gazette, 5 Apr 1907, p. 7, column 2, Newspapers.com (accessed 4 Jul 2022).
↑ Typed transcript: "Alva Lowell Powell," father: John Llewellyn Powell, mother: Grace Edith Logsdon, b. 17 Jan 1908 [sic], Whitman County, male, white: Washington State Archives, "Birth Index, 1907-1909," Image 991 of 1818, Sheet 555, Column 1, Item 29, Washington, County Birth Registers, 1873-1965, FamilySearch.org (accessed 4 Jul 2022).
↑ "Alva Lowell Powell," d. 7 Aug 1908, Walla Walla, Walla Walla County, Washington, male, white, age 3 [sic] months, cause: Cholera Infantum; b. 16 Jan 1908, Palouse City, Washington, father: John L. Lowell [sic], b. Wales, mother: Grave [sic] Logsdon, b. Washington; informant: John L. Powell, 638 East Schumach Street; burial: City Cemetery, 8 Aug 1808: Washington State Board of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, "Certificate of Death," Walla Walla City, Walla Walla County, Washington, Image 383 of 2228, Record No. 199, Registered No. 194, FamilySearch.org (accessed 4 Jul 2022).
↑ See image: Alva Powell, photo of gravestone, Endicott Cemetery, Endicott, Whitman County, Washington; note that the date of death on the gravestone may have been the date of his burial in Endicott.
↑ "Powell John L," son-in-law, male, white, est. age 24, 1 marriage, b. Wales, Welch, both parents b. Wales, Welsh, occupation: barber, employee?, able to read and write: United States Census, 1910, Endicott Precinct No. 65, Endicott City, Whitman County, Washington, Enumeration District No. 275, Sheet No. 18 A, Family No. 47, Line 11; Line 12: "Powell Grace," daughter, female, white, est. age 22, 1 marriage, bore 1 child, children still living [blank], b. Washington, father b. Iowa, mother b. Missouri, no occupation, able to read and write, FamilySearch.org (accessed 19 Jun 2022).
↑ "Grace E. Powell," d. 29 Nov 1911, Sacred Heart Hospital, Spokane, Spokane County, Washington, cause: "Obstruction of bowels." female, white, married, residence: Endicott, Washington, b. 5 May 1887, Washington, age 24, father: T. H. Logsdon, b. Illinois, mother: Frances Fleming, b. Ohio; informant: J. L. Powell, residence: Endicott, Washington; burial: Endicott, Washington, 1 Dec 1911: Washington State Board of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, "Certificate of Death," Record No. 1265, File No. 3287?, Registered No. 1263, FamilySearch.org (accessed 19 Jun 2022).
↑ License dated 24 Jul 1913, "John L. Powell," est. age 28, white, first [sic] marriage, residence: Endicott, Washington, b. Wales, occupation: barber, father: Albert Powell, mother: Caroline Hughes; "Gertie Gould," est. age 25, white, first marriage, residence: La Crosse, Washington, b. Wisconsin, father: A. C. Gould, mother: M. MacGee; marriage date: 27 Jul 1913, Colfax, Washington, by J. H. Bainton, Minister, witnesses: Dave Powell, Colfax, and Mrs. Dave Powell, Colfax: "Register of Marriage Statistics for Whitman County, State of Washington," Sheet No. 6, Record No. 4199, FamilySearch.org (accessed 19 Jun 2022).
↑ Name: John Llewellyn Powell; Race: White; Birth Date: 26 May 1885; Residence Date: 1917-1918; Residence Place: Whitman County, Washington, USA; Physical Build: Medium; Height: Medium; Hair Color: Dark; Eye Color: Brown; Relative: Gertie Powell: U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918,
Registration State: Washington; Registration County: Whitman County, Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry uk Record 6482 #27224069 (accessed 1 February 2023).
↑ "Powell, John L.," head, renting a house, male, white, est. age 34, married, immigrated with his parents, can read and write, b. Wales, Welsh, both parents b. Wales, Welsh, manager, restaurant: United States Census, 1920, Precinct No. 14, La Crosse, Whitman County, Washington, Enumeration District No. 156, Sheet No. 3 A, Family No. 52, Line 33; Line 34: "Powell Gertrude H.," wife, female, white, est. age 31, married, can read and write, b. Wisconsin, father b. Vermont, mother b. Minnesota, waitress in restaurant, FamilySearch.org (accessed 19 Jun 2022).
↑ "Powell Thelma," adopted daughter, female, white, est. age 5, single, b. Washington, both parents b. United States: United States Census, 1930, Town of La Crosse, Whitman County, Washington, La Crosse Precinct, Enumeration District No. 38-14, Sheet No. 1 A. Family No. 11, Line 37, FamilySearch.org (accessed 19 Jun 2022).
↑ "Powell, Thelma I," daughter, female, white, est. age 15, single, attending school, completed 1 year high school, residence 1 Apr 1935: same place, not employed: United States Census, 1940, La Crosse Town, Whitman County, Washington, Enumeration District No. 38-20 Sheet No. 6 B, Household No. 127, Line 44, FamilySearch.org (accessed 19 Jun 2022).
↑ "Powell, J. Lew.," head, owns the house, est. value $2,000, rents a radio, male, white, est. age 44, married, age at first marriage: 22, b. Wales, both parents b. Wales, immigrated 1887, naturalized, merchant, confectionary, works for self: United States Census, 1930, Town of La Crosse, Whitman County, Washington, La Crosse Precinct, Enumeration District No. 38-14, Sheet No. 1 A. Family No. 11, Line 35; Line 36: "Powell, Gertrude," wife head, female, white, est. age 42, married, age at first marriage: 24, b. Wisconsin, both parents b. Wisconsin, no occupation, FamilySearch.org (accessed 19 Jun 2022).
↑ "Powell, J. Lew.," renting a house, $10/month, head, male, white, est. age 54, married, completed 2 years of high school, b. Wales, residence 1 Apr 1935: same place, proprietor, restaurant, works for self: United States Census, 1940, La Crosse Town, Whitman County, Washington, Enumeration District No. 38-20 Sheet No. 6 B, Household No. 127, Line 42; Line 43: "Powell, Gertrude," female, white, est. age 53, married, completed 8th grade, b. Wisconsin, residence 1 Apr 1935: same place, not employed, FamilySearch.org (accessed 19 Jun 2022).
↑ John L Powell (67) marriage to Elizabeth Getz on 26 Nov 1952 in Portland, Multnomah, Oregon, USA: Oregon, U.S., State Marriages, 1906-1968, Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry uk Record 61677 #103377 (accessed 1 Feb 2023).
↑ "John Lewis Powell," d. 9 Jun 1954, Colfax, Whitman County, Washington, residence: N - 307 Lake Street, Colfax, Washington, lived there 2 years at time of death, cause: pulmonary hemorrhage due to adeno carcinoma of right lung; b. 26 May 1885, Wales, age: 68, male, white, married, occupation: retired restaurant manager, United States citizen, SSN: 532-28-2724, father: Albert Powell, mother: Caroline Hughes; informan: Mrs. J. L. Powell, Colfax, Washington; burial: Colfax Cemetery, 11 Jun 1954: Washington State Department of Health, Public Health Statistics Section, "Certificate of Death," Registration District No. D-1, Registrar's No. 60, State File No. 11646, FamilySearch.org (accessed 19 Jun 2022).
↑ See photo of gravestone: Find A Grave: Memorial #110206851, John L. Powell (accessed 19 Jun 2022).
Washington Death Certificates, 1907-1960, database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N3L3-Y3J : 10 March 2018), Grace E. Powell, 29 Nov 1911; citing Spokane, Spokane, Washington, reference 1265, Bureau of Vital Statistics, Olympia; FHL microfilm 1,992,073.
Washington Death Certificates, 1907-1960,database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N3BF-TQJ : 10 March 2018), John Lewis Powell, 09 Jun 1954; citing Colfax, Whitman, Washington, reference 11646, Bureau of Vital Statistics, Olympia; FHL microfilm 2,033,394.
Washington Territorial Census, 1887, "Washington, U.S., State and Territorial Censuses, 1857-1892" Washington State Archives; Olympia, Washington; Washington Territorial Census Rolls, 1857-1892; Line: 33; Page: 17 Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry uk Record 1018 #577785 (accessed 1 February 2023) John Powell, single in Whitman, Washington, USA. Born in Wales.
Washington Territorial Census, 1889, "Washington, U.S., State and Territorial Censuses, 1857-1892" Washington State Archives; Olympia, Washington; Washington Territorial Census Rolls, 1857-1892; Line: 23 Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry uk Record 1018 #160770 (accessed 1 February 2023) John Powell in Whitman, Washington, USA. Born in Wales.
See also:
Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/110206851/john-l-powell : accessed 19 June 2022), memorial page for John L Powell (26 May 1885–11 Jun 1954), Find a Grave Memorial ID 110206851, citing Colfax Cemetery, Colfax, Whitman County, Washington, USA ; Maintained by khdahl (contributor 47860401).
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