Mary Theresa (Sturgis) Powell (1836 - 1904)

Born 1 Jun 1836 in Crawford, Pennsylvania, United States

Wife of Joseph Harvey Wright — married 1856 in Pennsylvania, United States

Wife of Jonah Richards Broughton — married 1870 in Warren, Pennsylvania, United States

Wife of Benjamin F. Powell — married 1881 in Kansas, United States

Died 30 Dec 1904 at age 68 in Clay, Kansas, United States

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Biography

Mary was the daughter of Israel Sturgis and Sally Beadle born June 1, 1836 in Crawford Pennsylvania. Mary resided in Crawford until tragically both of her parents passed away when she was eleven years old.

The 1850 United States Census Record shows Mary living with her sister Hannah Sturgis Winch, age 15, in Richmond Township, Ashtabula Ohio.

When she was 20 years old Mary married Joseph Harvey Wright in 1856 in Pennsylvania. Joseph and Mary had four children: Frank Leslie Wright born 1857 and Irving Joseph born 1860, and two others who died in infancy.

Joseph Wright enlisted in the 7th Battery Wisconsin Light Artillery Volunteers and served during the Civil War until June 11, 1864 when he was taken prisoner and died January 20, 1865 in Brookville Wisconsin from the effects of starvation and exposure.

Joseph H. Wright's story is one of the saddest stories I have ever run across in all my years of genealogy research. Please see his story in the bio section of his profile.

In the spring of 1865 Mary and her two children returned to Warren Pennsylvania and layer to Venago County Pennsylvania where she resided until 1870. Mary married a second time to Jonah Richards Broughton, a widower, in 1870 in Warren Pennsylvania. Jonah was the husband of Mary's sister Temperance Sturgis Broughton who passed away October 27, 1863 in Pennsylvania. Mary and Jonah moved to Kansas in 1877. Jonah died 8 years after he and Mary were married, October 28, 1878 in Morganville, Kansas.

Mary married a third time to Benjamin F. Powell about 1881 in Kansas. Benjamin was also a widower, his first wife Elizabeth Goodlive Powell having died January 27, 1880 in Kansas. After the death of her third husband Mary continued to live in the family home in Kansas until her death December 30, 1904.

As a Christian woman Mrs. Powell united with the Methodist Church when quite young. She has been a faithful, constant and consistent member as all who knew her can heartily testify to. She was a good neighbor and a loving friend.

Mary's funeral was so widely attended the church was to small to hold the crowd. The Reverend Zoom officiated. Surviving are one brother, one sister, two sons, Frank and Irving, nine grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

Mary was a woman who knew much sorrow and an abundance of love.

Sources

United States Census Report 1850

https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXS5-94H

United States Census Report 1860 shows Mary, age 24, living with husband Joseph in Westfield Wisconsin. Also in the home are two children, Frank, age 2 and Irving, a newborn.

https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MW9Q-N1L

• Find a grave Sherman Cemetery Morganville, Kansas Find A Grave: Memorial #158758180