Powell, Abner

Abner Powell

Birth: ABT 1760, VA
Death: ABT 1865
Burial: ABT 1865, Graysville,Monroe,OH,Graysville Cemetery

Census: 1820, in Monroe Co., OH

Census: 1830, in Monroe Co., OH, Perry Twp.

Census: 1850, in Monroe Co., OH, Washington Twp., 87/87, 31 Oct 1850
Abner Powell, 80, m. farmer, VA; Catharine, 30, f. PA
Joseph, 5, m. OH; William, 1, OH

BURIAL: According to Joyce E. Posey he died Abt. 1865 and was buried in the old cemetery at Graysville, OH without headstone. No death or cemetery record was found, probably destroyed in a courthouse fire.

BIOGRAPHY:
Abner Powell was born in Virginia ca 1760, he married first, Sarah Hall, 24 September 1803 at Shenandoah County, Virginia. Sarah died in the late 1830s. Several children were born to this union. Hiram Powell being the only proven son. Alfred, John and Isaac on the 1850 census are probably sons of Abner and Sarah.

Abner Powell is recorded among the first tradesmen in Center Township, Monroe Co., OH. The County Commissioners contracted with Abner to do the mason work on the first jailhouse in Woodsfield, OH on April 13, 1816 for the sum of $12.00.

Abner appears on the 1820 census living next to Elias D. Conger (R4, T3, S3) who came to Monroe County before 1816 from Greene County, Pennsylvania. Abner is not found on the early county tax records, therefore, it is unknown how he acquired his land. It is apparent that he owned land as he presented a petition to the County Commissioners on June 6, 1825 for a new road to be built beginning at or near the Four Mile Tree between the said Powell's to Straight Fort, then to Elias Allen's, then down the Straight Fork to William Cochran's house, thence to Isaac Cline's, thence to intersect the Marietta Road near William Knowlton's.

Abner appears on the 1830 Perry Twp. census, then he moved on to Washington Township where he is recorded as an early settler. It is claimed that Abner was the first Justice of the Peace in Washington Township and that he helped to build the first school.

On May 24, 1856, Abner Powell applied for a bounty land warrant, his age is recorded as 86 years old. The petition states he served as a sergeant in the Company commanded by Captain Peter May in the regiment of the Virginia Militia commanded by Colonel Rundloph in the War of 1812. He stated he served six months and twenty-one days. This petition was denied, probably because of the lack of witnesses and his age.

According to an old newspaper article from the "Spirit of Democracy," Abner's second wife was Catherine Eaky born in Pennsylvania. Six sons were born to this union. William died young. The 1860 census relates Abner was 90 years old with sons, Joseph, George W., John D., Jesiah, G., and Anthony the youngest, age three. George was killed during the Civil War. The article states Abner died at age 96 in 1865 [Note: This is the only statement about his death found, as of Feb 1996]. He and wife Sarah are buried at the old cemetery in Graysville, OH without headstones. Catherine and children moved to Wirt County, West Virginia, after Abner's death and before 1880.
(Source: "Monroe County Ohio Families," page 243 written by Joyce C. Posey)