James G. Powell

James G. Powell (9 Dec 1838 - 31 Dec 1924) was the third son and fourth of the known children of James Powell and Susanah B. Thorn. He was born in either Monongalia or Marion County, West Virginia. His family had moved to the Catawba area of Marion Co. sometime between the birth of his older sister Nancy in 1837 and before the 1840 census.

On 14 Jul 1860, at the age of 21, James married Elizabeth Selinda Summers, daughter of Elisha Summers and Martha Elizabeth Steele of Marion Co., who was two months away from her 16th birthday, according to "A genealogy of the descendants of James Steele and his wife Mary" by Donley M. Steele . They had the following children:

1. Alleta Ella Powell (1861)
2. Sandford J. Powell (1867)
3. Rebecca Lina Powell (7 Dec 1868 - 17 Sep 1950)
4. Permelia O. Powell (11 Jan 1871 - 12 Aug 1954)
5. Jerry E. Powell (19 Jun 1872 - 1944)
6. Eugenius W. Powell (13 Jan 1873)
7. William Edgar Powell (7 Jul 1875 - 11 Jul 1952)
8. Susana B. Powell (9 Jan 1878 - 28 Dec 1954)
9. Nancy J. Powell (Jun 1880 - 1939)
10. Idella Mae Powell (10 Aug 1883 - 19 Jan 1957 )
11. James Logan Powell (31 May 1886 - 23 Jul 1939)

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Civil War Years
A year after their marriage, James and Elizabeth had had their first child, Alletta, before being separated for three years while James served the Union in the Civil War, based on Elizabeth's obituary. James enlisted in Company C of the 6th West Virginia Infantry, which was organized on 1 Aug 1861, with his brothers Eugenius and Sylvester and cousins George and Elias Summers , according to Civil War military records.

The WV 6th Infantry, under Colonel Nathan Wilkinson, was first charged with gaurding the Baltimore & Ohio railroad lines that ran through West Virginia. As of 10 Jan 1863, Co. C under Captain Thomas A. Maulsby was the artillery wing of Colonel Robert Bruce's Third Brigade under Brigadier General Benjamin F. Kelly's Railroad Division of Major General Robert C. Schenck's Eigth Army Corps Middle Department, according to "The War of Rebellion" by the United States War Department. As of 31 Jan 1863 the battery was in Colonel B.F. Smith's brigade stationed in Martinsburg, WV. Co. C in March 1863 became Battery F, a six gun light artillery unit, remaining under the command of Captain Maulsby. On 26 April 1863, the battery moved to New Creek and then stopped in Berryville on 31 May 1863 on its way back to Martinsburg, WV.

Maulsby's battery lost four of its six of its six pound guns on 14 Jun 1863 during the retreat of Union troops to Harper's Ferry, after an engagement with Confederates in Martinsburg, all according to "Loyal West Virginia from 1861 t0 1865" by Theodore F. Lang. Apparently, the Confederates had better placed artillery and the Union troops were more exposed to enemy fire, according to "Appalachian Ohio and the Civil War, 1862-1863" by Susan G. Hall. George W. Graham took command of the battery after Maulsby was wounded during the battle at Martinsburg.

After the defeat at Martinsburg, the battery was charged with gaurding the supply lines to Washington, from July - Dec 1863. The battery moved back and forth between Clarksburg, New Creek, and Maryland Heights. As of 31 Jan 1864, the battery was part of Colonel Nathan Wilkinson's Third Brigade under Colonel James A. Mulligan's Second Division under Brigadier General Benjamin F. Kelley. Battery F was engaged in the Second Battle of Kernstown on 24 Jul 1864.
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James moved his family quite a bit moving to Ritchie Co., WV in 1876; to Taylor Co., WV in 1880; back to Marion Co. in 1887; and then again to Ritchie Co. in Dec 1891, according to Elizabeth's obituary. According to their respective death certificates, daughters Rebecca and Idella were born in Preston Co., WV in 1868 and 1883 respectively, so the family was most likely living in Preston Co. during those years.

James and Elizabeth were apparently religious, joining the M.P. Church in Marion Co. in 1861, and an United Brethren church in Ritchie Co. in Feb 1893 as it was the closest church to their home, all according to Elizabeth's obituary.

In 1895, two years after the death of his wife Elizabeth, James married his second wife, Mary A. Wolf, according to Ritchie Co. marriage records.

James died of old age (86) in Harrisville, Ritchie Co. on the last day of 1924, according to his death certificate. He was laid to rest in Harrisville on 3 Jan 1925.

James G. Powell and wife Elizabeth.