William G. Powell, of Holland, settled in Albemarle County, Virginia. His son, Lewis G., had three sons, James, Buck, and Lewis, Jr. James married Nancy Shelor, of Germany, and settled in Montgomery County, Missouri, in 1820. They had John W., James W., William L., Thomas J., and two daughters, who died in infancy. After the death of James Powell, his widow, who lived for many years afterward, proved herself to be a woman capable of managing the business affairs of life and carrying them to a successful issue. During the cold winter of 1831-2 she had what is called a “jumping sleigh” built, and went in it to Virginia, one thousand miles distant, by herself, and brought back some Negro slaves in another “jumper” similar to her own. Very few women have ever accomplished such a feat as that. Buck Powell was a very stout man, and it is said that he could lift a barrel of whisky by his teeth and drink from the bung hole. He won a bet of fifty cents one day, by biting a ten penny nail in two, and he certainly earned his money. Thomas J., son of James Powell, is a prominent attorney and citizen of Montgomery County, and lives at New Florence. He has been Sheriff of the County several times, and wields a large influence in political matters.
