This post was contributed to the Crawford County Chapter of OGS by Kristina Stearley as part of the Florence Siefert Scrapbook in 2010.
The scrapbook is compiled from undated, unidentified newspaper clippings involving events in the lives of Crawford County citizens living in or having connections to New Washington, Tiro, Shelby, Sulphur Springs, Chatfield, Bucyrus, Ashland, Mansfield, and other areas. Only minimal spelling or punctuation corrections were made. Unreadable areas are shown by underlines, dots &/or question marks. This collection has been scanned, “optical character recognized” (OCR’d), proofed, then coded for HTML by volunteers of the Crawford County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society. Since the copies are not of the best quality errors may have been made. Please contact us if you find corrections needing to be made or can verify any missing dates which could be added.
DEATH OF AN OLD PATRIARCH
Vollney Powers, who resided 1 mile east of town, was called from his earthly home last Saturday, March 10, 1894, in the 80th year of his age. Mr. Powers had been in feeble health for the past two years. But he bore his suffering with patience and great Christian fortitude. In the death of Mr. Powers Cranberry township loses one of her oldest and most respected citizens. The funeral services were held from Goodwill church last Tuesday, conducted by Rev. B. J. Hoadly, pastor of the M. E. church at Plymouth. The funeral was largely attended, and the vast assemblage very touchingly manifested its profound respect for the deceased.
The following biographical sketch taken from the Directory of Cranberry township will be of interest to our readers:
Vollney Powers is a native of Tompkins township, Adams county, N. Y., is a son of Lemiel and Jane S. Powers and was born in 1814. In 1818 Mr. Powers’ parents moved to New Haven, Huron county, Ohio, where his father purchased a farm. He however practiced medicine and rented his farm. This gave young Vollney an opportunity to attend school. His father remained at New Haven until 1826 when he and his family moved to Plymouth and purchased the land on which the east side of Plymouth now stands. He laid out lots and was practically the founder of that city. He entered the Drug business and young Vollney assisted him in this enterprise and attended school as time would permit. Vollney seemed anxious to learn a trade of some kind and his father set up a shop where Vollney became an apprentice at the hatter trade. He worked to this trade for twelve years proving himself quite adept at the business. In 1837 he was married to Miss Mary A. Ream, who departed this life in 1873. This union was blessed with fourteen children of whom but five are living–Elizabeth, Jane, Amanda, James and Rolley. In 1844 he moved to New Washington and engaged in the mercantile business and carried on quite an extensive trade. During his stay at New Washington he was also proprietor of an extensive ashery which was of vast importance in those days. In 1850 he disposed of his stock of goods and ashery in New Washington and bought some land in Cranberry township. He however moved to Centerville where he purchased an interest in a saw mill and for 3 1/2 years done an immense business at the mill furnishing lumber for the B. & O. R. R. which was then undergoing construction. In 1854 he moved back to Cranberry township and purchased the farm on which he resides at present. In 1874 he was married to Mrs. Margaret Runion who yet survives. Mr. and Mrs. Powers are both members of the M. E. church. He has been a good citizen all these years which endears him to his fellow men.
