Legislator Details

Image of James Powers
Image Description:
Portrait captured from Find-a-Grave.com 11/14/2024

James Powers
AKA:
Number of sessions served 1
Sessions served
Gender: Male
Age at election: 53

Vital Records Information:

Birth
Date: 5/17/1843
City: Detroit, Hamtramck Township, MI
County: Wayne County, MI
Country: US
 
Death
Date: 6/30/1921
City: Seattle, WA
County: King County, WA
Country: US
Type of Burial: cremated
Burial
Date:
City: Kent, WA
County: King County, WA
Country: US
Cemetery: Tahoma National Cemetery

Marital Information:
married Irene Hannah Keyes; dau. of Orlando Keyes about 1864; children: 2, Jesse D. O. and Frank G.

Number of Children: 0

Background

Religion:
Military Service: United States Army
Occupation: teacher, farmer
Race: Caucasian or White

Education:
district schools; and select school at Climax , also attending the union schools at Galesburg and Battle Creek

Biographical Sketch:
Son of Daniel C. and Louisa Maria (Sager) Powers. He attended school winters and worked on his father's farm summers, until 1863; he taught school during the winter of 1863-4. On August 31, 1864, he enlisted for 1 year as private in company D, 12th regiment , Michigan Vet . Vol . infantry; he joined the regiment early in September, 1864, at Duvalls Bluff, Arkansas; was at once detached and placed in the assistant inspector general's office, for the 2nd division of the 7th army corps, in which capacity he acted 6or 7 months, then by his own solicitation he was relieved in order to take up his study of medicine under Dr. E. H. Coller, 1st assistant surgeon of the regiment; he became hospital attendant and finally acting hospital steward, in which capacity he acted until his discharge, September 9, 1865. In 1868, he moved on a farm in Colfax Township to farm. In politics he is a Greenbacker; was formerly a Republican and elected highway commissioner one term and township clerk 4 years in succession

Notable Facts:

Sessions Served:

Thirty-Ninth Legislature, 1897-1898
Chamber: House
Party: Democratic Peoples Union Silver
Committees Served On: Drainage , Religious and Benevolent Societies , State House of Correction
Postions Held:

City of Residence: Scotts
County of Residence Kalamazoo
District: Kalamazoo 2
District Description: Townships of Alamo, Brady, Charleston, Climax, Comstock, Cooper, Oshtemo, Pavilion, Portage, Prairie Ronde, Richland, Ross, Schoolcraft, Texas and Wakeshma

Date Elected: 11/3/1896
Date Sworn In: 1/6/1897
Date Left Office:

Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status: Departed

Maritial Status: Married
Notes: A Fusionist, backed by the Democratic and Greenback parties.

Bibliography:

Manual 1897 p.663-64; Find-a-Grave.com, includes portrait
View Bibliographical Sources