Legislator Details
Number of sessions served 4
Gender: Male
Age at election: 34
Vital Records Information:
Birth
Date: 4/27/1866
City: Ronald Township, MI
County: Ionia County, MI
Country: US
Death
Date: 10/26/1954
City: Ionia, MI
County: Ionia County, MI
Country: US
Type of Burial:
Burial
Date:
City: Ionia, MI
County: Ionia County, MI
Country: US
Cemetery: Highland Park Cemetery
Marital Information:
married Alice May Waterbury, dau. of Cray and Mary (Hart) Waterbury, 11/28/1888, in Ionia, MI; children: Ralph, Alice and Stanley M.
Number of Children: 3
Background
Religion: Baptist
Military Service:
Occupation: farmer, banker
Race: Caucasian or White
Education:
district schools; attended Ionia High School
Biographical Sketch:
Son of Joseph Priestly and Ruth Ann (Goodwin) Powell. In 1887 he took on the management of his father's farm, raising stock and sheep. He was a stockholder and the 2nd vice president of the National Bank of Ionia, 1915. He was also president of the Ionia Hardware Co. He served as the State Commissioner of Agriculture, 1927-1932. In addition, he was Master of his local Grange and the Ionia County Pomona Grange and President of the Ionia County Farm Bureau and Vice President of the Michigan Cooperative Wool Marketing Association. He was also a member of the Constitution Convention from 1913-1916.
Notable Facts:
Served in both chambers.
Sessions Served:
Committees Served On: Agricultural College , Supplies and Expenses , College of Mines , Constitutional Amendments , Elections , Finance and Appropriations , State Affairs
County of Residence Ionia
District Description: Comprising the counties of Ionia and Montcalm
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status: Departed
Notes: Chair of Agricultural College; and Supplies and Expenses
Committees Served On: Agricultural Interests , Banks and Corporations , Finance and Appropriations , Forestry & State Lands , Printing , School for the Deaf , State Prison at Marquette
County of Residence Ionia
District Description: Comprising the counties of Ionia and Montcalm
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status: Re-elected
Committees Served On: Elections , Liquor Traffic , Eastern Michigan Asylum for Insane
County of Residence Ionia
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status: Departed
Notes: Chair of the Committee on Eastern Michigan Asylum for Insane
Committees Served On: Elections , Federal Relations , Home for Feeble Minded
City of Residence: Nickel Plate
County of Residence Ionia
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status: Re-elected
Bibliography:
MILegHdbk 1903 p.61; 1955 HJ p.83, HCR 10; MIBiog 2:205; MIMarRec 1867-1952; Find-aGrave.com; USCen 1900, 1920
