Shelby  County,  Indiana
Biographical  Sketches


Leonard  Powell

          To one who sees the beautiful residence and handsome surroundings of the  Powells, in Liberty Township, it would hardly seem possible that the beautiful farm of to-day was a wilderness but a few short years ago, and yet such is the case.  A work such as this, of making a home from the wilderness, and beautifying it till it is a surprise and pleasure to every passer-by, and a real pleasure to all who dwell within its walls, is a work of which any man may well by proud.  The builder of this handsome home, Leonard Powell, was born in Boone Co., Ky., on the 25th of November, 1818, the son of  Abraham and Elizabeth (Chrisler) Powell.  His father was a native of Virginia, and came to Boone Co., Ky., when a poor boy.  He married in Boone Co., and bought his first piece of  land (a wilderness) from Dick Johnson's father.  Mr. Powell, Sr., came to Shelby Co. with his family, arriving April 10, 1831.  He bought 160 acres, afterward adding, until he had about 940 acres, which he divided among his children.  He was a very industrious man, and, in politics, an Old-Line Whig.  He died a few years after settling in Shelby Co., his death taking place Sept. 24, 1837.  Mrs. Powell, his wife, died about 1860.  The subject of this sketch received 160 acres of land in the woods, as his portion, and commenced life for himself when he was married, which event took place on the 6th of December, 1838, in Decatur Co.; he was then united to  Miss Caroline P. Arnold, daughter of  John and Marion Arnold, who came to Indiana from Covington, Ky., at an early day.  They are now both dead.  January, 1839, the month following his marriage, Mr. Powell went to work on his farm in the woods, and ever since then both he and his good wife have been using all their efforts in order to make a home and secure a sufficiency of this world's goods, that they might never know what it was to want in the winter of theiryears.  That they have succeeded, their farm and home is a sufficient evidence.  At present time, Mr. Powell is making a specialty of fine-hog raising.  His well-kept farm and complete way of doing all work, place him in the very front rank of farmers and stock-raisersin this part of the State.
Atlas of Shelby Co., Indiana, Chicago: J.H. Beers & Co, 1880, pg 71.
Contributed by Phyllis Miller Fleming

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