REV. ALVAH ROY POWELL 1878 - 1953
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Alvah Roy Powell was born three days after Christmas, Saturday, 28 Dec 1878 on Mud Creek, near Stockton, Clinch Co. GA, the fourth child of Rev. Thomas Wm and Allie (Whitlow) Powell. In 1880, the family moved to a farm southwest of Nashville, Berrien Co., GA. A.R. Powell received an education in the common schools of Berrien County and finished at Nashville Academy. He was only nine years old when his father died of tuberculosis. His mother died three years later of the same dread disease.
Despite being doubly orphaned, Roy Powell and his siblings escaped the bane of the orphanage, independently maintaining themselves on the two hundred acre family farm inherited as a legacy from their father. The eldest son, John Whitlow Evans Powell, who was legally an adult when his mother died, took over the role as head of household.
A.R. Powell became active in church and civic work early in his life as this excerpt from the Valdosta Times, x 31 May 1898 indicates: "The School Exhibition was a wonderful success. The highlight of the evening was a speech by Roy Powell entitled 'Our Country and It's Future'". The title of this speech likely had much to do with the impending war between the U.S. and Spain over the U.S.S. Maine incident in Havana Harbor, Cuba.
When the war tocsin sounded for the Spanish-American War in 1898, twenty year old A.R. Powell, rushed to the standard of his country. He traveled to Camp Northen, GA 15 Jul 1898 in the company of others with similar sentiment from the Nashville area with the intention to enlist but, upon examination, was found to be underweight. He was assigned to Co. D, 3rd Regiment for a period of time to bring his weight up to Army standards. Pvt. Powell finally mustered into the U.S. Army 17 Aug 1898 at Griffin, GA and was assigned to Co. L, 3rd U.S. Volunteers. His enlistment records describe him as "5'6 3/4" in height, dark complexion, grey eyes, sandy hair, born in Stockton, GA, occupation farmer. His sponsor was his brother, John Whitlow Evans Powell.
His military record shows that he served with the the 3rd Georgia Regiment at Camp Northen, Griffin, GA, Camp Lee, near Savannah, GA and Cuba. Pvt. Powell was sick in quarters twice (once from vaccinations) and took furlough 20-27 Oct 1898. Perhaps it was on this furlough, while wearing his uniform, that he attracted the attention of his future wife, Mattie Essie Martin. She once stated that she "swooned" when she saw Pvt. Powell in uniform.
According to Atlanta and Environs, ed. Garrett, pub. Lewis Historical Publishing Company, Inc., Vol. II, pp. 355-356:
"On April 23rd President McKinley called on Governor Atkinson for two regiments of infantry and two batteries of light artillery. On May 4th, Camp Northen was established at Griffin on the State campgrounds, and on the 7th the first detachment of Georgia volunteers, 49 in number, left Atlanta for the camp under Captain, (later Major) Cleveland Wilcoxon.
The Second Georgia Volunteer Infantry, under Colonel Oscar J. Brown, soon after muster-in, left Camp Northen at Griffin for Tampa, en route to Cuba; for some unexplained reason, the orders to move to Cuba never arrived. Finally this Regiment was moved to Huntsville, Alabama, and was brought back to Atlanta for muster-out in November, 1898.
The Third Georgia Volunteer Infantry, under Colonel (later Judge) John S. Candler, was mustered in August 24, 1898, stayed at Camp Northen until November 21, when it was sent, via Savannah, to Cuba for occupational duty. In early 1899 it was returned to Georgia and was mustered out at Augusta."
It appears from records that Pvt. Powell did not deploy with the Regiment to Cuba in November, 1898. He later stated such in a questionnaire dated 3 April 1935, as a part of his pension file. Pvt. Powell was honorably discharged, by request, on 6 Jan 1899 at Camp Onward, Savannah, Georgia.
The Valdosta Times, x 17 Jan 1899, celebrated the return of their veterans: "Roy Powell and P.D. Yopp, members of the Third Georgia Regiment, U.S.V. have been honorably discharged and have returned to their homes." Rev. Powell stated that he applied for and received an early discharge in order to "go back to school." Pvt. Pitheus D. Yopp served with A.R. Powell and, in 1907, provided a statement of support for Pvt. Powell's military pension. P.D. Yopp died in 1917 and is bur. Flat Creek Cem., Berrien Co., Ga.
A.R. Powell transitioned to civilian life, once again taking up his penchant for public oration, as noted in this Valdosta Times article of x 29 Jul 1899: "Mrs. J. N. Griffin entertained her Sunday School class and a few of Ms. Emma's friends at a book party. Each of those in attendance wore something that represented some well known book and then all guessed at the different representations. Ms. Irene Parrish won the prize for the most successful guesses. It was a handsome silver nail cleaner and was presented in a happy speech by Mr. Roy Powell."
The 1900 census shows Roy Powell living as a boarder and ploughboy on the William Bradford farm. John E. Bradford, in his statement of support for Roy Powell's pension application, stated that A.R. Powell "worked for my father and lived in my home. He and I slept in the same room." A.R. Powell stayed with the Bradfords "through the crop season of the year 1900." Later that year and into the next, Mr. Powell also worked for Sheriff Clayton (A.C.) Avera as a stable hand and as a log scaler at Griffin's sawmill for about three or four months.
Next door was the household of Thomas Wm "Will" Powell, Jr. living on the family farm with the other three Powell siblings still at home: John Whitlow Evans "John" Powell, who was the county tax collector and a school teacher in Nashville, James Harvey "Jim" Powell, and Mollie Enid "Nid" Powell. Sister Mattie Powell had previously married Esq. John A. Wilkes.
The Powell brothers, over the years after the death of their parents, continued to operate the farm left to them by their father, with T.W. "Will" Powell, Jr. primarily in charge of daily agricultural operations. Cash crops, primarily corn, cotton and tobacco, were produced throughout the 1890's and into the first decade of the 1900's, with each of the siblings receiving a fair share. In 1906, the farm was split up between the six heirs of Thomas & Allie Powell, as each of the siblings were beginning to go their separate ways in life.
Mr. Powell's siblings seemed to be making their way satisfactorily. James Harvey Powell moved to St. Louis, MO about 1906 where he was employed as a stevedore. Then, the St. Louis weather not being to his liking, he moved to the more temperate climate of Jacksonville, FL where he met and mar. Pansy Blossom Renault, the daughter of Alfred Renault, a railroad engineer who was killed in a train accident when Pansy was young.
The Nashville Herald notes several visits of Jim Powell to his family and friends in Nashville while he was living in Florida, Nashville Herald, x 23 Aug 1907: "Jim Powell came up from Jacksonville Sunday and is visiting relatives and friends in and around Nashville." Earlier that year, Jim Powell had suffered appendicitis & was visited by family from Nashville. By 1911, they were back in Nashville before permanently removing to Tampa, FL, where Jim Powell was on the Tampa police force.
By 1905, John W. E. Powell had moved to town in Nashville, where he purchased the Rentz tract on Davis Street & had a beautiful home built for Leila, his wife, and their growing family, as his banking career at Nashville First Bank flourished.
In 1908, Mollie Enid, after graduating from college in Macon, married Linton C. Turner. They moved to Colquitt, Sumter and Tift Counties, before divorcing in 1930.
The Powells kept up with extended family relations, as the following newspaper articles denote:
Nashville Herald,
x 5 Aug 1904: "Mr. & Mrs. John Whitlow of Texas are the guests of Mr. & Mrs. Jno. W.E. Powell."
John Gholston Whitlow was the Uncle of A.R. Powell. He was the brother of Rev. Powell's mother, Allie Whitlow Powell. The last known visit of Mr. Whitlow, prior to this instance, was a trip to Georgia and Alabama in 1894 where he visited the Powells in Nashville, as well as a trip to Walker Co., GA where he married his young bride, Miss Mollie Neal. J.W.E. Powell traveled to Weatherford, TX in 1914 to settle Mr. Whitlow's estate.
x 9 Sept 1904: "Mr. & Mrs. J.W.E. Powell accompanied Miss Nid Powell to Macon on Sunday. Miss Powell goes to enter Stanley Business College."
Mollie Enid Powell's scholarship was funded by her Uncle John Gholston Whitlow of Weatherford, TX, per J.G. Whitlow's estate papers, Parker County, TX. Uncle J.G. Whitlow visited the Powells in August and likely coordinated Mollie's scholarship during this trip.
J.W.E. Powell mentioned, in his deposition to brother A.R. Powell's pension application, having knowledge of his father's family, stating that "I don't know whether any of my father's relatives was affected by consumption or not; father died of that disease [tuberculosis] but he had it only a short time; mother contracted the disease from father." This statement seemed to indicate that he had some knowledge of T.W. Powell's family to such an extent that he was aware of their health issues.
On the fourth Sunday (the 28th) of the month of July, 1901, Roy Powell married fifteen year old Mattie Essie Martin at Cat Creek Church, after the morning service, according to church records. The presiding official was Judge H.B. Peeples, a colleague of Roy Powell's father, Judge T.W. Powell. Mattie's father, Wm Columbus Martin, a thrice wounded Confederate Army veteran, who died the previous year, had been the long time Clerk of Cat Creek Church. The Martin farm was not far from the Wm Bradford farm where Roy Powell worked as a plough hand. The newlyweds settled on the Powell family farm southwest of Nashville, Ga.
From 1901-1902, A.R. Powell and brother, John W.E. Powell, ran a grocery business in Nashville. They sold this business when J.W.E. Powell was offered an equity interest in and position of Cashier at the newly established First Bank of Nashville. A.R. Powell focused on the draying company that he founded as an adjunct to his comestible goods enterprise. Once this business proved to be a going concern, it, too, was sold for a handsome profit.
Thereafter, A.R. Powell moved to Savannah for health reasons where, initially, he worked as a typesetter for Braid & Hutton, a printing company. Mr. & Mrs. Powell and their two young girls, Maudell and Marie, lived at 212 W. State Street, adjacent Telfair Square and about ten blocks from the wharves on the Savannah River. One imagines Roy & Mattie strolling, girls in tow, to the park across the street from their quarters to enjoy a sunny Saturday afternoon.
Whether Mr. Powell familiarized himself with Thunderbolt, Whitemarsh, Rose Dew, Skidaway and Pulaski, name places that had undoubtedly been intimate to his father, Rev. Thomas W. Powell who forty years before had served at these outposts near Savannah with the 63rd Georgia Regiment during the Civil War, is unknown. Certainly, he must have shown Mattie where he was encamped with the Army at Camp Lee on Shell Road (near Thunderbolt) some few years previously before his Regiment deployed to Cuba.
The choice to move to Savannah for health reasons did not initially prove to be wise. The ink, glue and paper dust in the printing business seemed to have a deleterious effect on Mr. Powell's health. This fact was mentioned in his military pension application in 1908. Consequently, through the efforts of Mattie Martin Powell's brother-in-law, Frank Blanchard, he sought and gained employment with the City of Savannah as a street car conductor, hoping that the open air would revive his waning physical condition. This proved to be just the antidote for his ailment.
Two years' labor in this profession allowed Mr. Powell's health to improve sufficiently to a point that he was able to perform farm labor again. With Mattie missing the company of her sisters and not wishing to raise her children in the city, the Powells moved to Walkerville, Pierce Co., GA where Mr. Powell secured a position as sharecropper for Mrs. J.R. Bennett. Much to Mattie's delight, Mrs. Dixon, Mattie's sister, lived nearby.
After about two years farming in Walkerville, A.R. Powell decided to relocate back to his native Berrien Co., as the Nashville Herald details, x 28 Dec 1906: "Roy Powell and family of Walkerville, Pierce County, are spending a few days in Nashville visiting family over the holidays. Mr. Powell has about concluded to move back to Nashville."
Once back in Nashville, in 1907, A.R. Powell applied for and, in 1908, was awarded a pension for military service in the Spanish-American War, Certificate # 1150757 based on Application # 1360220, filed 22 May 1907.
About the same time, Mr. Powell began a seed, fertilizer and farm implement business which he continued to operate for over twenty years. Daughter Maudell shows in the 1920 census as Clerk for this company. A.R. Powell was one of the first tobacco farmers to adopt the bright leaf tobacco variety in his region. In the 1920's & 1930's, he and his son Wilbur, grew and sold tobacco bedding plants to local farmers. Due to his expertise in farming and crop selection, A.R. Powell became one of Berrien County's first agricultural demonstration agents.
Ever the consummate innovator, A.R. Powell, along with partner Victor H. Futch, was awarded Patent # 1,447,321 in 1923 from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, described as "an apparatus for the dispensing of seeds and commodities." This invention, used in conjunction with Mr. Powell's seed, fertilizer & farm implement business, was selected by the Georgia State Agricultural Commission to be displayed in the Georgia Exhibit at the 1926 World's Fair in Philadelphia, PA.
In 1909, Roy Powell, heeding the call to follow his father's footsteps as a Baptist minister, enrolled in seminary in Albany, GA. He boarded there during weekdays, attending classes during the day, pressing shirts at night to pay his way, and traveling home to Nashville on weekends to be with his family. Rev. Powell was ordained at Good Hope Baptist Church on the 31st of August, 1910 and licensed in Lanier County the 5th of September. By the end of that year, Rev. Powell was preaching at both Good Hope Baptist in Naylor and Ruth Forrester Church in Nashville and, as the 1910 census enumeration indicates, running a boarding house in Nashville, GA.
In 1911, all of the Powell brothers showed on the Berrien Co. voter list, to include James Harvey Powell, who had recently returned to Nashville from Jacksonville, FL with his bride, Pansy Blossom.
In 1914, Rev. Powell's Uncle, John Gholston Whitlow, died in Weatherford, Texas and left considerable property to the Powells. Rev. Powell's brother, John Whitlow Evans Powell, traveled to Texas in 1914 & 1915 to settle the estate and sell the property on behalf of the Powell & Whitlow heirs in Georgia, the Williamson heirs in Alabama and the Garrett heirs in Texas, all families of men who married daughters of Miles Washington Whitlow, 1812-1885, of Walker Co., GA.
Rev. Powell registered for the draft of World War I in Sept 1918. The registration describes him as a man of slender build, short height, grey eyes and dark hair. His next of kin was wife, Mattie Powell of Nashville, Ga.
Over the twenty some years in Berrien County after his ordination, Rev. Powell preached at the following churches in both the Mell and Valdosta Baptist Association: Good Hope, Ruth Forrester, Poplar Springs, Brushy Creek, Macedonia, Lake Park, Benevolence, Bethel, Sardis, Barney, Lenox, Pinetta, Greegs, Allenville, Oak Grove, Lake Park and Corinth. Several of these churches had been pastored in years past by his father, Rev. Thomas Wm Powell, Sr.
The Nashville, Tifton and Valdosta newspapers are chock-full of instances detailing Rev. Powell's involvement in civic affairs, whether preaching a funeral, conducting a wedding or organizing a revival meeting:
Tifton Gazette, x 7 Jun 1912, p. 7: "Miss Mary E. King, of near Cottle, died Wednesday, May 29th, of stomach trouble. She was fifty-eight years old and had lived a consistent member of the Missionary Baptist Church about forty years. Her remains were buried at Nashville cemetery Thursday afternoon, at 4 o'clock, Rev. Roy Powell conducting the funeral services, assisted by Rev. Goss, of Nashville."
Nashville Herald, x 27 April 1913: "Rev. & Mrs. Roy Powell were hosts to a gathering of Christian businessmen and their wives whose purpose is to cultivate congenial relations between like-minded citizens of our city."
Atlanta Constitution, x 21 Dec 1914: "Nashville, Ga. December 20 (Special) Mrs. Nancy Goodman, aged 85 years, died at her home here Thursday. She had a severe stroke of paralysis about five months ago, and since that time had had several attacks. She was born in Wilkerson (sic) county, but had been a resident of Nashville and Berrien county since before the war. She was the mother of Mrs. J. P. Hall and Miss Semanda Goodman, of Nashville, and J. H. Goodman, of Willacoochee. The funeral services were conducted by Rev. A. R. Powell, of the Baptist church. The remains were interred in the city cemetery."
Nashville Herald, as reported in the Tifton Gazette, 4 Aug 1916, p. 5: "Miss Carabelle Meyer, daughter of Mr. Louis Meyer, who has lived in Nashville for several years, and Mr. Guy Morris, of Winder, were secretly married Monday evening. Rev. A. Roy Powell, officiating."
In 1916, Rev. Powell, at the urgent solicitation of a local political faction hoping to capitalize on the preacher's popularity, allowed his name to be run on the Democratic ticket for the position of Judge, Court of Ordinary for Berrien County. Despite a campaign run by word of mouth only, Rev. Powell narrowly lost, as the 7 April 1916, Tifton Gazette reported: "For Judge, Court of Ordinary, Joel I. Norwood, won with a plurality over A. Roy Powell, A. W. Patterson and T. Jordan Griffin, Sr., with Mr. Powell running second by only 47 votes." Two years later, the same political cabal again urged Rev. Powell to enter the contest for Probate Judge, but he humbly refused, citing "political entanglements" as a distraction to his calling to the ministry and preferring the "more appealing pages in life's commonplace book."
Rev. A.R. Powell gained some modicum of notoriety as an organizer of revivals and meetings, often garnering media attention from as far away as Atlanta:
"Atlanta Constitution
August 24, 1923 Pg 7
HOLD MANY REVIVALS NEAR MILLTOWN, GA
Milltown, Ga., August 23. —(special)– The revival meeting season is still on in this section. Rev. W. Harvey Wages, pastor of the local Baptist church, is conducting a revival meeting at Good Hope church in the southern part of Lanier county, near Naylor. Rev. Roy Powell, of Nashville, Ga., is the pastor of this church. The meeting began last Saturday and will go on through this week.
Rev. J. Frank Snell, local Methodist pastor, closed a ten-day revival at Bridges Chapel, in East Lanier, Sunday night, in which he was assisted by Rev. G. C. Powell, of Sparks. Rev Albert Giddens, pastor, and Rev. J.D. Poindexter, both of Nashville, closed a two weeks' revival at Beaver Dam Baptist church at Ray City Sunday night. Sixteen were baptized Sunday afternoon.
A revival service began Wednesday night at the Methodist church in Ray City. The pastor, Rev. J. Frank Snell, will be assisted by Rev. W.A. Tyson, of Swainsboro. Rev. W.D. Reburn, of Remerton, is assisting Rev . J. Ed Fain, of Omega, in a meeting at Leila church, in Colquitt county.
Rev. E. Harvey Wages, of Milltown, pastor of the Stocktown Baptist church, and Rev. W.D. Raburn, of Remerton, pastor of the Stockton Methodist church, plan to hold a union revival in the schoolhouse at Stockton about the middle of September, each pastor preaching a week, the meeting continuing for two weeks. This is a small town, and the churches feel they are unable to support separate meetings and this plan was devised."
The following excerpt from the Nashville Herald denotes another such of many gatherings:
"To the Churches of the Valdosta Association
Nashville, Ga., May 7, 1930,
The next rally will be held with the Sardis church on Wednesday, May 21. This in all probability will be the last of these meetings to be held this summer, and the good people of this community are anxious that it shall be the greatest day in our experience. So, we shall take this method of inviting you to come to Sardis on May 21st. The speakers for this occasion will be: Rev. Barkely, Dr. Dumas, Hon. E.D. Rivers, Rev. A.H. Giddens, Rev. T.W. Branch, Dr. A.C. Pyle, Dr. H.M. Fugate, and, your scribe, Rev. A.R. Powell. Our entire program is arranged on the value of the Holy Bible.
Yours for Better Work,
A.R. Powell"
Other headlines from the Nashville paper proclaimed:
"Inspirational Rally at Baptist Church, April 15. Good Program Has Been Arranged; Dinner to Be Spread on Grounds."
"Baptists Are Holding Devotional Meetings in Nashville."
Judging from the news media of the times, Rev. Powell became as good a promoter and advertising man, as he was a minister.
Rev. Powell's children were also active in his ministry work as described in various articles in the Nashville Herald:
"A.R.C. Program, Sunday morning, Baptist Church:
Faith to Believe - Kathryn Powell
Humility to Be Led - Beth Powell
The Sufferings of Life - Wilbur Powell
The Disciples in Distress - Ilavan Powell"
As well, the Powell children were popular among their classmates and were the first to be invited to social gatherings:
"Misses Pearl and Edna Hall Entertain With a Marshmellow Roast." Those enjoying the hospitality included: Johnny Powell, Ila Vann Powell, Nell Powell, Ruth Powell, Elizabeth Powell, Kathryn Powell, Hubert Powell and Wilbur Powell. Several of these were children of brother, T.W. Powell, Jr.
Mrs. Powell efficiently discharged her duties as well, organizing several women's programs in churches under her husband's charge, and involving herself in mission work for the Mell Baptist Association, as this 4 April 1919 Tifton Gazette account demonstrates: "Mell Women's Missionary Society Meets in Lenox." One of the speakers on the agenda was Mrs. A.R. Powell, of Nashville, Ga.
Rev. Powell administered his family in a fair and loving, but firm manner. His son, Wilbur (see school photo ca. 1919), related that Rev. Powell knew a Bible verse by heart for every sin that a boy could commit.
The Reverend's son, Wilbur, according to family lore, tested this ability frequently, to wit: fishing on Sunday, hiding corn mash in his clothes trunk, playing cards and fighting at school, driving his mule "Mary" into town for the Sat. night dance without permission & forgetting to brush the mule hair off his clothes & sheets, and other such offenses, all of which are generally considered to be cardinal sins to Baptists, especially fishing on Sunday.
One account of the latter charge had young Wilbur fishing on Sunday adjacent to the bridge over which the Powells had to pass in the family wagon on the way to church. When Rev. Powell observed the unattended fishing pole, he knew his errant boy, Wilbur, could not be far away. As Mrs. Powell was cutting a switch to discipline her wayward son, the cork went under. Both Rev. and Mrs. Powell, dressed in their Sunday best, dashed to the landing to bring the fish in, and in their haste, very nearly joined the fish in the water instead. Young Wilbur, curious about the noisy fracas, emerged from the nearby bushes to watch the calamitous events unfold, with great amusement, no doubt.
Once order resumed, however, Wilbur realized his tenuous situation. Thinking quickly on his feet, Wilbur reminded the Reverend et ux of how the Lord fed the five thousand with fishes and loaves, and that his own feeble efforts, though considerably limited in scope by comparison, and the miracle somewhat less compelling than the Gospel accounts, should be given equal ground.
The Rev. and Mrs. Powell, seeming satisfied with the spiritual application of events or perhaps amused at their son's rapier wit, pluck and temerity, left young Wilbur to ply his skill on the river bank, where he continued to fill his stringer with a mess of fish of biblical proportions.
Transgressions notwithstanding, that day the Powell family, dined sumptuously on a supper of fried red bellies, speckled perch and bream, provided by the Lord, with the able assistance of young Wilbur. It wouldn't be the last time He and Wilbur teamed up to fill the family pot with fish, squirrel, quail, turkey, duck, deer or wild boar.
Many other grievous infractions were discovered by the ever vigilant Mrs. Powell, who, like all Christian mothers, fervently prayed that her children would live righteous lives, or in Wilbur's instance, at least escape perdition. She, having been steeped in the Primitive Baptist tradition, was decidedly more "Old Testament" than her long-suffering Missionary Baptist husband, Rev. Powell. Her Bible verse of choice was "spare the rod, spoil the child."
Perhaps the fearful accountings to which she brought her son were the genesis for "The Sufferings of Life" discourse delivered by young Wilbur in the A.R.C. program, mentioned above.
Wilbur's conversion to faith was somewhat unorthodox. He "walked the aisle" when he was sixteen, not at his father's Missionary Baptist church but, convinced he was bound for an eternity in hell by a fire and brimstone preacher at a local hard shell Baptist church, he received salvation there only to later realize his choice might have humiliated his own father. If that was the case, Rev. Powell never uttered concern, and, instead, praised his son's newfound convictions.
Wilbur mentioned that he tried to give a speech to the congregation the evening of his conversion but, having been brought to such an emotional state, could not find his voice. His life came full circle on this matter. About two months before his death, Wilbur, following the example of his forebears, kneeled before the alter at Greenville Baptist Church and reconfirmed his convictions.
Alvah Roy and Mattie Essie (Martin) Powell were blessed with a large family:
1. ALMA MAUDELL POWELL b. 1903, d. 1979
2. MARY MARIE POWELL b. 1904, d. 1970
3. WILLIAM CULBERT POWELL b. 1906, d. 1987
4. ILA VANN POWELL b. 1910, d. 1989
5. JOHN WILBUR POWELL b. 4 Apr 1912, d. 5 Nov 1974
6. KATHRYN MONOAH POWELL b. 1914, d. 1974
7. BETH WYLEEN POWELL b. 1917, d. 2000
8. JAMES QUENTIN POWELL b. 1919, d. 1951
9. DOROTHY LANELL POWELL b. 1922, d. 1993
10. ALVAH REID POWELL b. 1925, d. 2000
Mattie Martin Powell was the great great granddaughter of a Revolutionary War soldier who fought under Gen. Francis Marion, the "Swamp Fox". A recent movie, "The Patriot", roughly follows the wartime experience of Gen. Marion.
Mrs. Powell was mentioned in a Savannah newspaper article in 1927, written about her mother, Mrs. Wm Columbus Martin, who was credited with having the largest family in Georgia, over 186 living descendants. A.R. and Mattie contributed more than their fair share of progeny needed to bestow this honor on Mrs. Martin.
In 1934, Rev. A.R. Powell accepted the call to Greenville Baptist Church in Greenville, Madison County, Florida. His only requirement of the parting pastor was that he plant a spring garden for Mrs. Powell. This favor granted, the family began it's move, ably assisted by several townspeople and church members, including Rev. Oglesby, Mr. John Cone and Mr. James Pickles of Greenville. The youngest of the family, Reid Powell, recalled making this move, noting that frequent stops had to be made along the way to round up chickens that fell off the truck.
Rev. Powell's son, Wilbur, was relegated the unenviable task of driving down the farm wagon from Nashville to Greenville. The trip took all day. The wagon, with no springs, loaded with all the farm tools, plows, a corn sheller, and a three hundred pound sow with her farrow that Mrs. Powell could not bear to leave behind, offered no protection from the hard packed roads nor the merciless sun. The mules could only be coaxed to a trot for short distances. Wilbur had to stop frequently to draw water from ditches and streams to pour over the piglets to keep them from baking in the heat. Rev. Powell made two round trips in the time it took Wilbur to get to Greenville. To make matters worse, he had to drive down Church Street, which went directly in front of the church in town, where Wednesday night services were culminating. That was Wilbur's introduction to society in Greenville.
That wagon remainded on Wilbur's farm well into the 1960's where it, having long outlived it's utility, was pushed into the nearby woods and, except for a few metal braces, spoke bands and straps, was reclaimed by nature.
Rev. Powell preached only a short time at Greenville Baptist Church. A rift in the church arose over the budget for overseas missionaries. Rev. Powell regarded the local community as a priority for church funds, given the dire economic conditions of the Great Depression. Others favored foreign missions. As a result of this dichotomy, Rev. Powell and several families in the church asked for letters of dismissal in order to join the First Baptist Church of Greenville.
The Powell family integrated itself closely into the community in Greenville. Three of Rev. Powell's daughters and one son graduated from Greenville High School: Beth Powell Class of 1936, Dorothy Powell Class of 1940, and Reid Powell Class of 1943. The older children were educated in Nashville, Ga. schools.
Despite his age, military disability pension and previous service, Rev. Powell registered to serve in World War II in the "Old Man's" draft of 27 Apr 1942, which was not a draft, per se, but a volunteer registration for men aged 45-64. Due to age and infirmity, Rev. Powell was not called to active duty, although two of his sons, Wilbur and Reid Powell were called to serve.
Wilbur deployed to the China-Burma-India theatre of war where he served in the U.S. Army Air Corps with the 58th Bomb Wing at Chakulia, India, Central China and Tinian Island in the South Pacific. He saw combat in the CBI theater, was strafed by Jap Zeros on Tinian, flew missions as a B-29 tailgunner over Tokyo and saw the Enola Gay take off with the atomic bomb that would end the War. Reid served in the U.S. Navy at Pensacola, FL, qualified for the G.I. Bill and received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Florida, the first in the family to attain that level of education.
A 1948 voter list of Precinct 5, Greenville, FL shows A.R. Powell and J.W. Powell as eligible voters in the elections of that year. Reid Powell was away at college in Gainesville, FL that year, attending the University of Florida, where he completed a bachelors degree in only three years on the G.I. bill.
Rev. Powell continued to preach at Greenville and serve the community into the early 1950's until his eyesight and health began to fail. A 1958 article in the Madison Enterprise-Recorder entitled "Way Back When" credited Rev. Powell with 16 years as the pastor of the Bapt. Church in Greenville, FL.
Rev. Powell died 19 June 1953, in Greenville, FL, at the home of his son, Wilbur Powell. His wife, Mattie Martin Powell died 24 Feb 1969 at Madison Memorial Hospital. They are both buried in the Powell family plot at Evergreen Cemetery in Greenville along with several children.
___________________________________________________________
A. R. Powell
(Abstracted from the Madison Enterprise-Recorder Newspaper, Madison, Florida, June 26, 1953)
A. R. Powell, age 74, died Friday June 19th at his home in Greenville. Survivors are his wife, Mrs. Mattie E. Powell, of Greenville; three sons, C. W., of Moultrie; J. W., of Greenville; and Alva Reid Powell, of Mayo; six daughters, Mrs. Marion Register, of Norman Park, GA; Mrs. E. C. Bostick and Mrs. Ralph Wills, both of Moultrie; Mrs. Cecil Brannen, of Greenville; Mrs. Jim West, of Macon; and Mrs. Wesley Holland, of Bartow. Funeral services were held Saturday in the First Baptist Church of Greenville with interment in Evergreen Cemetery.
___________________________________________________________
From the memory of William R. Wills, Jr., M.D., son of Ralph & Ila Vann (Powell) Wills, & grandson of Rev. Alvah Roy Powell:
"My remembrance of my grandfather when I was young and they were living on the Perry Highway, south of Greenville, Fla.: the house was built in the style called dog-trot, with a central passage which opened at the back onto a screened-in breeze way, which connected the kitchen away from the main house. This was done so that if the kitchen caught on fire, the remainder of the house would not be consumed. The front porch was as long as the house was. Upon entering the open door passage way, the living room and dining area was on the right, while the left wing housed the living quarters, with grandmother & grandfather in the bedroom closest to the front door, then the two guest bedrooms, along the small corridor that extended from the front entrance way.
The kitchen had a big iron stove with cast iron pots and the pans always cooked the best foods ever; hoe cakes, corn bread, fresh vegetables, fried chicken. If a hungry soul went to the smoke house, he could always slice a chunk of smoked ham to fry on that big stove, or get a piece of the best sausage to put on that big stove. The best of the best was the old cathead biscuits, bigger than your fist, and taking a jar of good homemade corn syrup, punch your finger down into the biscuit and filling it with syrup, ham or sausage.
Water was a commodity not easily obtained, because, initially, the well was some 50 yards away from the house, sheltered by a wooden A-frame covering, with a zinc or galvanized bucket lowered by a rope to the bottom of the well, using a pulley to raise the full bucket up. It was the best tasting cold water you can imagine.
Later, a modern well was dug by the back porch. It was a hand pump, well faucet at the end of the porch and during the summer, the zinc tub used for bathing, was placed on the porch and filled with water for bathing the children.
The back yard was totally dirt where chickens, guinea fowl, and birds feasted on critters living under the larger oak trees. A long clothesline extended from the house to a tree and across the yard, to the smoke house. This smoke house was the source for the best bacon, sausage, cured meats, and dark gravy you could ever taste.
I can still remember my Uncle Wilbur hanging a hog from the tree, bleeding him and then scalding him in a big vat of hot water to remove the hair and prepare him for skinning before butchering it.
Close by was the big cast iron tub for the purpose of washing clothes outside with lye soap. Once the clothes were rinsed, they were placed on that long clothesline stretched out across the yard.
The clothes were washed with a long wooden paddle, used to agitate them. The long clothesline was stabilized by placing wooden poles under the wire to keep the fresh washed clothes from touching the ground.
Behind the smoke house, and off to the side of the yard, was the two hole outdoor house. I can still see that outhouse, containing the Sears-Roebuck catalogue to read or for tearing out a page or two to clean yourself up.
Or you could occupy yourself with watching the hornets, bees, spiders and wasps flying around inside the privy. Or, if that failed to amuse, you could fling open the door, and watch the chickens and roosters outside pecking about under the two seater ("his" and "hers".)
When it was necessary to move the privy because it was full, a tractor was used to drag it to the new location.
The old dog-trot house no longer exists, having been torn down after my grandparents moved in to town. But the remembrance of my Grandfather sitting on the front of the large open fireplace, smoking on his corn-cob pipe full of Prince Albert tobacco, and reading his Bible [takes me back to a different world.]
When it was bedtime, we all crawled in to the feather bed, which could be warmed up, in the winter, by placing bricks in the fireplace, wrapping them in blankets, then placing them under the covers as foot warmers where it was toasty warm on cold nights.
Around the old dirt yard, the sandy soil provided a big place on which we could draw hop-scotch using broken glass from a milk jar. We would invite Flossie (the African American neighbor) to come play. It was a mean game because she was good.
If that wasn't enough fun for a boy, we could take our BB guns to the big fig tree in the backyard, and "hunt" jay birds, brown thrashers or mockingbirds, saying that we were protecting the figs on the tree. Or we could climb that big fig tree, which was always fun. If that wasn't enough, you could go down to the barn near the house, and make a game out of shelling ears of corn to feed the chickens, and the horse or livestock corraled in the fenced area next to the barn.
From the front porch, a long lane of old moss covered oak trees extended down the paved road. The loud pops of Uncle James' rawhide whip echoed loudly down this corridor of trees, as he snapped it. The lane of trees also housed many squirrels [there and down by] the tree-lined lily pad covered pond just south of the house.
Another sport was shooting a .22 rifle at targets set up on the wooden posts which outlined the front yard. One could sit on the steps going into the house, or sit in those old wooden rockers on the front porch [and make a day out of target practice.]
The town of Greenville was not a big town, but was comprised of several stores, a mercantile, a grocery, a bank, several Baptist churches, and a movie theater for Saturday matinees, featuring the old shoot-um-up westerns.
The cemetery was out on the Madison Highway, with its rows of headstones under which both grandmother and grandfather are now buried.
Mother had nine brothers and sisters: Wilbur ran the family farm; Kathryn was married to the President of the Bank; James was mentally retarded as a result of polio and had no ability to talk but he could crack a whip with the best of them; Uncle Reid was in the Navy and on his return home, he moved to the panhandle of Fla. where he was a county agent; Uncle Wilbur later joined the Army during WWII, as well. Mother's sister Beth married Jim West and lived in Moultrie and Macon. Aunt Dorothy married Wesley Holland, moved to Bartow, Fla. and raised a daughter and two sons. The sisters, Marie and Maudell, lived in the small college town of Norman Park. After the death of her husband (1938) Marion Register, Maudell operated a grocery store on Main Street in Moultrie.
Marie married a man [Eugene Bostick], who would later become the Sheriff of the county, and ran the local correctional facility (prison), and Uncle Culbert was the assistant warden of the prison. Maudell's son, Bob, and I were closest of friends, spending much time with him hunting, fishing and going to the movie theater. Bob lived with us for a while and attended school with me.
I remember visiting relatives in Adel, Nashville, and Valdosta - Mother's cousins - as well as Daddy's sister and brother. I was raised by loving parents who, because we did not have a car, the family group would walk to church, walk uptown on Saturdays where we enjoyed an ice cream at the drug store, or would walk to the movie theater for Saturday westerns, sometimes staying to see the main feature or to follow the "serials", which always ended in a strange predicament for the main character and we anxiously awaited the following serial the next week."
Rest in Peace, Cousin Bill Wills, 1935-2016.
___________________________________________________________
Addendum to Pension Claim of Pvt. Alvah Roy Powell:
Greenville, Florida
March 20th, 1945
Hon. Joseph E. Brown
Director, Veterans Claims Service
Washington, D.C.
Dear Mr. Brown:
In the conclusion of your letter of March 6, 1945, MCC-DCC-2 474 272, you asked me to give supporting evidence showing the time my birth was recorded in the Bible. I take for granted that you had reference to the Dickson Bible from which Miss Kerr made the affidavit, as the records reveal my date of birth as December 28, 1878.
My name and date of birth were first recorded in my father's Bible, date of birth being December 28, 1878. I was married to Miss Mattie E. Martin the 4th Sunday in July, 1901 in Nashville, Georgia. On January 4th, 1903, our first child was born.
Soon thereafter, I bought a large Bible and transferred the records from my father's Bible into my Bible. I kept this Bible until after I was ordained as a Baptist Minister on the 31st of August 1910. Previous to this time, I had been called to serve the Good Hope Baptist Church. The large Bible which I had bought and transferred the records into was too large to carry. Then I bought the Dickson Bible, which was copyrighted in 1907 and transferred the records into it and sold the large Bible to the Good Hope Church but took the page containing the family record out and still have it in my possession. If you desire it, I will send the page containing the record, which was taken from the large Bible. For further information, I am enclosing a book which, if you will kindly examine page five, you will find the date of my Ordination.
Respectfully,
Rev. Alva R. Powell
Sworn to and subscribed to before me at Greenville, Madison
County, Florida, this 20th day of March, 1945.
Elizabeth Kerr
Notary Public
____________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
Alvah Roy Powell was born three days after Christmas, Saturday, 28 Dec 1878 on Mud Creek, near Stockton, Clinch Co. GA, the fourth child of Rev. Thomas Wm and Allie (Whitlow) Powell. In 1880, the family moved to a farm southwest of Nashville, Berrien Co., GA. A.R. Powell received an education in the common schools of Berrien County and finished at Nashville Academy. He was only nine years old when his father died of tuberculosis. His mother died three years later of the same dread disease.
Despite being doubly orphaned, Roy Powell and his siblings escaped the bane of the orphanage, independently maintaining themselves on the two hundred acre family farm inherited as a legacy from their father. The eldest son, John Whitlow Evans Powell, who was legally an adult when his mother died, took over the role as head of household.
A.R. Powell became active in church and civic work early in his life as this excerpt from the Valdosta Times, x 31 May 1898 indicates: "The School Exhibition was a wonderful success. The highlight of the evening was a speech by Roy Powell entitled 'Our Country and It's Future'". The title of this speech likely had much to do with the impending war between the U.S. and Spain over the U.S.S. Maine incident in Havana Harbor, Cuba.
When the war tocsin sounded for the Spanish-American War in 1898, twenty year old A.R. Powell, rushed to the standard of his country. He traveled to Camp Northen, GA 15 Jul 1898 in the company of others with similar sentiment from the Nashville area with the intention to enlist but, upon examination, was found to be underweight. He was assigned to Co. D, 3rd Regiment for a period of time to bring his weight up to Army standards. Pvt. Powell finally mustered into the U.S. Army 17 Aug 1898 at Griffin, GA and was assigned to Co. L, 3rd U.S. Volunteers. His enlistment records describe him as "5'6 3/4" in height, dark complexion, grey eyes, sandy hair, born in Stockton, GA, occupation farmer. His sponsor was his brother, John Whitlow Evans Powell.
His military record shows that he served with the the 3rd Georgia Regiment at Camp Northen, Griffin, GA, Camp Lee, near Savannah, GA and Cuba. Pvt. Powell was sick in quarters twice (once from vaccinations) and took furlough 20-27 Oct 1898. Perhaps it was on this furlough, while wearing his uniform, that he attracted the attention of his future wife, Mattie Essie Martin. She once stated that she "swooned" when she saw Pvt. Powell in uniform.
According to Atlanta and Environs, ed. Garrett, pub. Lewis Historical Publishing Company, Inc., Vol. II, pp. 355-356:
"On April 23rd President McKinley called on Governor Atkinson for two regiments of infantry and two batteries of light artillery. On May 4th, Camp Northen was established at Griffin on the State campgrounds, and on the 7th the first detachment of Georgia volunteers, 49 in number, left Atlanta for the camp under Captain, (later Major) Cleveland Wilcoxon.
The Second Georgia Volunteer Infantry, under Colonel Oscar J. Brown, soon after muster-in, left Camp Northen at Griffin for Tampa, en route to Cuba; for some unexplained reason, the orders to move to Cuba never arrived. Finally this Regiment was moved to Huntsville, Alabama, and was brought back to Atlanta for muster-out in November, 1898.
The Third Georgia Volunteer Infantry, under Colonel (later Judge) John S. Candler, was mustered in August 24, 1898, stayed at Camp Northen until November 21, when it was sent, via Savannah, to Cuba for occupational duty. In early 1899 it was returned to Georgia and was mustered out at Augusta."
It appears from records that Pvt. Powell did not deploy with the Regiment to Cuba in November, 1898. He later stated such in a questionnaire dated 3 April 1935, as a part of his pension file. Pvt. Powell was honorably discharged, by request, on 6 Jan 1899 at Camp Onward, Savannah, Georgia.
The Valdosta Times, x 17 Jan 1899, celebrated the return of their veterans: "Roy Powell and P.D. Yopp, members of the Third Georgia Regiment, U.S.V. have been honorably discharged and have returned to their homes." Rev. Powell stated that he applied for and received an early discharge in order to "go back to school." Pvt. Pitheus D. Yopp served with A.R. Powell and, in 1907, provided a statement of support for Pvt. Powell's military pension. P.D. Yopp died in 1917 and is bur. Flat Creek Cem., Berrien Co., Ga.
A.R. Powell transitioned to civilian life, once again taking up his penchant for public oration, as noted in this Valdosta Times article of x 29 Jul 1899: "Mrs. J. N. Griffin entertained her Sunday School class and a few of Ms. Emma's friends at a book party. Each of those in attendance wore something that represented some well known book and then all guessed at the different representations. Ms. Irene Parrish won the prize for the most successful guesses. It was a handsome silver nail cleaner and was presented in a happy speech by Mr. Roy Powell."
The 1900 census shows Roy Powell living as a boarder and ploughboy on the William Bradford farm. John E. Bradford, in his statement of support for Roy Powell's pension application, stated that A.R. Powell "worked for my father and lived in my home. He and I slept in the same room." A.R. Powell stayed with the Bradfords "through the crop season of the year 1900." Later that year and into the next, Mr. Powell also worked for Sheriff Clayton (A.C.) Avera as a stable hand and as a log scaler at Griffin's sawmill for about three or four months.
Next door was the household of Thomas Wm "Will" Powell, Jr. living on the family farm with the other three Powell siblings still at home: John Whitlow Evans "John" Powell, who was the county tax collector and a school teacher in Nashville, James Harvey "Jim" Powell, and Mollie Enid "Nid" Powell. Sister Mattie Powell had previously married Esq. John A. Wilkes.
The Powell brothers, over the years after the death of their parents, continued to operate the farm left to them by their father, with T.W. "Will" Powell, Jr. primarily in charge of daily agricultural operations. Cash crops, primarily corn, cotton and tobacco, were produced throughout the 1890's and into the first decade of the 1900's, with each of the siblings receiving a fair share. In 1906, the farm was split up between the six heirs of Thomas & Allie Powell, as each of the siblings were beginning to go their separate ways in life.
Mr. Powell's siblings seemed to be making their way satisfactorily. James Harvey Powell moved to St. Louis, MO about 1906 where he was employed as a stevedore. Then, the St. Louis weather not being to his liking, he moved to the more temperate climate of Jacksonville, FL where he met and mar. Pansy Blossom Renault, the daughter of Alfred Renault, a railroad engineer who was killed in a train accident when Pansy was young.
The Nashville Herald notes several visits of Jim Powell to his family and friends in Nashville while he was living in Florida, Nashville Herald, x 23 Aug 1907: "Jim Powell came up from Jacksonville Sunday and is visiting relatives and friends in and around Nashville." Earlier that year, Jim Powell had suffered appendicitis & was visited by family from Nashville. By 1911, they were back in Nashville before permanently removing to Tampa, FL, where Jim Powell was on the Tampa police force.
By 1905, John W. E. Powell had moved to town in Nashville, where he purchased the Rentz tract on Davis Street & had a beautiful home built for Leila, his wife, and their growing family, as his banking career at Nashville First Bank flourished.
In 1908, Mollie Enid, after graduating from college in Macon, married Linton C. Turner. They moved to Colquitt, Sumter and Tift Counties, before divorcing in 1930.
The Powells kept up with extended family relations, as the following newspaper articles denote:
Nashville Herald,
x 5 Aug 1904: "Mr. & Mrs. John Whitlow of Texas are the guests of Mr. & Mrs. Jno. W.E. Powell."
John Gholston Whitlow was the Uncle of A.R. Powell. He was the brother of Rev. Powell's mother, Allie Whitlow Powell. The last known visit of Mr. Whitlow, prior to this instance, was a trip to Georgia and Alabama in 1894 where he visited the Powells in Nashville, as well as a trip to Walker Co., GA where he married his young bride, Miss Mollie Neal. J.W.E. Powell traveled to Weatherford, TX in 1914 to settle Mr. Whitlow's estate.
x 9 Sept 1904: "Mr. & Mrs. J.W.E. Powell accompanied Miss Nid Powell to Macon on Sunday. Miss Powell goes to enter Stanley Business College."
Mollie Enid Powell's scholarship was funded by her Uncle John Gholston Whitlow of Weatherford, TX, per J.G. Whitlow's estate papers, Parker County, TX. Uncle J.G. Whitlow visited the Powells in August and likely coordinated Mollie's scholarship during this trip.
J.W.E. Powell mentioned, in his deposition to brother A.R. Powell's pension application, having knowledge of his father's family, stating that "I don't know whether any of my father's relatives was affected by consumption or not; father died of that disease [tuberculosis] but he had it only a short time; mother contracted the disease from father." This statement seemed to indicate that he had some knowledge of T.W. Powell's family to such an extent that he was aware of their health issues.
On the fourth Sunday (the 28th) of the month of July, 1901, Roy Powell married fifteen year old Mattie Essie Martin at Cat Creek Church, after the morning service, according to church records. The presiding official was Judge H.B. Peeples, a colleague of Roy Powell's father, Judge T.W. Powell. Mattie's father, Wm Columbus Martin, a thrice wounded Confederate Army veteran, who died the previous year, had been the long time Clerk of Cat Creek Church. The Martin farm was not far from the Wm Bradford farm where Roy Powell worked as a plough hand. The newlyweds settled on the Powell family farm southwest of Nashville, Ga.
From 1901-1902, A.R. Powell and brother, John W.E. Powell, ran a grocery business in Nashville. They sold this business when J.W.E. Powell was offered an equity interest in and position of Cashier at the newly established First Bank of Nashville. A.R. Powell focused on the draying company that he founded as an adjunct to his comestible goods enterprise. Once this business proved to be a going concern, it, too, was sold for a handsome profit.
Thereafter, A.R. Powell moved to Savannah for health reasons where, initially, he worked as a typesetter for Braid & Hutton, a printing company. Mr. & Mrs. Powell and their two young girls, Maudell and Marie, lived at 212 W. State Street, adjacent Telfair Square and about ten blocks from the wharves on the Savannah River. One imagines Roy & Mattie strolling, girls in tow, to the park across the street from their quarters to enjoy a sunny Saturday afternoon.
Whether Mr. Powell familiarized himself with Thunderbolt, Whitemarsh, Rose Dew, Skidaway and Pulaski, name places that had undoubtedly been intimate to his father, Rev. Thomas W. Powell who forty years before had served at these outposts near Savannah with the 63rd Georgia Regiment during the Civil War, is unknown. Certainly, he must have shown Mattie where he was encamped with the Army at Camp Lee on Shell Road (near Thunderbolt) some few years previously before his Regiment deployed to Cuba.
The choice to move to Savannah for health reasons did not initially prove to be wise. The ink, glue and paper dust in the printing business seemed to have a deleterious effect on Mr. Powell's health. This fact was mentioned in his military pension application in 1908. Consequently, through the efforts of Mattie Martin Powell's brother-in-law, Frank Blanchard, he sought and gained employment with the City of Savannah as a street car conductor, hoping that the open air would revive his waning physical condition. This proved to be just the antidote for his ailment.
Two years' labor in this profession allowed Mr. Powell's health to improve sufficiently to a point that he was able to perform farm labor again. With Mattie missing the company of her sisters and not wishing to raise her children in the city, the Powells moved to Walkerville, Pierce Co., GA where Mr. Powell secured a position as sharecropper for Mrs. J.R. Bennett. Much to Mattie's delight, Mrs. Dixon, Mattie's sister, lived nearby.
After about two years farming in Walkerville, A.R. Powell decided to relocate back to his native Berrien Co., as the Nashville Herald details, x 28 Dec 1906: "Roy Powell and family of Walkerville, Pierce County, are spending a few days in Nashville visiting family over the holidays. Mr. Powell has about concluded to move back to Nashville."
Once back in Nashville, in 1907, A.R. Powell applied for and, in 1908, was awarded a pension for military service in the Spanish-American War, Certificate # 1150757 based on Application # 1360220, filed 22 May 1907.
About the same time, Mr. Powell began a seed, fertilizer and farm implement business which he continued to operate for over twenty years. Daughter Maudell shows in the 1920 census as Clerk for this company. A.R. Powell was one of the first tobacco farmers to adopt the bright leaf tobacco variety in his region. In the 1920's & 1930's, he and his son Wilbur, grew and sold tobacco bedding plants to local farmers. Due to his expertise in farming and crop selection, A.R. Powell became one of Berrien County's first agricultural demonstration agents.
Ever the consummate innovator, A.R. Powell, along with partner Victor H. Futch, was awarded Patent # 1,447,321 in 1923 from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, described as "an apparatus for the dispensing of seeds and commodities." This invention, used in conjunction with Mr. Powell's seed, fertilizer & farm implement business, was selected by the Georgia State Agricultural Commission to be displayed in the Georgia Exhibit at the 1926 World's Fair in Philadelphia, PA.
In 1909, Roy Powell, heeding the call to follow his father's footsteps as a Baptist minister, enrolled in seminary in Albany, GA. He boarded there during weekdays, attending classes during the day, pressing shirts at night to pay his way, and traveling home to Nashville on weekends to be with his family. Rev. Powell was ordained at Good Hope Baptist Church on the 31st of August, 1910 and licensed in Lanier County the 5th of September. By the end of that year, Rev. Powell was preaching at both Good Hope Baptist in Naylor and Ruth Forrester Church in Nashville and, as the 1910 census enumeration indicates, running a boarding house in Nashville, GA.
In 1911, all of the Powell brothers showed on the Berrien Co. voter list, to include James Harvey Powell, who had recently returned to Nashville from Jacksonville, FL with his bride, Pansy Blossom.
In 1914, Rev. Powell's Uncle, John Gholston Whitlow, died in Weatherford, Texas and left considerable property to the Powells. Rev. Powell's brother, John Whitlow Evans Powell, traveled to Texas in 1914 & 1915 to settle the estate and sell the property on behalf of the Powell & Whitlow heirs in Georgia, the Williamson heirs in Alabama and the Garrett heirs in Texas, all families of men who married daughters of Miles Washington Whitlow, 1812-1885, of Walker Co., GA.
Rev. Powell registered for the draft of World War I in Sept 1918. The registration describes him as a man of slender build, short height, grey eyes and dark hair. His next of kin was wife, Mattie Powell of Nashville, Ga.
Over the twenty some years in Berrien County after his ordination, Rev. Powell preached at the following churches in both the Mell and Valdosta Baptist Association: Good Hope, Ruth Forrester, Poplar Springs, Brushy Creek, Macedonia, Lake Park, Benevolence, Bethel, Sardis, Barney, Lenox, Pinetta, Greegs, Allenville, Oak Grove, Lake Park and Corinth. Several of these churches had been pastored in years past by his father, Rev. Thomas Wm Powell, Sr.
The Nashville, Tifton and Valdosta newspapers are chock-full of instances detailing Rev. Powell's involvement in civic affairs, whether preaching a funeral, conducting a wedding or organizing a revival meeting:
Tifton Gazette, x 7 Jun 1912, p. 7: "Miss Mary E. King, of near Cottle, died Wednesday, May 29th, of stomach trouble. She was fifty-eight years old and had lived a consistent member of the Missionary Baptist Church about forty years. Her remains were buried at Nashville cemetery Thursday afternoon, at 4 o'clock, Rev. Roy Powell conducting the funeral services, assisted by Rev. Goss, of Nashville."
Nashville Herald, x 27 April 1913: "Rev. & Mrs. Roy Powell were hosts to a gathering of Christian businessmen and their wives whose purpose is to cultivate congenial relations between like-minded citizens of our city."
Atlanta Constitution, x 21 Dec 1914: "Nashville, Ga. December 20 (Special) Mrs. Nancy Goodman, aged 85 years, died at her home here Thursday. She had a severe stroke of paralysis about five months ago, and since that time had had several attacks. She was born in Wilkerson (sic) county, but had been a resident of Nashville and Berrien county since before the war. She was the mother of Mrs. J. P. Hall and Miss Semanda Goodman, of Nashville, and J. H. Goodman, of Willacoochee. The funeral services were conducted by Rev. A. R. Powell, of the Baptist church. The remains were interred in the city cemetery."
Nashville Herald, as reported in the Tifton Gazette, 4 Aug 1916, p. 5: "Miss Carabelle Meyer, daughter of Mr. Louis Meyer, who has lived in Nashville for several years, and Mr. Guy Morris, of Winder, were secretly married Monday evening. Rev. A. Roy Powell, officiating."
In 1916, Rev. Powell, at the urgent solicitation of a local political faction hoping to capitalize on the preacher's popularity, allowed his name to be run on the Democratic ticket for the position of Judge, Court of Ordinary for Berrien County. Despite a campaign run by word of mouth only, Rev. Powell narrowly lost, as the 7 April 1916, Tifton Gazette reported: "For Judge, Court of Ordinary, Joel I. Norwood, won with a plurality over A. Roy Powell, A. W. Patterson and T. Jordan Griffin, Sr., with Mr. Powell running second by only 47 votes." Two years later, the same political cabal again urged Rev. Powell to enter the contest for Probate Judge, but he humbly refused, citing "political entanglements" as a distraction to his calling to the ministry and preferring the "more appealing pages in life's commonplace book."
Rev. A.R. Powell gained some modicum of notoriety as an organizer of revivals and meetings, often garnering media attention from as far away as Atlanta:
"Atlanta Constitution
August 24, 1923 Pg 7
HOLD MANY REVIVALS NEAR MILLTOWN, GA
Milltown, Ga., August 23. —(special)– The revival meeting season is still on in this section. Rev. W. Harvey Wages, pastor of the local Baptist church, is conducting a revival meeting at Good Hope church in the southern part of Lanier county, near Naylor. Rev. Roy Powell, of Nashville, Ga., is the pastor of this church. The meeting began last Saturday and will go on through this week.
Rev. J. Frank Snell, local Methodist pastor, closed a ten-day revival at Bridges Chapel, in East Lanier, Sunday night, in which he was assisted by Rev. G. C. Powell, of Sparks. Rev Albert Giddens, pastor, and Rev. J.D. Poindexter, both of Nashville, closed a two weeks' revival at Beaver Dam Baptist church at Ray City Sunday night. Sixteen were baptized Sunday afternoon.
A revival service began Wednesday night at the Methodist church in Ray City. The pastor, Rev. J. Frank Snell, will be assisted by Rev. W.A. Tyson, of Swainsboro. Rev. W.D. Reburn, of Remerton, is assisting Rev . J. Ed Fain, of Omega, in a meeting at Leila church, in Colquitt county.
Rev. E. Harvey Wages, of Milltown, pastor of the Stocktown Baptist church, and Rev. W.D. Raburn, of Remerton, pastor of the Stockton Methodist church, plan to hold a union revival in the schoolhouse at Stockton about the middle of September, each pastor preaching a week, the meeting continuing for two weeks. This is a small town, and the churches feel they are unable to support separate meetings and this plan was devised."
The following excerpt from the Nashville Herald denotes another such of many gatherings:
"To the Churches of the Valdosta Association
Nashville, Ga., May 7, 1930,
The next rally will be held with the Sardis church on Wednesday, May 21. This in all probability will be the last of these meetings to be held this summer, and the good people of this community are anxious that it shall be the greatest day in our experience. So, we shall take this method of inviting you to come to Sardis on May 21st. The speakers for this occasion will be: Rev. Barkely, Dr. Dumas, Hon. E.D. Rivers, Rev. A.H. Giddens, Rev. T.W. Branch, Dr. A.C. Pyle, Dr. H.M. Fugate, and, your scribe, Rev. A.R. Powell. Our entire program is arranged on the value of the Holy Bible.
Yours for Better Work,
A.R. Powell"
Other headlines from the Nashville paper proclaimed:
"Inspirational Rally at Baptist Church, April 15. Good Program Has Been Arranged; Dinner to Be Spread on Grounds."
"Baptists Are Holding Devotional Meetings in Nashville."
Judging from the news media of the times, Rev. Powell became as good a promoter and advertising man, as he was a minister.
Rev. Powell's children were also active in his ministry work as described in various articles in the Nashville Herald:
"A.R.C. Program, Sunday morning, Baptist Church:
Faith to Believe - Kathryn Powell
Humility to Be Led - Beth Powell
The Sufferings of Life - Wilbur Powell
The Disciples in Distress - Ilavan Powell"
As well, the Powell children were popular among their classmates and were the first to be invited to social gatherings:
"Misses Pearl and Edna Hall Entertain With a Marshmellow Roast." Those enjoying the hospitality included: Johnny Powell, Ila Vann Powell, Nell Powell, Ruth Powell, Elizabeth Powell, Kathryn Powell, Hubert Powell and Wilbur Powell. Several of these were children of brother, T.W. Powell, Jr.
Mrs. Powell efficiently discharged her duties as well, organizing several women's programs in churches under her husband's charge, and involving herself in mission work for the Mell Baptist Association, as this 4 April 1919 Tifton Gazette account demonstrates: "Mell Women's Missionary Society Meets in Lenox." One of the speakers on the agenda was Mrs. A.R. Powell, of Nashville, Ga.
Rev. Powell administered his family in a fair and loving, but firm manner. His son, Wilbur (see school photo ca. 1919), related that Rev. Powell knew a Bible verse by heart for every sin that a boy could commit.
The Reverend's son, Wilbur, according to family lore, tested this ability frequently, to wit: fishing on Sunday, hiding corn mash in his clothes trunk, playing cards and fighting at school, driving his mule "Mary" into town for the Sat. night dance without permission & forgetting to brush the mule hair off his clothes & sheets, and other such offenses, all of which are generally considered to be cardinal sins to Baptists, especially fishing on Sunday.
One account of the latter charge had young Wilbur fishing on Sunday adjacent to the bridge over which the Powells had to pass in the family wagon on the way to church. When Rev. Powell observed the unattended fishing pole, he knew his errant boy, Wilbur, could not be far away. As Mrs. Powell was cutting a switch to discipline her wayward son, the cork went under. Both Rev. and Mrs. Powell, dressed in their Sunday best, dashed to the landing to bring the fish in, and in their haste, very nearly joined the fish in the water instead. Young Wilbur, curious about the noisy fracas, emerged from the nearby bushes to watch the calamitous events unfold, with great amusement, no doubt.
Once order resumed, however, Wilbur realized his tenuous situation. Thinking quickly on his feet, Wilbur reminded the Reverend et ux of how the Lord fed the five thousand with fishes and loaves, and that his own feeble efforts, though considerably limited in scope by comparison, and the miracle somewhat less compelling than the Gospel accounts, should be given equal ground.
The Rev. and Mrs. Powell, seeming satisfied with the spiritual application of events or perhaps amused at their son's rapier wit, pluck and temerity, left young Wilbur to ply his skill on the river bank, where he continued to fill his stringer with a mess of fish of biblical proportions.
Transgressions notwithstanding, that day the Powell family, dined sumptuously on a supper of fried red bellies, speckled perch and bream, provided by the Lord, with the able assistance of young Wilbur. It wouldn't be the last time He and Wilbur teamed up to fill the family pot with fish, squirrel, quail, turkey, duck, deer or wild boar.
Many other grievous infractions were discovered by the ever vigilant Mrs. Powell, who, like all Christian mothers, fervently prayed that her children would live righteous lives, or in Wilbur's instance, at least escape perdition. She, having been steeped in the Primitive Baptist tradition, was decidedly more "Old Testament" than her long-suffering Missionary Baptist husband, Rev. Powell. Her Bible verse of choice was "spare the rod, spoil the child."
Perhaps the fearful accountings to which she brought her son were the genesis for "The Sufferings of Life" discourse delivered by young Wilbur in the A.R.C. program, mentioned above.
Wilbur's conversion to faith was somewhat unorthodox. He "walked the aisle" when he was sixteen, not at his father's Missionary Baptist church but, convinced he was bound for an eternity in hell by a fire and brimstone preacher at a local hard shell Baptist church, he received salvation there only to later realize his choice might have humiliated his own father. If that was the case, Rev. Powell never uttered concern, and, instead, praised his son's newfound convictions.
Wilbur mentioned that he tried to give a speech to the congregation the evening of his conversion but, having been brought to such an emotional state, could not find his voice. His life came full circle on this matter. About two months before his death, Wilbur, following the example of his forebears, kneeled before the alter at Greenville Baptist Church and reconfirmed his convictions.
Alvah Roy and Mattie Essie (Martin) Powell were blessed with a large family:
1. ALMA MAUDELL POWELL b. 1903, d. 1979
2. MARY MARIE POWELL b. 1904, d. 1970
3. WILLIAM CULBERT POWELL b. 1906, d. 1987
4. ILA VANN POWELL b. 1910, d. 1989
5. JOHN WILBUR POWELL b. 4 Apr 1912, d. 5 Nov 1974
6. KATHRYN MONOAH POWELL b. 1914, d. 1974
7. BETH WYLEEN POWELL b. 1917, d. 2000
8. JAMES QUENTIN POWELL b. 1919, d. 1951
9. DOROTHY LANELL POWELL b. 1922, d. 1993
10. ALVAH REID POWELL b. 1925, d. 2000
Mattie Martin Powell was the great great granddaughter of a Revolutionary War soldier who fought under Gen. Francis Marion, the "Swamp Fox". A recent movie, "The Patriot", roughly follows the wartime experience of Gen. Marion.
Mrs. Powell was mentioned in a Savannah newspaper article in 1927, written about her mother, Mrs. Wm Columbus Martin, who was credited with having the largest family in Georgia, over 186 living descendants. A.R. and Mattie contributed more than their fair share of progeny needed to bestow this honor on Mrs. Martin.
In 1934, Rev. A.R. Powell accepted the call to Greenville Baptist Church in Greenville, Madison County, Florida. His only requirement of the parting pastor was that he plant a spring garden for Mrs. Powell. This favor granted, the family began it's move, ably assisted by several townspeople and church members, including Rev. Oglesby, Mr. John Cone and Mr. James Pickles of Greenville. The youngest of the family, Reid Powell, recalled making this move, noting that frequent stops had to be made along the way to round up chickens that fell off the truck.
Rev. Powell's son, Wilbur, was relegated the unenviable task of driving down the farm wagon from Nashville to Greenville. The trip took all day. The wagon, with no springs, loaded with all the farm tools, plows, a corn sheller, and a three hundred pound sow with her farrow that Mrs. Powell could not bear to leave behind, offered no protection from the hard packed roads nor the merciless sun. The mules could only be coaxed to a trot for short distances. Wilbur had to stop frequently to draw water from ditches and streams to pour over the piglets to keep them from baking in the heat. Rev. Powell made two round trips in the time it took Wilbur to get to Greenville. To make matters worse, he had to drive down Church Street, which went directly in front of the church in town, where Wednesday night services were culminating. That was Wilbur's introduction to society in Greenville.
That wagon remainded on Wilbur's farm well into the 1960's where it, having long outlived it's utility, was pushed into the nearby woods and, except for a few metal braces, spoke bands and straps, was reclaimed by nature.
Rev. Powell preached only a short time at Greenville Baptist Church. A rift in the church arose over the budget for overseas missionaries. Rev. Powell regarded the local community as a priority for church funds, given the dire economic conditions of the Great Depression. Others favored foreign missions. As a result of this dichotomy, Rev. Powell and several families in the church asked for letters of dismissal in order to join the First Baptist Church of Greenville.
The Powell family integrated itself closely into the community in Greenville. Three of Rev. Powell's daughters and one son graduated from Greenville High School: Beth Powell Class of 1936, Dorothy Powell Class of 1940, and Reid Powell Class of 1943. The older children were educated in Nashville, Ga. schools.
Despite his age, military disability pension and previous service, Rev. Powell registered to serve in World War II in the "Old Man's" draft of 27 Apr 1942, which was not a draft, per se, but a volunteer registration for men aged 45-64. Due to age and infirmity, Rev. Powell was not called to active duty, although two of his sons, Wilbur and Reid Powell were called to serve.
Wilbur deployed to the China-Burma-India theatre of war where he served in the U.S. Army Air Corps with the 58th Bomb Wing at Chakulia, India, Central China and Tinian Island in the South Pacific. He saw combat in the CBI theater, was strafed by Jap Zeros on Tinian, flew missions as a B-29 tailgunner over Tokyo and saw the Enola Gay take off with the atomic bomb that would end the War. Reid served in the U.S. Navy at Pensacola, FL, qualified for the G.I. Bill and received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Florida, the first in the family to attain that level of education.
A 1948 voter list of Precinct 5, Greenville, FL shows A.R. Powell and J.W. Powell as eligible voters in the elections of that year. Reid Powell was away at college in Gainesville, FL that year, attending the University of Florida, where he completed a bachelors degree in only three years on the G.I. bill.
Rev. Powell continued to preach at Greenville and serve the community into the early 1950's until his eyesight and health began to fail. A 1958 article in the Madison Enterprise-Recorder entitled "Way Back When" credited Rev. Powell with 16 years as the pastor of the Bapt. Church in Greenville, FL.
Rev. Powell died 19 June 1953, in Greenville, FL, at the home of his son, Wilbur Powell. His wife, Mattie Martin Powell died 24 Feb 1969 at Madison Memorial Hospital. They are both buried in the Powell family plot at Evergreen Cemetery in Greenville along with several children.
___________________________________________________________
A. R. Powell
(Abstracted from the Madison Enterprise-Recorder Newspaper, Madison, Florida, June 26, 1953)
A. R. Powell, age 74, died Friday June 19th at his home in Greenville. Survivors are his wife, Mrs. Mattie E. Powell, of Greenville; three sons, C. W., of Moultrie; J. W., of Greenville; and Alva Reid Powell, of Mayo; six daughters, Mrs. Marion Register, of Norman Park, GA; Mrs. E. C. Bostick and Mrs. Ralph Wills, both of Moultrie; Mrs. Cecil Brannen, of Greenville; Mrs. Jim West, of Macon; and Mrs. Wesley Holland, of Bartow. Funeral services were held Saturday in the First Baptist Church of Greenville with interment in Evergreen Cemetery.
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From the memory of William R. Wills, Jr., M.D., son of Ralph & Ila Vann (Powell) Wills, & grandson of Rev. Alvah Roy Powell:
"My remembrance of my grandfather when I was young and they were living on the Perry Highway, south of Greenville, Fla.: the house was built in the style called dog-trot, with a central passage which opened at the back onto a screened-in breeze way, which connected the kitchen away from the main house. This was done so that if the kitchen caught on fire, the remainder of the house would not be consumed. The front porch was as long as the house was. Upon entering the open door passage way, the living room and dining area was on the right, while the left wing housed the living quarters, with grandmother & grandfather in the bedroom closest to the front door, then the two guest bedrooms, along the small corridor that extended from the front entrance way.
The kitchen had a big iron stove with cast iron pots and the pans always cooked the best foods ever; hoe cakes, corn bread, fresh vegetables, fried chicken. If a hungry soul went to the smoke house, he could always slice a chunk of smoked ham to fry on that big stove, or get a piece of the best sausage to put on that big stove. The best of the best was the old cathead biscuits, bigger than your fist, and taking a jar of good homemade corn syrup, punch your finger down into the biscuit and filling it with syrup, ham or sausage.
Water was a commodity not easily obtained, because, initially, the well was some 50 yards away from the house, sheltered by a wooden A-frame covering, with a zinc or galvanized bucket lowered by a rope to the bottom of the well, using a pulley to raise the full bucket up. It was the best tasting cold water you can imagine.
Later, a modern well was dug by the back porch. It was a hand pump, well faucet at the end of the porch and during the summer, the zinc tub used for bathing, was placed on the porch and filled with water for bathing the children.
The back yard was totally dirt where chickens, guinea fowl, and birds feasted on critters living under the larger oak trees. A long clothesline extended from the house to a tree and across the yard, to the smoke house. This smoke house was the source for the best bacon, sausage, cured meats, and dark gravy you could ever taste.
I can still remember my Uncle Wilbur hanging a hog from the tree, bleeding him and then scalding him in a big vat of hot water to remove the hair and prepare him for skinning before butchering it.
Close by was the big cast iron tub for the purpose of washing clothes outside with lye soap. Once the clothes were rinsed, they were placed on that long clothesline stretched out across the yard.
The clothes were washed with a long wooden paddle, used to agitate them. The long clothesline was stabilized by placing wooden poles under the wire to keep the fresh washed clothes from touching the ground.
Behind the smoke house, and off to the side of the yard, was the two hole outdoor house. I can still see that outhouse, containing the Sears-Roebuck catalogue to read or for tearing out a page or two to clean yourself up.
Or you could occupy yourself with watching the hornets, bees, spiders and wasps flying around inside the privy. Or, if that failed to amuse, you could fling open the door, and watch the chickens and roosters outside pecking about under the two seater ("his" and "hers".)
When it was necessary to move the privy because it was full, a tractor was used to drag it to the new location.
The old dog-trot house no longer exists, having been torn down after my grandparents moved in to town. But the remembrance of my Grandfather sitting on the front of the large open fireplace, smoking on his corn-cob pipe full of Prince Albert tobacco, and reading his Bible [takes me back to a different world.]
When it was bedtime, we all crawled in to the feather bed, which could be warmed up, in the winter, by placing bricks in the fireplace, wrapping them in blankets, then placing them under the covers as foot warmers where it was toasty warm on cold nights.
Around the old dirt yard, the sandy soil provided a big place on which we could draw hop-scotch using broken glass from a milk jar. We would invite Flossie (the African American neighbor) to come play. It was a mean game because she was good.
If that wasn't enough fun for a boy, we could take our BB guns to the big fig tree in the backyard, and "hunt" jay birds, brown thrashers or mockingbirds, saying that we were protecting the figs on the tree. Or we could climb that big fig tree, which was always fun. If that wasn't enough, you could go down to the barn near the house, and make a game out of shelling ears of corn to feed the chickens, and the horse or livestock corraled in the fenced area next to the barn.
From the front porch, a long lane of old moss covered oak trees extended down the paved road. The loud pops of Uncle James' rawhide whip echoed loudly down this corridor of trees, as he snapped it. The lane of trees also housed many squirrels [there and down by] the tree-lined lily pad covered pond just south of the house.
Another sport was shooting a .22 rifle at targets set up on the wooden posts which outlined the front yard. One could sit on the steps going into the house, or sit in those old wooden rockers on the front porch [and make a day out of target practice.]
The town of Greenville was not a big town, but was comprised of several stores, a mercantile, a grocery, a bank, several Baptist churches, and a movie theater for Saturday matinees, featuring the old shoot-um-up westerns.
The cemetery was out on the Madison Highway, with its rows of headstones under which both grandmother and grandfather are now buried.
Mother had nine brothers and sisters: Wilbur ran the family farm; Kathryn was married to the President of the Bank; James was mentally retarded as a result of polio and had no ability to talk but he could crack a whip with the best of them; Uncle Reid was in the Navy and on his return home, he moved to the panhandle of Fla. where he was a county agent; Uncle Wilbur later joined the Army during WWII, as well. Mother's sister Beth married Jim West and lived in Moultrie and Macon. Aunt Dorothy married Wesley Holland, moved to Bartow, Fla. and raised a daughter and two sons. The sisters, Marie and Maudell, lived in the small college town of Norman Park. After the death of her husband (1938) Marion Register, Maudell operated a grocery store on Main Street in Moultrie.
Marie married a man [Eugene Bostick], who would later become the Sheriff of the county, and ran the local correctional facility (prison), and Uncle Culbert was the assistant warden of the prison. Maudell's son, Bob, and I were closest of friends, spending much time with him hunting, fishing and going to the movie theater. Bob lived with us for a while and attended school with me.
I remember visiting relatives in Adel, Nashville, and Valdosta - Mother's cousins - as well as Daddy's sister and brother. I was raised by loving parents who, because we did not have a car, the family group would walk to church, walk uptown on Saturdays where we enjoyed an ice cream at the drug store, or would walk to the movie theater for Saturday westerns, sometimes staying to see the main feature or to follow the "serials", which always ended in a strange predicament for the main character and we anxiously awaited the following serial the next week."
Rest in Peace, Cousin Bill Wills, 1935-2016.
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Addendum to Pension Claim of Pvt. Alvah Roy Powell:
Greenville, Florida
March 20th, 1945
Hon. Joseph E. Brown
Director, Veterans Claims Service
Washington, D.C.
Dear Mr. Brown:
In the conclusion of your letter of March 6, 1945, MCC-DCC-2 474 272, you asked me to give supporting evidence showing the time my birth was recorded in the Bible. I take for granted that you had reference to the Dickson Bible from which Miss Kerr made the affidavit, as the records reveal my date of birth as December 28, 1878.
My name and date of birth were first recorded in my father's Bible, date of birth being December 28, 1878. I was married to Miss Mattie E. Martin the 4th Sunday in July, 1901 in Nashville, Georgia. On January 4th, 1903, our first child was born.
Soon thereafter, I bought a large Bible and transferred the records from my father's Bible into my Bible. I kept this Bible until after I was ordained as a Baptist Minister on the 31st of August 1910. Previous to this time, I had been called to serve the Good Hope Baptist Church. The large Bible which I had bought and transferred the records into was too large to carry. Then I bought the Dickson Bible, which was copyrighted in 1907 and transferred the records into it and sold the large Bible to the Good Hope Church but took the page containing the family record out and still have it in my possession. If you desire it, I will send the page containing the record, which was taken from the large Bible. For further information, I am enclosing a book which, if you will kindly examine page five, you will find the date of my Ordination.
Respectfully,
Rev. Alva R. Powell
Sworn to and subscribed to before me at Greenville, Madison
County, Florida, this 20th day of March, 1945.
Elizabeth Kerr
Notary Public
____________________________________________________________
REV. ALVAH ROY POWELL 1878 - 1953
___________________________________________________________
Alvah Roy Powell was born three days after Christmas, Saturday, 28 Dec 1878 on Mud Creek, near Stockton, Clinch Co. GA, the fourth child of Rev. Thomas Wm and Allie (Whitlow) Powell. In 1880, the family moved to a farm southwest of Nashville, Berrien Co., GA. A.R. Powell received an education in the common schools of Berrien County and finished at Nashville Academy. He was only nine years old when his father died of tuberculosis. His mother died three years later of the same dread disease.
Despite being doubly orphaned, Roy Powell and his siblings escaped the bane of the orphanage, independently maintaining themselves on the two hundred acre family farm inherited as a legacy from their father. The eldest son, John Whitlow Evans Powell, who was legally an adult when his mother died, took over the role as head of household.
A.R. Powell became active in church and civic work early in his life as this excerpt from the Valdosta Times, x 31 May 1898 indicates: "The School Exhibition was a wonderful success. The highlight of the evening was a speech by Roy Powell entitled 'Our Country and It's Future'". The title of this speech likely had much to do with the impending war between the U.S. and Spain over the U.S.S. Maine incident in Havana Harbor, Cuba.
When the war tocsin sounded for the Spanish-American War in 1898, twenty year old A.R. Powell, rushed to the standard of his country. He traveled to Camp Northen, GA 15 Jul 1898 in the company of others with similar sentiment from the Nashville area with the intention to enlist but, upon examination, was found to be underweight. He was assigned to Co. D, 3rd Regiment for a period of time to bring his weight up to Army standards. Pvt. Powell finally mustered into the U.S. Army 17 Aug 1898 at Griffin, GA and was assigned to Co. L, 3rd U.S. Volunteers. His enlistment records describe him as "5'6 3/4" in height, dark complexion, grey eyes, sandy hair, born in Stockton, GA, occupation farmer. His sponsor was his brother, John Whitlow Evans Powell.
His military record shows that he served with the the 3rd Georgia Regiment at Camp Northen, Griffin, GA, Camp Lee, near Savannah, GA and Cuba. Pvt. Powell was sick in quarters twice (once from vaccinations) and took furlough 20-27 Oct 1898. Perhaps it was on this furlough, while wearing his uniform, that he attracted the attention of his future wife, Mattie Essie Martin. She once stated that she "swooned" when she saw Pvt. Powell in uniform.
According to Atlanta and Environs, ed. Garrett, pub. Lewis Historical Publishing Company, Inc., Vol. II, pp. 355-356:
"On April 23rd President McKinley called on Governor Atkinson for two regiments of infantry and two batteries of light artillery. On May 4th, Camp Northen was established at Griffin on the State campgrounds, and on the 7th the first detachment of Georgia volunteers, 49 in number, left Atlanta for the camp under Captain, (later Major) Cleveland Wilcoxon.
The Second Georgia Volunteer Infantry, under Colonel Oscar J. Brown, soon after muster-in, left Camp Northen at Griffin for Tampa, en route to Cuba; for some unexplained reason, the orders to move to Cuba never arrived. Finally this Regiment was moved to Huntsville, Alabama, and was brought back to Atlanta for muster-out in November, 1898.
The Third Georgia Volunteer Infantry, under Colonel (later Judge) John S. Candler, was mustered in August 24, 1898, stayed at Camp Northen until November 21, when it was sent, via Savannah, to Cuba for occupational duty. In early 1899 it was returned to Georgia and was mustered out at Augusta."
It appears from records that Pvt. Powell did not deploy with the Regiment to Cuba in November, 1898. He later stated such in a questionnaire dated 3 April 1935, as a part of his pension file. Pvt. Powell was honorably discharged, by request, on 6 Jan 1899 at Camp Onward, Savannah, Georgia.
The Valdosta Times, x 17 Jan 1899, celebrated the return of their veterans: "Roy Powell and P.D. Yopp, members of the Third Georgia Regiment, U.S.V. have been honorably discharged and have returned to their homes." Rev. Powell stated that he applied for and received an early discharge in order to "go back to school." Pvt. Pitheus D. Yopp served with A.R. Powell and, in 1907, provided a statement of support for Pvt. Powell's military pension. P.D. Yopp died in 1917 and is bur. Flat Creek Cem., Berrien Co., Ga.
A.R. Powell transitioned to civilian life, once again taking up his penchant for public oration, as noted in this Valdosta Times article of x 29 Jul 1899: "Mrs. J. N. Griffin entertained her Sunday School class and a few of Ms. Emma's friends at a book party. Each of those in attendance wore something that represented some well known book and then all guessed at the different representations. Ms. Irene Parrish won the prize for the most successful guesses. It was a handsome silver nail cleaner and was presented in a happy speech by Mr. Roy Powell."
The 1900 census shows Roy Powell living as a boarder and ploughboy on the William Bradford farm. John E. Bradford, in his statement of support for Roy Powell's pension application, stated that A.R. Powell "worked for my father and lived in my home. He and I slept in the same room." A.R. Powell stayed with the Bradfords "through the crop season of the year 1900." Later that year and into the next, Mr. Powell also worked for Sheriff Clayton (A.C.) Avera as a stable hand and as a log scaler at Griffin's sawmill for about three or four months.
Next door was the household of Thomas Wm "Will" Powell, Jr. living on the family farm with the other three Powell siblings still at home: John Whitlow Evans "John" Powell, who was the county tax collector and a school teacher in Nashville, James Harvey "Jim" Powell, and Mollie Enid "Nid" Powell. Sister Mattie Powell had previously married Esq. John A. Wilkes.
The Powell brothers, over the years after the death of their parents, continued to operate the farm left to them by their father, with T.W. "Will" Powell, Jr. primarily in charge of daily agricultural operations. Cash crops, primarily corn, cotton and tobacco, were produced throughout the 1890's and into the first decade of the 1900's, with each of the siblings receiving a fair share. In 1906, the farm was split up between the six heirs of Thomas & Allie Powell, as each of the siblings were beginning to go their separate ways in life.
Mr. Powell's siblings seemed to be making their way satisfactorily. James Harvey Powell moved to St. Louis, MO about 1906 where he was employed as a stevedore. Then, the St. Louis weather not being to his liking, he moved to the more temperate climate of Jacksonville, FL where he met and mar. Pansy Blossom Renault, the daughter of Alfred Renault, a railroad engineer who was killed in a train accident when Pansy was young.
The Nashville Herald notes several visits of Jim Powell to his family and friends in Nashville while he was living in Florida, Nashville Herald, x 23 Aug 1907: "Jim Powell came up from Jacksonville Sunday and is visiting relatives and friends in and around Nashville." Earlier that year, Jim Powell had suffered appendicitis & was visited by family from Nashville. By 1911, they were back in Nashville before permanently removing to Tampa, FL, where Jim Powell was on the Tampa police force.
By 1905, John W. E. Powell had moved to town in Nashville, where he purchased the Rentz tract on Davis Street & had a beautiful home built for Leila, his wife, and their growing family, as his banking career at Nashville First Bank flourished.
In 1908, Mollie Enid, after graduating from college in Macon, married Linton C. Turner. They moved to Colquitt, Sumter and Tift Counties, before divorcing in 1930.
The Powells kept up with extended family relations, as the following newspaper articles denote:
Nashville Herald,
x 5 Aug 1904: "Mr. & Mrs. John Whitlow of Texas are the guests of Mr. & Mrs. Jno. W.E. Powell."
John Gholston Whitlow was the Uncle of A.R. Powell. He was the brother of Rev. Powell's mother, Allie Whitlow Powell. The last known visit of Mr. Whitlow, prior to this instance, was a trip to Georgia and Alabama in 1894 where he visited the Powells in Nashville, as well as a trip to Walker Co., GA where he married his young bride, Miss Mollie Neal. J.W.E. Powell traveled to Weatherford, TX in 1914 to settle Mr. Whitlow's estate.
x 9 Sept 1904: "Mr. & Mrs. J.W.E. Powell accompanied Miss Nid Powell to Macon on Sunday. Miss Powell goes to enter Stanley Business College."
Mollie Enid Powell's scholarship was funded by her Uncle John Gholston Whitlow of Weatherford, TX, per J.G. Whitlow's estate papers, Parker County, TX. Uncle J.G. Whitlow visited the Powells in August and likely coordinated Mollie's scholarship during this trip.
J.W.E. Powell mentioned, in his deposition to brother A.R. Powell's pension application, having knowledge of his father's family, stating that "I don't know whether any of my father's relatives was affected by consumption or not; father died of that disease [tuberculosis] but he had it only a short time; mother contracted the disease from father." This statement seemed to indicate that he had some knowledge of T.W. Powell's family to such an extent that he was aware of their health issues.
On the fourth Sunday (the 28th) of the month of July, 1901, Roy Powell married fifteen year old Mattie Essie Martin at Cat Creek Church, after the morning service, according to church records. The presiding official was Judge H.B. Peeples, a colleague of Roy Powell's father, Judge T.W. Powell. Mattie's father, Wm Columbus Martin, a thrice wounded Confederate Army veteran, who died the previous year, had been the long time Clerk of Cat Creek Church. The Martin farm was not far from the Wm Bradford farm where Roy Powell worked as a plough hand. The newlyweds settled on the Powell family farm southwest of Nashville, Ga.
From 1901-1902, A.R. Powell and brother, John W.E. Powell, ran a grocery business in Nashville. They sold this business when J.W.E. Powell was offered an equity interest in and position of Cashier at the newly established First Bank of Nashville. A.R. Powell focused on the draying company that he founded as an adjunct to his comestible goods enterprise. Once this business proved to be a going concern, it, too, was sold for a handsome profit.
Thereafter, A.R. Powell moved to Savannah for health reasons where, initially, he worked as a typesetter for Braid & Hutton, a printing company. Mr. & Mrs. Powell and their two young girls, Maudell and Marie, lived at 212 W. State Street, adjacent Telfair Square and about ten blocks from the wharves on the Savannah River. One imagines Roy & Mattie strolling, girls in tow, to the park across the street from their quarters to enjoy a sunny Saturday afternoon.
Whether Mr. Powell familiarized himself with Thunderbolt, Whitemarsh, Rose Dew, Skidaway and Pulaski, name places that had undoubtedly been intimate to his father, Rev. Thomas W. Powell who forty years before had served at these outposts near Savannah with the 63rd Georgia Regiment during the Civil War, is unknown. Certainly, he must have shown Mattie where he was encamped with the Army at Camp Lee on Shell Road (near Thunderbolt) some few years previously before his Regiment deployed to Cuba.
The choice to move to Savannah for health reasons did not initially prove to be wise. The ink, glue and paper dust in the printing business seemed to have a deleterious effect on Mr. Powell's health. This fact was mentioned in his military pension application in 1908. Consequently, through the efforts of Mattie Martin Powell's brother-in-law, Frank Blanchard, he sought and gained employment with the City of Savannah as a street car conductor, hoping that the open air would revive his waning physical condition. This proved to be just the antidote for his ailment.
Two years' labor in this profession allowed Mr. Powell's health to improve sufficiently to a point that he was able to perform farm labor again. With Mattie missing the company of her sisters and not wishing to raise her children in the city, the Powells moved to Walkerville, Pierce Co., GA where Mr. Powell secured a position as sharecropper for Mrs. J.R. Bennett. Much to Mattie's delight, Mrs. Dixon, Mattie's sister, lived nearby.
After about two years farming in Walkerville, A.R. Powell decided to relocate back to his native Berrien Co., as the Nashville Herald details, x 28 Dec 1906: "Roy Powell and family of Walkerville, Pierce County, are spending a few days in Nashville visiting family over the holidays. Mr. Powell has about concluded to move back to Nashville."
Once back in Nashville, in 1907, A.R. Powell applied for and, in 1908, was awarded a pension for military service in the Spanish-American War, Certificate # 1150757 based on Application # 1360220, filed 22 May 1907.
About the same time, Mr. Powell began a seed, fertilizer and farm implement business which he continued to operate for over twenty years. Daughter Maudell shows in the 1920 census as Clerk for this company. A.R. Powell was one of the first tobacco farmers to adopt the bright leaf tobacco variety in his region. In the 1920's & 1930's, he and his son Wilbur, grew and sold tobacco bedding plants to local farmers. Due to his expertise in farming and crop selection, A.R. Powell became one of Berrien County's first agricultural demonstration agents.
Ever the consummate innovator, A.R. Powell, along with partner Victor H. Futch, was awarded Patent # 1,447,321 in 1923 from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, described as "an apparatus for the dispensing of seeds and commodities." This invention, used in conjunction with Mr. Powell's seed, fertilizer & farm implement business, was selected by the Georgia State Agricultural Commission to be displayed in the Georgia Exhibit at the 1926 World's Fair in Philadelphia, PA.
In 1909, Roy Powell, heeding the call to follow his father's footsteps as a Baptist minister, enrolled in seminary in Albany, GA. He boarded there during weekdays, attending classes during the day, pressing shirts at night to pay his way, and traveling home to Nashville on weekends to be with his family. Rev. Powell was ordained at Good Hope Baptist Church on the 31st of August, 1910 and licensed in Lanier County the 5th of September. By the end of that year, Rev. Powell was preaching at both Good Hope Baptist in Naylor and Ruth Forrester Church in Nashville and, as the 1910 census enumeration indicates, running a boarding house in Nashville, GA.
In 1911, all of the Powell brothers showed on the Berrien Co. voter list, to include James Harvey Powell, who had recently returned to Nashville from Jacksonville, FL with his bride, Pansy Blossom.
In 1914, Rev. Powell's Uncle, John Gholston Whitlow, died in Weatherford, Texas and left considerable property to the Powells. Rev. Powell's brother, John Whitlow Evans Powell, traveled to Texas in 1914 & 1915 to settle the estate and sell the property on behalf of the Powell & Whitlow heirs in Georgia, the Williamson heirs in Alabama and the Garrett heirs in Texas, all families of men who married daughters of Miles Washington Whitlow, 1812-1885, of Walker Co., GA.
Rev. Powell registered for the draft of World War I in Sept 1918. The registration describes him as a man of slender build, short height, grey eyes and dark hair. His next of kin was wife, Mattie Powell of Nashville, Ga.
Over the twenty some years in Berrien County after his ordination, Rev. Powell preached at the following churches in both the Mell and Valdosta Baptist Association: Good Hope, Ruth Forrester, Poplar Springs, Brushy Creek, Macedonia, Lake Park, Benevolence, Bethel, Sardis, Barney, Lenox, Pinetta, Greegs, Allenville, Oak Grove, Lake Park and Corinth. Several of these churches had been pastored in years past by his father, Rev. Thomas Wm Powell, Sr.
The Nashville, Tifton and Valdosta newspapers are chock-full of instances detailing Rev. Powell's involvement in civic affairs, whether preaching a funeral, conducting a wedding or organizing a revival meeting:
Tifton Gazette, x 7 Jun 1912, p. 7: "Miss Mary E. King, of near Cottle, died Wednesday, May 29th, of stomach trouble. She was fifty-eight years old and had lived a consistent member of the Missionary Baptist Church about forty years. Her remains were buried at Nashville cemetery Thursday afternoon, at 4 o'clock, Rev. Roy Powell conducting the funeral services, assisted by Rev. Goss, of Nashville."
Nashville Herald, x 27 April 1913: "Rev. & Mrs. Roy Powell were hosts to a gathering of Christian businessmen and their wives whose purpose is to cultivate congenial relations between like-minded citizens of our city."
Atlanta Constitution, x 21 Dec 1914: "Nashville, Ga. December 20 (Special) Mrs. Nancy Goodman, aged 85 years, died at her home here Thursday. She had a severe stroke of paralysis about five months ago, and since that time had had several attacks. She was born in Wilkerson (sic) county, but had been a resident of Nashville and Berrien county since before the war. She was the mother of Mrs. J. P. Hall and Miss Semanda Goodman, of Nashville, and J. H. Goodman, of Willacoochee. The funeral services were conducted by Rev. A. R. Powell, of the Baptist church. The remains were interred in the city cemetery."
Nashville Herald, as reported in the Tifton Gazette, 4 Aug 1916, p. 5: "Miss Carabelle Meyer, daughter of Mr. Louis Meyer, who has lived in Nashville for several years, and Mr. Guy Morris, of Winder, were secretly married Monday evening. Rev. A. Roy Powell, officiating."
In 1916, Rev. Powell, at the urgent solicitation of a local political faction hoping to capitalize on the preacher's popularity, allowed his name to be run on the Democratic ticket for the position of Judge, Court of Ordinary for Berrien County. Despite a campaign run by word of mouth only, Rev. Powell narrowly lost, as the 7 April 1916, Tifton Gazette reported: "For Judge, Court of Ordinary, Joel I. Norwood, won with a plurality over A. Roy Powell, A. W. Patterson and T. Jordan Griffin, Sr., with Mr. Powell running second by only 47 votes." Two years later, the same political cabal again urged Rev. Powell to enter the contest for Probate Judge, but he humbly refused, citing "political entanglements" as a distraction to his calling to the ministry and preferring the "more appealing pages in life's commonplace book."
Rev. A.R. Powell gained some modicum of notoriety as an organizer of revivals and meetings, often garnering media attention from as far away as Atlanta:
"Atlanta Constitution
August 24, 1923 Pg 7
HOLD MANY REVIVALS NEAR MILLTOWN, GA
Milltown, Ga., August 23. —(special)– The revival meeting season is still on in this section. Rev. W. Harvey Wages, pastor of the local Baptist church, is conducting a revival meeting at Good Hope church in the southern part of Lanier county, near Naylor. Rev. Roy Powell, of Nashville, Ga., is the pastor of this church. The meeting began last Saturday and will go on through this week.
Rev. J. Frank Snell, local Methodist pastor, closed a ten-day revival at Bridges Chapel, in East Lanier, Sunday night, in which he was assisted by Rev. G. C. Powell, of Sparks. Rev Albert Giddens, pastor, and Rev. J.D. Poindexter, both of Nashville, closed a two weeks' revival at Beaver Dam Baptist church at Ray City Sunday night. Sixteen were baptized Sunday afternoon.
A revival service began Wednesday night at the Methodist church in Ray City. The pastor, Rev. J. Frank Snell, will be assisted by Rev. W.A. Tyson, of Swainsboro. Rev. W.D. Reburn, of Remerton, is assisting Rev . J. Ed Fain, of Omega, in a meeting at Leila church, in Colquitt county.
Rev. E. Harvey Wages, of Milltown, pastor of the Stocktown Baptist church, and Rev. W.D. Raburn, of Remerton, pastor of the Stockton Methodist church, plan to hold a union revival in the schoolhouse at Stockton about the middle of September, each pastor preaching a week, the meeting continuing for two weeks. This is a small town, and the churches feel they are unable to support separate meetings and this plan was devised."
The following excerpt from the Nashville Herald denotes another such of many gatherings:
"To the Churches of the Valdosta Association
Nashville, Ga., May 7, 1930,
The next rally will be held with the Sardis church on Wednesday, May 21. This in all probability will be the last of these meetings to be held this summer, and the good people of this community are anxious that it shall be the greatest day in our experience. So, we shall take this method of inviting you to come to Sardis on May 21st. The speakers for this occasion will be: Rev. Barkely, Dr. Dumas, Hon. E.D. Rivers, Rev. A.H. Giddens, Rev. T.W. Branch, Dr. A.C. Pyle, Dr. H.M. Fugate, and, your scribe, Rev. A.R. Powell. Our entire program is arranged on the value of the Holy Bible.
Yours for Better Work,
A.R. Powell"
Other headlines from the Nashville paper proclaimed:
"Inspirational Rally at Baptist Church, April 15. Good Program Has Been Arranged; Dinner to Be Spread on Grounds."
"Baptists Are Holding Devotional Meetings in Nashville."
Judging from the news media of the times, Rev. Powell became as good a promoter and advertising man, as he was a minister.
Rev. Powell's children were also active in his ministry work as described in various articles in the Nashville Herald:
"A.R.C. Program, Sunday morning, Baptist Church:
Faith to Believe - Kathryn Powell
Humility to Be Led - Beth Powell
The Sufferings of Life - Wilbur Powell
The Disciples in Distress - Ilavan Powell"
As well, the Powell children were popular among their classmates and were the first to be invited to social gatherings:
"Misses Pearl and Edna Hall Entertain With a Marshmellow Roast." Those enjoying the hospitality included: Johnny Powell, Ila Vann Powell, Nell Powell, Ruth Powell, Elizabeth Powell, Kathryn Powell, Hubert Powell and Wilbur Powell. Several of these were children of brother, T.W. Powell, Jr.
Mrs. Powell efficiently discharged her duties as well, organizing several women's programs in churches under her husband's charge, and involving herself in mission work for the Mell Baptist Association, as this 4 April 1919 Tifton Gazette account demonstrates: "Mell Women's Missionary Society Meets in Lenox." One of the speakers on the agenda was Mrs. A.R. Powell, of Nashville, Ga.
Rev. Powell administered his family in a fair and loving, but firm manner. His son, Wilbur (see school photo ca. 1919), related that Rev. Powell knew a Bible verse by heart for every sin that a boy could commit.
The Reverend's son, Wilbur, according to family lore, tested this ability frequently, to wit: fishing on Sunday, hiding corn mash in his clothes trunk, playing cards and fighting at school, driving his mule "Mary" into town for the Sat. night dance without permission & forgetting to brush the mule hair off his clothes & sheets, and other such offenses, all of which are generally considered to be cardinal sins to Baptists, especially fishing on Sunday.
One account of the latter charge had young Wilbur fishing on Sunday adjacent to the bridge over which the Powells had to pass in the family wagon on the way to church. When Rev. Powell observed the unattended fishing pole, he knew his errant boy, Wilbur, could not be far away. As Mrs. Powell was cutting a switch to discipline her wayward son, the cork went under. Both Rev. and Mrs. Powell, dressed in their Sunday best, dashed to the landing to bring the fish in, and in their haste, very nearly joined the fish in the water instead. Young Wilbur, curious about the noisy fracas, emerged from the nearby bushes to watch the calamitous events unfold, with great amusement, no doubt.
Once order resumed, however, Wilbur realized his tenuous situation. Thinking quickly on his feet, Wilbur reminded the Reverend et ux of how the Lord fed the five thousand with fishes and loaves, and that his own feeble efforts, though considerably limited in scope by comparison, and the miracle somewhat less compelling than the Gospel accounts, should be given equal ground.
The Rev. and Mrs. Powell, seeming satisfied with the spiritual application of events or perhaps amused at their son's rapier wit, pluck and temerity, left young Wilbur to ply his skill on the river bank, where he continued to fill his stringer with a mess of fish of biblical proportions.
Transgressions notwithstanding, that day the Powell family, dined sumptuously on a supper of fried red bellies, speckled perch and bream, provided by the Lord, with the able assistance of young Wilbur. It wouldn't be the last time He and Wilbur teamed up to fill the family pot with fish, squirrel, quail, turkey, duck, deer or wild boar.
Many other grievous infractions were discovered by the ever vigilant Mrs. Powell, who, like all Christian mothers, fervently prayed that her children would live righteous lives, or in Wilbur's instance, at least escape perdition. She, having been steeped in the Primitive Baptist tradition, was decidedly more "Old Testament" than her long-suffering Missionary Baptist husband, Rev. Powell. Her Bible verse of choice was "spare the rod, spoil the child."
Perhaps the fearful accountings to which she brought her son were the genesis for "The Sufferings of Life" discourse delivered by young Wilbur in the A.R.C. program, mentioned above.
Wilbur's conversion to faith was somewhat unorthodox. He "walked the aisle" when he was sixteen, not at his father's Missionary Baptist church but, convinced he was bound for an eternity in hell by a fire and brimstone preacher at a local hard shell Baptist church, he received salvation there only to later realize his choice might have humiliated his own father. If that was the case, Rev. Powell never uttered concern, and, instead, praised his son's newfound convictions.
Wilbur mentioned that he tried to give a speech to the congregation the evening of his conversion but, having been brought to such an emotional state, could not find his voice. His life came full circle on this matter. About two months before his death, Wilbur, following the example of his forebears, kneeled before the alter at Greenville Baptist Church and reconfirmed his convictions.
Alvah Roy and Mattie Essie (Martin) Powell were blessed with a large family:
1. ALMA MAUDELL POWELL b. 1903, d. 1979
2. MARY MARIE POWELL b. 1904, d. 1970
3. WILLIAM CULBERT POWELL b. 1906, d. 1987
4. ILA VANN POWELL b. 1910, d. 1989
5. JOHN WILBUR POWELL b. 4 Apr 1912, d. 5 Nov 1974
6. KATHRYN MONOAH POWELL b. 1914, d. 1974
7. BETH WYLEEN POWELL b. 1917, d. 2000
8. JAMES QUENTIN POWELL b. 1919, d. 1951
9. DOROTHY LANELL POWELL b. 1922, d. 1993
10. ALVAH REID POWELL b. 1925, d. 2000
Mattie Martin Powell was the great great granddaughter of a Revolutionary War soldier who fought under Gen. Francis Marion, the "Swamp Fox". A recent movie, "The Patriot", roughly follows the wartime experience of Gen. Marion.
Mrs. Powell was mentioned in a Savannah newspaper article in 1927, written about her mother, Mrs. Wm Columbus Martin, who was credited with having the largest family in Georgia, over 186 living descendants. A.R. and Mattie contributed more than their fair share of progeny needed to bestow this honor on Mrs. Martin.
In 1934, Rev. A.R. Powell accepted the call to Greenville Baptist Church in Greenville, Madison County, Florida. His only requirement of the parting pastor was that he plant a spring garden for Mrs. Powell. This favor granted, the family began it's move, ably assisted by several townspeople and church members, including Rev. Oglesby, Mr. John Cone and Mr. James Pickles of Greenville. The youngest of the family, Reid Powell, recalled making this move, noting that frequent stops had to be made along the way to round up chickens that fell off the truck.
Rev. Powell's son, Wilbur, was relegated the unenviable task of driving down the farm wagon from Nashville to Greenville. The trip took all day. The wagon, with no springs, loaded with all the farm tools, plows, a corn sheller, and a three hundred pound sow with her farrow that Mrs. Powell could not bear to leave behind, offered no protection from the hard packed roads nor the merciless sun. The mules could only be coaxed to a trot for short distances. Wilbur had to stop frequently to draw water from ditches and streams to pour over the piglets to keep them from baking in the heat. Rev. Powell made two round trips in the time it took Wilbur to get to Greenville. To make matters worse, he had to drive down Church Street, which went directly in front of the church in town, where Wednesday night services were culminating. That was Wilbur's introduction to society in Greenville.
That wagon remainded on Wilbur's farm well into the 1960's where it, having long outlived it's utility, was pushed into the nearby woods and, except for a few metal braces, spoke bands and straps, was reclaimed by nature.
Rev. Powell preached only a short time at Greenville Baptist Church. A rift in the church arose over the budget for overseas missionaries. Rev. Powell regarded the local community as a priority for church funds, given the dire economic conditions of the Great Depression. Others favored foreign missions. As a result of this dichotomy, Rev. Powell and several families in the church asked for letters of dismissal in order to join the First Baptist Church of Greenville.
The Powell family integrated itself closely into the community in Greenville. Three of Rev. Powell's daughters and one son graduated from Greenville High School: Beth Powell Class of 1936, Dorothy Powell Class of 1940, and Reid Powell Class of 1943. The older children were educated in Nashville, Ga. schools.
Despite his age, military disability pension and previous service, Rev. Powell registered to serve in World War II in the "Old Man's" draft of 27 Apr 1942, which was not a draft, per se, but a volunteer registration for men aged 45-64. Due to age and infirmity, Rev. Powell was not called to active duty, although two of his sons, Wilbur and Reid Powell were called to serve.
Wilbur deployed to the China-Burma-India theatre of war where he served in the U.S. Army Air Corps with the 58th Bomb Wing at Chakulia, India, Central China and Tinian Island in the South Pacific. He saw combat in the CBI theater, was strafed by Jap Zeros on Tinian, flew missions as a B-29 tailgunner over Tokyo and saw the Enola Gay take off with the atomic bomb that would end the War. Reid served in the U.S. Navy at Pensacola, FL, qualified for the G.I. Bill and received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Florida, the first in the family to attain that level of education.
A 1948 voter list of Precinct 5, Greenville, FL shows A.R. Powell and J.W. Powell as eligible voters in the elections of that year. Reid Powell was away at college in Gainesville, FL that year, attending the University of Florida, where he completed a bachelors degree in only three years on the G.I. bill.
Rev. Powell continued to preach at Greenville and serve the community into the early 1950's until his eyesight and health began to fail. A 1958 article in the Madison Enterprise-Recorder entitled "Way Back When" credited Rev. Powell with 16 years as the pastor of the Bapt. Church in Greenville, FL.
Rev. Powell died 19 June 1953, in Greenville, FL, at the home of his son, Wilbur Powell. His wife, Mattie Martin Powell died 24 Feb 1969 at Madison Memorial Hospital. They are both buried in the Powell family plot at Evergreen Cemetery in Greenville along with several children.
___________________________________________________________
A. R. Powell
(Abstracted from the Madison Enterprise-Recorder Newspaper, Madison, Florida, June 26, 1953)
A. R. Powell, age 74, died Friday June 19th at his home in Greenville. Survivors are his wife, Mrs. Mattie E. Powell, of Greenville; three sons, C. W., of Moultrie; J. W., of Greenville; and Alva Reid Powell, of Mayo; six daughters, Mrs. Marion Register, of Norman Park, GA; Mrs. E. C. Bostick and Mrs. Ralph Wills, both of Moultrie; Mrs. Cecil Brannen, of Greenville; Mrs. Jim West, of Macon; and Mrs. Wesley Holland, of Bartow. Funeral services were held Saturday in the First Baptist Church of Greenville with interment in Evergreen Cemetery.
___________________________________________________________
From the memory of William R. Wills, Jr., M.D., son of Ralph & Ila Vann (Powell) Wills, & grandson of Rev. Alvah Roy Powell:
"My remembrance of my grandfather when I was young and they were living on the Perry Highway, south of Greenville, Fla.: the house was built in the style called dog-trot, with a central passage which opened at the back onto a screened-in breeze way, which connected the kitchen away from the main house. This was done so that if the kitchen caught on fire, the remainder of the house would not be consumed. The front porch was as long as the house was. Upon entering the open door passage way, the living room and dining area was on the right, while the left wing housed the living quarters, with grandmother & grandfather in the bedroom closest to the front door, then the two guest bedrooms, along the small corridor that extended from the front entrance way.
The kitchen had a big iron stove with cast iron pots and the pans always cooked the best foods ever; hoe cakes, corn bread, fresh vegetables, fried chicken. If a hungry soul went to the smoke house, he could always slice a chunk of smoked ham to fry on that big stove, or get a piece of the best sausage to put on that big stove. The best of the best was the old cathead biscuits, bigger than your fist, and taking a jar of good homemade corn syrup, punch your finger down into the biscuit and filling it with syrup, ham or sausage.
Water was a commodity not easily obtained, because, initially, the well was some 50 yards away from the house, sheltered by a wooden A-frame covering, with a zinc or galvanized bucket lowered by a rope to the bottom of the well, using a pulley to raise the full bucket up. It was the best tasting cold water you can imagine.
Later, a modern well was dug by the back porch. It was a hand pump, well faucet at the end of the porch and during the summer, the zinc tub used for bathing, was placed on the porch and filled with water for bathing the children.
The back yard was totally dirt where chickens, guinea fowl, and birds feasted on critters living under the larger oak trees. A long clothesline extended from the house to a tree and across the yard, to the smoke house. This smoke house was the source for the best bacon, sausage, cured meats, and dark gravy you could ever taste.
I can still remember my Uncle Wilbur hanging a hog from the tree, bleeding him and then scalding him in a big vat of hot water to remove the hair and prepare him for skinning before butchering it.
Close by was the big cast iron tub for the purpose of washing clothes outside with lye soap. Once the clothes were rinsed, they were placed on that long clothesline stretched out across the yard.
The clothes were washed with a long wooden paddle, used to agitate them. The long clothesline was stabilized by placing wooden poles under the wire to keep the fresh washed clothes from touching the ground.
Behind the smoke house, and off to the side of the yard, was the two hole outdoor house. I can still see that outhouse, containing the Sears-Roebuck catalogue to read or for tearing out a page or two to clean yourself up.
Or you could occupy yourself with watching the hornets, bees, spiders and wasps flying around inside the privy. Or, if that failed to amuse, you could fling open the door, and watch the chickens and roosters outside pecking about under the two seater ("his" and "hers".)
When it was necessary to move the privy because it was full, a tractor was used to drag it to the new location.
The old dog-trot house no longer exists, having been torn down after my grandparents moved in to town. But the remembrance of my Grandfather sitting on the front of the large open fireplace, smoking on his corn-cob pipe full of Prince Albert tobacco, and reading his Bible [takes me back to a different world.]
When it was bedtime, we all crawled in to the feather bed, which could be warmed up, in the winter, by placing bricks in the fireplace, wrapping them in blankets, then placing them under the covers as foot warmers where it was toasty warm on cold nights.
Around the old dirt yard, the sandy soil provided a big place on which we could draw hop-scotch using broken glass from a milk jar. We would invite Flossie (the African American neighbor) to come play. It was a mean game because she was good.
If that wasn't enough fun for a boy, we could take our BB guns to the big fig tree in the backyard, and "hunt" jay birds, brown thrashers or mockingbirds, saying that we were protecting the figs on the tree. Or we could climb that big fig tree, which was always fun. If that wasn't enough, you could go down to the barn near the house, and make a game out of shelling ears of corn to feed the chickens, and the horse or livestock corraled in the fenced area next to the barn.
From the front porch, a long lane of old moss covered oak trees extended down the paved road. The loud pops of Uncle James' rawhide whip echoed loudly down this corridor of trees, as he snapped it. The lane of trees also housed many squirrels [there and down by] the tree-lined lily pad covered pond just south of the house.
Another sport was shooting a .22 rifle at targets set up on the wooden posts which outlined the front yard. One could sit on the steps going into the house, or sit in those old wooden rockers on the front porch [and make a day out of target practice.]
The town of Greenville was not a big town, but was comprised of several stores, a mercantile, a grocery, a bank, several Baptist churches, and a movie theater for Saturday matinees, featuring the old shoot-um-up westerns.
The cemetery was out on the Madison Highway, with its rows of headstones under which both grandmother and grandfather are now buried.
Mother had nine brothers and sisters: Wilbur ran the family farm; Kathryn was married to the President of the Bank; James was mentally retarded as a result of polio and had no ability to talk but he could crack a whip with the best of them; Uncle Reid was in the Navy and on his return home, he moved to the panhandle of Fla. where he was a county agent; Uncle Wilbur later joined the Army during WWII, as well. Mother's sister Beth married Jim West and lived in Moultrie and Macon. Aunt Dorothy married Wesley Holland, moved to Bartow, Fla. and raised a daughter and two sons. The sisters, Marie and Maudell, lived in the small college town of Norman Park. After the death of her husband (1938) Marion Register, Maudell operated a grocery store on Main Street in Moultrie.
Marie married a man [Eugene Bostick], who would later become the Sheriff of the county, and ran the local correctional facility (prison), and Uncle Culbert was the assistant warden of the prison. Maudell's son, Bob, and I were closest of friends, spending much time with him hunting, fishing and going to the movie theater. Bob lived with us for a while and attended school with me.
I remember visiting relatives in Adel, Nashville, and Valdosta - Mother's cousins - as well as Daddy's sister and brother. I was raised by loving parents who, because we did not have a car, the family group would walk to church, walk uptown on Saturdays where we enjoyed an ice cream at the drug store, or would walk to the movie theater for Saturday westerns, sometimes staying to see the main feature or to follow the "serials", which always ended in a strange predicament for the main character and we anxiously awaited the following serial the next week."
Rest in Peace, Cousin Bill Wills, 1935-2016.
___________________________________________________________
Addendum to Pension Claim of Pvt. Alvah Roy Powell:
Greenville, Florida
March 20th, 1945
Hon. Joseph E. Brown
Director, Veterans Claims Service
Washington, D.C.
Dear Mr. Brown:
In the conclusion of your letter of March 6, 1945, MCC-DCC-2 474 272, you asked me to give supporting evidence showing the time my birth was recorded in the Bible. I take for granted that you had reference to the Dickson Bible from which Miss Kerr made the affidavit, as the records reveal my date of birth as December 28, 1878.
My name and date of birth were first recorded in my father's Bible, date of birth being December 28, 1878. I was married to Miss Mattie E. Martin the 4th Sunday in July, 1901 in Nashville, Georgia. On January 4th, 1903, our first child was born.
Soon thereafter, I bought a large Bible and transferred the records from my father's Bible into my Bible. I kept this Bible until after I was ordained as a Baptist Minister on the 31st of August 1910. Previous to this time, I had been called to serve the Good Hope Baptist Church. The large Bible which I had bought and transferred the records into was too large to carry. Then I bought the Dickson Bible, which was copyrighted in 1907 and transferred the records into it and sold the large Bible to the Good Hope Church but took the page containing the family record out and still have it in my possession. If you desire it, I will send the page containing the record, which was taken from the large Bible. For further information, I am enclosing a book which, if you will kindly examine page five, you will find the date of my Ordination.
Respectfully,
Rev. Alva R. Powell
Sworn to and subscribed to before me at Greenville, Madison
County, Florida, this 20th day of March, 1945.
Elizabeth Kerr
Notary Public
____________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
Alvah Roy Powell was born three days after Christmas, Saturday, 28 Dec 1878 on Mud Creek, near Stockton, Clinch Co. GA, the fourth child of Rev. Thomas Wm and Allie (Whitlow) Powell. In 1880, the family moved to a farm southwest of Nashville, Berrien Co., GA. A.R. Powell received an education in the common schools of Berrien County and finished at Nashville Academy. He was only nine years old when his father died of tuberculosis. His mother died three years later of the same dread disease.
Despite being doubly orphaned, Roy Powell and his siblings escaped the bane of the orphanage, independently maintaining themselves on the two hundred acre family farm inherited as a legacy from their father. The eldest son, John Whitlow Evans Powell, who was legally an adult when his mother died, took over the role as head of household.
A.R. Powell became active in church and civic work early in his life as this excerpt from the Valdosta Times, x 31 May 1898 indicates: "The School Exhibition was a wonderful success. The highlight of the evening was a speech by Roy Powell entitled 'Our Country and It's Future'". The title of this speech likely had much to do with the impending war between the U.S. and Spain over the U.S.S. Maine incident in Havana Harbor, Cuba.
When the war tocsin sounded for the Spanish-American War in 1898, twenty year old A.R. Powell, rushed to the standard of his country. He traveled to Camp Northen, GA 15 Jul 1898 in the company of others with similar sentiment from the Nashville area with the intention to enlist but, upon examination, was found to be underweight. He was assigned to Co. D, 3rd Regiment for a period of time to bring his weight up to Army standards. Pvt. Powell finally mustered into the U.S. Army 17 Aug 1898 at Griffin, GA and was assigned to Co. L, 3rd U.S. Volunteers. His enlistment records describe him as "5'6 3/4" in height, dark complexion, grey eyes, sandy hair, born in Stockton, GA, occupation farmer. His sponsor was his brother, John Whitlow Evans Powell.
His military record shows that he served with the the 3rd Georgia Regiment at Camp Northen, Griffin, GA, Camp Lee, near Savannah, GA and Cuba. Pvt. Powell was sick in quarters twice (once from vaccinations) and took furlough 20-27 Oct 1898. Perhaps it was on this furlough, while wearing his uniform, that he attracted the attention of his future wife, Mattie Essie Martin. She once stated that she "swooned" when she saw Pvt. Powell in uniform.
According to Atlanta and Environs, ed. Garrett, pub. Lewis Historical Publishing Company, Inc., Vol. II, pp. 355-356:
"On April 23rd President McKinley called on Governor Atkinson for two regiments of infantry and two batteries of light artillery. On May 4th, Camp Northen was established at Griffin on the State campgrounds, and on the 7th the first detachment of Georgia volunteers, 49 in number, left Atlanta for the camp under Captain, (later Major) Cleveland Wilcoxon.
The Second Georgia Volunteer Infantry, under Colonel Oscar J. Brown, soon after muster-in, left Camp Northen at Griffin for Tampa, en route to Cuba; for some unexplained reason, the orders to move to Cuba never arrived. Finally this Regiment was moved to Huntsville, Alabama, and was brought back to Atlanta for muster-out in November, 1898.
The Third Georgia Volunteer Infantry, under Colonel (later Judge) John S. Candler, was mustered in August 24, 1898, stayed at Camp Northen until November 21, when it was sent, via Savannah, to Cuba for occupational duty. In early 1899 it was returned to Georgia and was mustered out at Augusta."
It appears from records that Pvt. Powell did not deploy with the Regiment to Cuba in November, 1898. He later stated such in a questionnaire dated 3 April 1935, as a part of his pension file. Pvt. Powell was honorably discharged, by request, on 6 Jan 1899 at Camp Onward, Savannah, Georgia.
The Valdosta Times, x 17 Jan 1899, celebrated the return of their veterans: "Roy Powell and P.D. Yopp, members of the Third Georgia Regiment, U.S.V. have been honorably discharged and have returned to their homes." Rev. Powell stated that he applied for and received an early discharge in order to "go back to school." Pvt. Pitheus D. Yopp served with A.R. Powell and, in 1907, provided a statement of support for Pvt. Powell's military pension. P.D. Yopp died in 1917 and is bur. Flat Creek Cem., Berrien Co., Ga.
A.R. Powell transitioned to civilian life, once again taking up his penchant for public oration, as noted in this Valdosta Times article of x 29 Jul 1899: "Mrs. J. N. Griffin entertained her Sunday School class and a few of Ms. Emma's friends at a book party. Each of those in attendance wore something that represented some well known book and then all guessed at the different representations. Ms. Irene Parrish won the prize for the most successful guesses. It was a handsome silver nail cleaner and was presented in a happy speech by Mr. Roy Powell."
The 1900 census shows Roy Powell living as a boarder and ploughboy on the William Bradford farm. John E. Bradford, in his statement of support for Roy Powell's pension application, stated that A.R. Powell "worked for my father and lived in my home. He and I slept in the same room." A.R. Powell stayed with the Bradfords "through the crop season of the year 1900." Later that year and into the next, Mr. Powell also worked for Sheriff Clayton (A.C.) Avera as a stable hand and as a log scaler at Griffin's sawmill for about three or four months.
Next door was the household of Thomas Wm "Will" Powell, Jr. living on the family farm with the other three Powell siblings still at home: John Whitlow Evans "John" Powell, who was the county tax collector and a school teacher in Nashville, James Harvey "Jim" Powell, and Mollie Enid "Nid" Powell. Sister Mattie Powell had previously married Esq. John A. Wilkes.
The Powell brothers, over the years after the death of their parents, continued to operate the farm left to them by their father, with T.W. "Will" Powell, Jr. primarily in charge of daily agricultural operations. Cash crops, primarily corn, cotton and tobacco, were produced throughout the 1890's and into the first decade of the 1900's, with each of the siblings receiving a fair share. In 1906, the farm was split up between the six heirs of Thomas & Allie Powell, as each of the siblings were beginning to go their separate ways in life.
Mr. Powell's siblings seemed to be making their way satisfactorily. James Harvey Powell moved to St. Louis, MO about 1906 where he was employed as a stevedore. Then, the St. Louis weather not being to his liking, he moved to the more temperate climate of Jacksonville, FL where he met and mar. Pansy Blossom Renault, the daughter of Alfred Renault, a railroad engineer who was killed in a train accident when Pansy was young.
The Nashville Herald notes several visits of Jim Powell to his family and friends in Nashville while he was living in Florida, Nashville Herald, x 23 Aug 1907: "Jim Powell came up from Jacksonville Sunday and is visiting relatives and friends in and around Nashville." Earlier that year, Jim Powell had suffered appendicitis & was visited by family from Nashville. By 1911, they were back in Nashville before permanently removing to Tampa, FL, where Jim Powell was on the Tampa police force.
By 1905, John W. E. Powell had moved to town in Nashville, where he purchased the Rentz tract on Davis Street & had a beautiful home built for Leila, his wife, and their growing family, as his banking career at Nashville First Bank flourished.
In 1908, Mollie Enid, after graduating from college in Macon, married Linton C. Turner. They moved to Colquitt, Sumter and Tift Counties, before divorcing in 1930.
The Powells kept up with extended family relations, as the following newspaper articles denote:
Nashville Herald,
x 5 Aug 1904: "Mr. & Mrs. John Whitlow of Texas are the guests of Mr. & Mrs. Jno. W.E. Powell."
John Gholston Whitlow was the Uncle of A.R. Powell. He was the brother of Rev. Powell's mother, Allie Whitlow Powell. The last known visit of Mr. Whitlow, prior to this instance, was a trip to Georgia and Alabama in 1894 where he visited the Powells in Nashville, as well as a trip to Walker Co., GA where he married his young bride, Miss Mollie Neal. J.W.E. Powell traveled to Weatherford, TX in 1914 to settle Mr. Whitlow's estate.
x 9 Sept 1904: "Mr. & Mrs. J.W.E. Powell accompanied Miss Nid Powell to Macon on Sunday. Miss Powell goes to enter Stanley Business College."
Mollie Enid Powell's scholarship was funded by her Uncle John Gholston Whitlow of Weatherford, TX, per J.G. Whitlow's estate papers, Parker County, TX. Uncle J.G. Whitlow visited the Powells in August and likely coordinated Mollie's scholarship during this trip.
J.W.E. Powell mentioned, in his deposition to brother A.R. Powell's pension application, having knowledge of his father's family, stating that "I don't know whether any of my father's relatives was affected by consumption or not; father died of that disease [tuberculosis] but he had it only a short time; mother contracted the disease from father." This statement seemed to indicate that he had some knowledge of T.W. Powell's family to such an extent that he was aware of their health issues.
On the fourth Sunday (the 28th) of the month of July, 1901, Roy Powell married fifteen year old Mattie Essie Martin at Cat Creek Church, after the morning service, according to church records. The presiding official was Judge H.B. Peeples, a colleague of Roy Powell's father, Judge T.W. Powell. Mattie's father, Wm Columbus Martin, a thrice wounded Confederate Army veteran, who died the previous year, had been the long time Clerk of Cat Creek Church. The Martin farm was not far from the Wm Bradford farm where Roy Powell worked as a plough hand. The newlyweds settled on the Powell family farm southwest of Nashville, Ga.
From 1901-1902, A.R. Powell and brother, John W.E. Powell, ran a grocery business in Nashville. They sold this business when J.W.E. Powell was offered an equity interest in and position of Cashier at the newly established First Bank of Nashville. A.R. Powell focused on the draying company that he founded as an adjunct to his comestible goods enterprise. Once this business proved to be a going concern, it, too, was sold for a handsome profit.
Thereafter, A.R. Powell moved to Savannah for health reasons where, initially, he worked as a typesetter for Braid & Hutton, a printing company. Mr. & Mrs. Powell and their two young girls, Maudell and Marie, lived at 212 W. State Street, adjacent Telfair Square and about ten blocks from the wharves on the Savannah River. One imagines Roy & Mattie strolling, girls in tow, to the park across the street from their quarters to enjoy a sunny Saturday afternoon.
Whether Mr. Powell familiarized himself with Thunderbolt, Whitemarsh, Rose Dew, Skidaway and Pulaski, name places that had undoubtedly been intimate to his father, Rev. Thomas W. Powell who forty years before had served at these outposts near Savannah with the 63rd Georgia Regiment during the Civil War, is unknown. Certainly, he must have shown Mattie where he was encamped with the Army at Camp Lee on Shell Road (near Thunderbolt) some few years previously before his Regiment deployed to Cuba.
The choice to move to Savannah for health reasons did not initially prove to be wise. The ink, glue and paper dust in the printing business seemed to have a deleterious effect on Mr. Powell's health. This fact was mentioned in his military pension application in 1908. Consequently, through the efforts of Mattie Martin Powell's brother-in-law, Frank Blanchard, he sought and gained employment with the City of Savannah as a street car conductor, hoping that the open air would revive his waning physical condition. This proved to be just the antidote for his ailment.
Two years' labor in this profession allowed Mr. Powell's health to improve sufficiently to a point that he was able to perform farm labor again. With Mattie missing the company of her sisters and not wishing to raise her children in the city, the Powells moved to Walkerville, Pierce Co., GA where Mr. Powell secured a position as sharecropper for Mrs. J.R. Bennett. Much to Mattie's delight, Mrs. Dixon, Mattie's sister, lived nearby.
After about two years farming in Walkerville, A.R. Powell decided to relocate back to his native Berrien Co., as the Nashville Herald details, x 28 Dec 1906: "Roy Powell and family of Walkerville, Pierce County, are spending a few days in Nashville visiting family over the holidays. Mr. Powell has about concluded to move back to Nashville."
Once back in Nashville, in 1907, A.R. Powell applied for and, in 1908, was awarded a pension for military service in the Spanish-American War, Certificate # 1150757 based on Application # 1360220, filed 22 May 1907.
About the same time, Mr. Powell began a seed, fertilizer and farm implement business which he continued to operate for over twenty years. Daughter Maudell shows in the 1920 census as Clerk for this company. A.R. Powell was one of the first tobacco farmers to adopt the bright leaf tobacco variety in his region. In the 1920's & 1930's, he and his son Wilbur, grew and sold tobacco bedding plants to local farmers. Due to his expertise in farming and crop selection, A.R. Powell became one of Berrien County's first agricultural demonstration agents.
Ever the consummate innovator, A.R. Powell, along with partner Victor H. Futch, was awarded Patent # 1,447,321 in 1923 from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, described as "an apparatus for the dispensing of seeds and commodities." This invention, used in conjunction with Mr. Powell's seed, fertilizer & farm implement business, was selected by the Georgia State Agricultural Commission to be displayed in the Georgia Exhibit at the 1926 World's Fair in Philadelphia, PA.
In 1909, Roy Powell, heeding the call to follow his father's footsteps as a Baptist minister, enrolled in seminary in Albany, GA. He boarded there during weekdays, attending classes during the day, pressing shirts at night to pay his way, and traveling home to Nashville on weekends to be with his family. Rev. Powell was ordained at Good Hope Baptist Church on the 31st of August, 1910 and licensed in Lanier County the 5th of September. By the end of that year, Rev. Powell was preaching at both Good Hope Baptist in Naylor and Ruth Forrester Church in Nashville and, as the 1910 census enumeration indicates, running a boarding house in Nashville, GA.
In 1911, all of the Powell brothers showed on the Berrien Co. voter list, to include James Harvey Powell, who had recently returned to Nashville from Jacksonville, FL with his bride, Pansy Blossom.
In 1914, Rev. Powell's Uncle, John Gholston Whitlow, died in Weatherford, Texas and left considerable property to the Powells. Rev. Powell's brother, John Whitlow Evans Powell, traveled to Texas in 1914 & 1915 to settle the estate and sell the property on behalf of the Powell & Whitlow heirs in Georgia, the Williamson heirs in Alabama and the Garrett heirs in Texas, all families of men who married daughters of Miles Washington Whitlow, 1812-1885, of Walker Co., GA.
Rev. Powell registered for the draft of World War I in Sept 1918. The registration describes him as a man of slender build, short height, grey eyes and dark hair. His next of kin was wife, Mattie Powell of Nashville, Ga.
Over the twenty some years in Berrien County after his ordination, Rev. Powell preached at the following churches in both the Mell and Valdosta Baptist Association: Good Hope, Ruth Forrester, Poplar Springs, Brushy Creek, Macedonia, Lake Park, Benevolence, Bethel, Sardis, Barney, Lenox, Pinetta, Greegs, Allenville, Oak Grove, Lake Park and Corinth. Several of these churches had been pastored in years past by his father, Rev. Thomas Wm Powell, Sr.
The Nashville, Tifton and Valdosta newspapers are chock-full of instances detailing Rev. Powell's involvement in civic affairs, whether preaching a funeral, conducting a wedding or organizing a revival meeting:
Tifton Gazette, x 7 Jun 1912, p. 7: "Miss Mary E. King, of near Cottle, died Wednesday, May 29th, of stomach trouble. She was fifty-eight years old and had lived a consistent member of the Missionary Baptist Church about forty years. Her remains were buried at Nashville cemetery Thursday afternoon, at 4 o'clock, Rev. Roy Powell conducting the funeral services, assisted by Rev. Goss, of Nashville."
Nashville Herald, x 27 April 1913: "Rev. & Mrs. Roy Powell were hosts to a gathering of Christian businessmen and their wives whose purpose is to cultivate congenial relations between like-minded citizens of our city."
Atlanta Constitution, x 21 Dec 1914: "Nashville, Ga. December 20 (Special) Mrs. Nancy Goodman, aged 85 years, died at her home here Thursday. She had a severe stroke of paralysis about five months ago, and since that time had had several attacks. She was born in Wilkerson (sic) county, but had been a resident of Nashville and Berrien county since before the war. She was the mother of Mrs. J. P. Hall and Miss Semanda Goodman, of Nashville, and J. H. Goodman, of Willacoochee. The funeral services were conducted by Rev. A. R. Powell, of the Baptist church. The remains were interred in the city cemetery."
Nashville Herald, as reported in the Tifton Gazette, 4 Aug 1916, p. 5: "Miss Carabelle Meyer, daughter of Mr. Louis Meyer, who has lived in Nashville for several years, and Mr. Guy Morris, of Winder, were secretly married Monday evening. Rev. A. Roy Powell, officiating."
In 1916, Rev. Powell, at the urgent solicitation of a local political faction hoping to capitalize on the preacher's popularity, allowed his name to be run on the Democratic ticket for the position of Judge, Court of Ordinary for Berrien County. Despite a campaign run by word of mouth only, Rev. Powell narrowly lost, as the 7 April 1916, Tifton Gazette reported: "For Judge, Court of Ordinary, Joel I. Norwood, won with a plurality over A. Roy Powell, A. W. Patterson and T. Jordan Griffin, Sr., with Mr. Powell running second by only 47 votes." Two years later, the same political cabal again urged Rev. Powell to enter the contest for Probate Judge, but he humbly refused, citing "political entanglements" as a distraction to his calling to the ministry and preferring the "more appealing pages in life's commonplace book."
Rev. A.R. Powell gained some modicum of notoriety as an organizer of revivals and meetings, often garnering media attention from as far away as Atlanta:
"Atlanta Constitution
August 24, 1923 Pg 7
HOLD MANY REVIVALS NEAR MILLTOWN, GA
Milltown, Ga., August 23. —(special)– The revival meeting season is still on in this section. Rev. W. Harvey Wages, pastor of the local Baptist church, is conducting a revival meeting at Good Hope church in the southern part of Lanier county, near Naylor. Rev. Roy Powell, of Nashville, Ga., is the pastor of this church. The meeting began last Saturday and will go on through this week.
Rev. J. Frank Snell, local Methodist pastor, closed a ten-day revival at Bridges Chapel, in East Lanier, Sunday night, in which he was assisted by Rev. G. C. Powell, of Sparks. Rev Albert Giddens, pastor, and Rev. J.D. Poindexter, both of Nashville, closed a two weeks' revival at Beaver Dam Baptist church at Ray City Sunday night. Sixteen were baptized Sunday afternoon.
A revival service began Wednesday night at the Methodist church in Ray City. The pastor, Rev. J. Frank Snell, will be assisted by Rev. W.A. Tyson, of Swainsboro. Rev. W.D. Reburn, of Remerton, is assisting Rev . J. Ed Fain, of Omega, in a meeting at Leila church, in Colquitt county.
Rev. E. Harvey Wages, of Milltown, pastor of the Stocktown Baptist church, and Rev. W.D. Raburn, of Remerton, pastor of the Stockton Methodist church, plan to hold a union revival in the schoolhouse at Stockton about the middle of September, each pastor preaching a week, the meeting continuing for two weeks. This is a small town, and the churches feel they are unable to support separate meetings and this plan was devised."
The following excerpt from the Nashville Herald denotes another such of many gatherings:
"To the Churches of the Valdosta Association
Nashville, Ga., May 7, 1930,
The next rally will be held with the Sardis church on Wednesday, May 21. This in all probability will be the last of these meetings to be held this summer, and the good people of this community are anxious that it shall be the greatest day in our experience. So, we shall take this method of inviting you to come to Sardis on May 21st. The speakers for this occasion will be: Rev. Barkely, Dr. Dumas, Hon. E.D. Rivers, Rev. A.H. Giddens, Rev. T.W. Branch, Dr. A.C. Pyle, Dr. H.M. Fugate, and, your scribe, Rev. A.R. Powell. Our entire program is arranged on the value of the Holy Bible.
Yours for Better Work,
A.R. Powell"
Other headlines from the Nashville paper proclaimed:
"Inspirational Rally at Baptist Church, April 15. Good Program Has Been Arranged; Dinner to Be Spread on Grounds."
"Baptists Are Holding Devotional Meetings in Nashville."
Judging from the news media of the times, Rev. Powell became as good a promoter and advertising man, as he was a minister.
Rev. Powell's children were also active in his ministry work as described in various articles in the Nashville Herald:
"A.R.C. Program, Sunday morning, Baptist Church:
Faith to Believe - Kathryn Powell
Humility to Be Led - Beth Powell
The Sufferings of Life - Wilbur Powell
The Disciples in Distress - Ilavan Powell"
As well, the Powell children were popular among their classmates and were the first to be invited to social gatherings:
"Misses Pearl and Edna Hall Entertain With a Marshmellow Roast." Those enjoying the hospitality included: Johnny Powell, Ila Vann Powell, Nell Powell, Ruth Powell, Elizabeth Powell, Kathryn Powell, Hubert Powell and Wilbur Powell. Several of these were children of brother, T.W. Powell, Jr.
Mrs. Powell efficiently discharged her duties as well, organizing several women's programs in churches under her husband's charge, and involving herself in mission work for the Mell Baptist Association, as this 4 April 1919 Tifton Gazette account demonstrates: "Mell Women's Missionary Society Meets in Lenox." One of the speakers on the agenda was Mrs. A.R. Powell, of Nashville, Ga.
Rev. Powell administered his family in a fair and loving, but firm manner. His son, Wilbur (see school photo ca. 1919), related that Rev. Powell knew a Bible verse by heart for every sin that a boy could commit.
The Reverend's son, Wilbur, according to family lore, tested this ability frequently, to wit: fishing on Sunday, hiding corn mash in his clothes trunk, playing cards and fighting at school, driving his mule "Mary" into town for the Sat. night dance without permission & forgetting to brush the mule hair off his clothes & sheets, and other such offenses, all of which are generally considered to be cardinal sins to Baptists, especially fishing on Sunday.
One account of the latter charge had young Wilbur fishing on Sunday adjacent to the bridge over which the Powells had to pass in the family wagon on the way to church. When Rev. Powell observed the unattended fishing pole, he knew his errant boy, Wilbur, could not be far away. As Mrs. Powell was cutting a switch to discipline her wayward son, the cork went under. Both Rev. and Mrs. Powell, dressed in their Sunday best, dashed to the landing to bring the fish in, and in their haste, very nearly joined the fish in the water instead. Young Wilbur, curious about the noisy fracas, emerged from the nearby bushes to watch the calamitous events unfold, with great amusement, no doubt.
Once order resumed, however, Wilbur realized his tenuous situation. Thinking quickly on his feet, Wilbur reminded the Reverend et ux of how the Lord fed the five thousand with fishes and loaves, and that his own feeble efforts, though considerably limited in scope by comparison, and the miracle somewhat less compelling than the Gospel accounts, should be given equal ground.
The Rev. and Mrs. Powell, seeming satisfied with the spiritual application of events or perhaps amused at their son's rapier wit, pluck and temerity, left young Wilbur to ply his skill on the river bank, where he continued to fill his stringer with a mess of fish of biblical proportions.
Transgressions notwithstanding, that day the Powell family, dined sumptuously on a supper of fried red bellies, speckled perch and bream, provided by the Lord, with the able assistance of young Wilbur. It wouldn't be the last time He and Wilbur teamed up to fill the family pot with fish, squirrel, quail, turkey, duck, deer or wild boar.
Many other grievous infractions were discovered by the ever vigilant Mrs. Powell, who, like all Christian mothers, fervently prayed that her children would live righteous lives, or in Wilbur's instance, at least escape perdition. She, having been steeped in the Primitive Baptist tradition, was decidedly more "Old Testament" than her long-suffering Missionary Baptist husband, Rev. Powell. Her Bible verse of choice was "spare the rod, spoil the child."
Perhaps the fearful accountings to which she brought her son were the genesis for "The Sufferings of Life" discourse delivered by young Wilbur in the A.R.C. program, mentioned above.
Wilbur's conversion to faith was somewhat unorthodox. He "walked the aisle" when he was sixteen, not at his father's Missionary Baptist church but, convinced he was bound for an eternity in hell by a fire and brimstone preacher at a local hard shell Baptist church, he received salvation there only to later realize his choice might have humiliated his own father. If that was the case, Rev. Powell never uttered concern, and, instead, praised his son's newfound convictions.
Wilbur mentioned that he tried to give a speech to the congregation the evening of his conversion but, having been brought to such an emotional state, could not find his voice. His life came full circle on this matter. About two months before his death, Wilbur, following the example of his forebears, kneeled before the alter at Greenville Baptist Church and reconfirmed his convictions.
Alvah Roy and Mattie Essie (Martin) Powell were blessed with a large family:
1. ALMA MAUDELL POWELL b. 1903, d. 1979
2. MARY MARIE POWELL b. 1904, d. 1970
3. WILLIAM CULBERT POWELL b. 1906, d. 1987
4. ILA VANN POWELL b. 1910, d. 1989
5. JOHN WILBUR POWELL b. 4 Apr 1912, d. 5 Nov 1974
6. KATHRYN MONOAH POWELL b. 1914, d. 1974
7. BETH WYLEEN POWELL b. 1917, d. 2000
8. JAMES QUENTIN POWELL b. 1919, d. 1951
9. DOROTHY LANELL POWELL b. 1922, d. 1993
10. ALVAH REID POWELL b. 1925, d. 2000
Mattie Martin Powell was the great great granddaughter of a Revolutionary War soldier who fought under Gen. Francis Marion, the "Swamp Fox". A recent movie, "The Patriot", roughly follows the wartime experience of Gen. Marion.
Mrs. Powell was mentioned in a Savannah newspaper article in 1927, written about her mother, Mrs. Wm Columbus Martin, who was credited with having the largest family in Georgia, over 186 living descendants. A.R. and Mattie contributed more than their fair share of progeny needed to bestow this honor on Mrs. Martin.
In 1934, Rev. A.R. Powell accepted the call to Greenville Baptist Church in Greenville, Madison County, Florida. His only requirement of the parting pastor was that he plant a spring garden for Mrs. Powell. This favor granted, the family began it's move, ably assisted by several townspeople and church members, including Rev. Oglesby, Mr. John Cone and Mr. James Pickles of Greenville. The youngest of the family, Reid Powell, recalled making this move, noting that frequent stops had to be made along the way to round up chickens that fell off the truck.
Rev. Powell's son, Wilbur, was relegated the unenviable task of driving down the farm wagon from Nashville to Greenville. The trip took all day. The wagon, with no springs, loaded with all the farm tools, plows, a corn sheller, and a three hundred pound sow with her farrow that Mrs. Powell could not bear to leave behind, offered no protection from the hard packed roads nor the merciless sun. The mules could only be coaxed to a trot for short distances. Wilbur had to stop frequently to draw water from ditches and streams to pour over the piglets to keep them from baking in the heat. Rev. Powell made two round trips in the time it took Wilbur to get to Greenville. To make matters worse, he had to drive down Church Street, which went directly in front of the church in town, where Wednesday night services were culminating. That was Wilbur's introduction to society in Greenville.
That wagon remainded on Wilbur's farm well into the 1960's where it, having long outlived it's utility, was pushed into the nearby woods and, except for a few metal braces, spoke bands and straps, was reclaimed by nature.
Rev. Powell preached only a short time at Greenville Baptist Church. A rift in the church arose over the budget for overseas missionaries. Rev. Powell regarded the local community as a priority for church funds, given the dire economic conditions of the Great Depression. Others favored foreign missions. As a result of this dichotomy, Rev. Powell and several families in the church asked for letters of dismissal in order to join the First Baptist Church of Greenville.
The Powell family integrated itself closely into the community in Greenville. Three of Rev. Powell's daughters and one son graduated from Greenville High School: Beth Powell Class of 1936, Dorothy Powell Class of 1940, and Reid Powell Class of 1943. The older children were educated in Nashville, Ga. schools.
Despite his age, military disability pension and previous service, Rev. Powell registered to serve in World War II in the "Old Man's" draft of 27 Apr 1942, which was not a draft, per se, but a volunteer registration for men aged 45-64. Due to age and infirmity, Rev. Powell was not called to active duty, although two of his sons, Wilbur and Reid Powell were called to serve.
Wilbur deployed to the China-Burma-India theatre of war where he served in the U.S. Army Air Corps with the 58th Bomb Wing at Chakulia, India, Central China and Tinian Island in the South Pacific. He saw combat in the CBI theater, was strafed by Jap Zeros on Tinian, flew missions as a B-29 tailgunner over Tokyo and saw the Enola Gay take off with the atomic bomb that would end the War. Reid served in the U.S. Navy at Pensacola, FL, qualified for the G.I. Bill and received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Florida, the first in the family to attain that level of education.
A 1948 voter list of Precinct 5, Greenville, FL shows A.R. Powell and J.W. Powell as eligible voters in the elections of that year. Reid Powell was away at college in Gainesville, FL that year, attending the University of Florida, where he completed a bachelors degree in only three years on the G.I. bill.
Rev. Powell continued to preach at Greenville and serve the community into the early 1950's until his eyesight and health began to fail. A 1958 article in the Madison Enterprise-Recorder entitled "Way Back When" credited Rev. Powell with 16 years as the pastor of the Bapt. Church in Greenville, FL.
Rev. Powell died 19 June 1953, in Greenville, FL, at the home of his son, Wilbur Powell. His wife, Mattie Martin Powell died 24 Feb 1969 at Madison Memorial Hospital. They are both buried in the Powell family plot at Evergreen Cemetery in Greenville along with several children.
___________________________________________________________
A. R. Powell
(Abstracted from the Madison Enterprise-Recorder Newspaper, Madison, Florida, June 26, 1953)
A. R. Powell, age 74, died Friday June 19th at his home in Greenville. Survivors are his wife, Mrs. Mattie E. Powell, of Greenville; three sons, C. W., of Moultrie; J. W., of Greenville; and Alva Reid Powell, of Mayo; six daughters, Mrs. Marion Register, of Norman Park, GA; Mrs. E. C. Bostick and Mrs. Ralph Wills, both of Moultrie; Mrs. Cecil Brannen, of Greenville; Mrs. Jim West, of Macon; and Mrs. Wesley Holland, of Bartow. Funeral services were held Saturday in the First Baptist Church of Greenville with interment in Evergreen Cemetery.
___________________________________________________________
From the memory of William R. Wills, Jr., M.D., son of Ralph & Ila Vann (Powell) Wills, & grandson of Rev. Alvah Roy Powell:
"My remembrance of my grandfather when I was young and they were living on the Perry Highway, south of Greenville, Fla.: the house was built in the style called dog-trot, with a central passage which opened at the back onto a screened-in breeze way, which connected the kitchen away from the main house. This was done so that if the kitchen caught on fire, the remainder of the house would not be consumed. The front porch was as long as the house was. Upon entering the open door passage way, the living room and dining area was on the right, while the left wing housed the living quarters, with grandmother & grandfather in the bedroom closest to the front door, then the two guest bedrooms, along the small corridor that extended from the front entrance way.
The kitchen had a big iron stove with cast iron pots and the pans always cooked the best foods ever; hoe cakes, corn bread, fresh vegetables, fried chicken. If a hungry soul went to the smoke house, he could always slice a chunk of smoked ham to fry on that big stove, or get a piece of the best sausage to put on that big stove. The best of the best was the old cathead biscuits, bigger than your fist, and taking a jar of good homemade corn syrup, punch your finger down into the biscuit and filling it with syrup, ham or sausage.
Water was a commodity not easily obtained, because, initially, the well was some 50 yards away from the house, sheltered by a wooden A-frame covering, with a zinc or galvanized bucket lowered by a rope to the bottom of the well, using a pulley to raise the full bucket up. It was the best tasting cold water you can imagine.
Later, a modern well was dug by the back porch. It was a hand pump, well faucet at the end of the porch and during the summer, the zinc tub used for bathing, was placed on the porch and filled with water for bathing the children.
The back yard was totally dirt where chickens, guinea fowl, and birds feasted on critters living under the larger oak trees. A long clothesline extended from the house to a tree and across the yard, to the smoke house. This smoke house was the source for the best bacon, sausage, cured meats, and dark gravy you could ever taste.
I can still remember my Uncle Wilbur hanging a hog from the tree, bleeding him and then scalding him in a big vat of hot water to remove the hair and prepare him for skinning before butchering it.
Close by was the big cast iron tub for the purpose of washing clothes outside with lye soap. Once the clothes were rinsed, they were placed on that long clothesline stretched out across the yard.
The clothes were washed with a long wooden paddle, used to agitate them. The long clothesline was stabilized by placing wooden poles under the wire to keep the fresh washed clothes from touching the ground.
Behind the smoke house, and off to the side of the yard, was the two hole outdoor house. I can still see that outhouse, containing the Sears-Roebuck catalogue to read or for tearing out a page or two to clean yourself up.
Or you could occupy yourself with watching the hornets, bees, spiders and wasps flying around inside the privy. Or, if that failed to amuse, you could fling open the door, and watch the chickens and roosters outside pecking about under the two seater ("his" and "hers".)
When it was necessary to move the privy because it was full, a tractor was used to drag it to the new location.
The old dog-trot house no longer exists, having been torn down after my grandparents moved in to town. But the remembrance of my Grandfather sitting on the front of the large open fireplace, smoking on his corn-cob pipe full of Prince Albert tobacco, and reading his Bible [takes me back to a different world.]
When it was bedtime, we all crawled in to the feather bed, which could be warmed up, in the winter, by placing bricks in the fireplace, wrapping them in blankets, then placing them under the covers as foot warmers where it was toasty warm on cold nights.
Around the old dirt yard, the sandy soil provided a big place on which we could draw hop-scotch using broken glass from a milk jar. We would invite Flossie (the African American neighbor) to come play. It was a mean game because she was good.
If that wasn't enough fun for a boy, we could take our BB guns to the big fig tree in the backyard, and "hunt" jay birds, brown thrashers or mockingbirds, saying that we were protecting the figs on the tree. Or we could climb that big fig tree, which was always fun. If that wasn't enough, you could go down to the barn near the house, and make a game out of shelling ears of corn to feed the chickens, and the horse or livestock corraled in the fenced area next to the barn.
From the front porch, a long lane of old moss covered oak trees extended down the paved road. The loud pops of Uncle James' rawhide whip echoed loudly down this corridor of trees, as he snapped it. The lane of trees also housed many squirrels [there and down by] the tree-lined lily pad covered pond just south of the house.
Another sport was shooting a .22 rifle at targets set up on the wooden posts which outlined the front yard. One could sit on the steps going into the house, or sit in those old wooden rockers on the front porch [and make a day out of target practice.]
The town of Greenville was not a big town, but was comprised of several stores, a mercantile, a grocery, a bank, several Baptist churches, and a movie theater for Saturday matinees, featuring the old shoot-um-up westerns.
The cemetery was out on the Madison Highway, with its rows of headstones under which both grandmother and grandfather are now buried.
Mother had nine brothers and sisters: Wilbur ran the family farm; Kathryn was married to the President of the Bank; James was mentally retarded as a result of polio and had no ability to talk but he could crack a whip with the best of them; Uncle Reid was in the Navy and on his return home, he moved to the panhandle of Fla. where he was a county agent; Uncle Wilbur later joined the Army during WWII, as well. Mother's sister Beth married Jim West and lived in Moultrie and Macon. Aunt Dorothy married Wesley Holland, moved to Bartow, Fla. and raised a daughter and two sons. The sisters, Marie and Maudell, lived in the small college town of Norman Park. After the death of her husband (1938) Marion Register, Maudell operated a grocery store on Main Street in Moultrie.
Marie married a man [Eugene Bostick], who would later become the Sheriff of the county, and ran the local correctional facility (prison), and Uncle Culbert was the assistant warden of the prison. Maudell's son, Bob, and I were closest of friends, spending much time with him hunting, fishing and going to the movie theater. Bob lived with us for a while and attended school with me.
I remember visiting relatives in Adel, Nashville, and Valdosta - Mother's cousins - as well as Daddy's sister and brother. I was raised by loving parents who, because we did not have a car, the family group would walk to church, walk uptown on Saturdays where we enjoyed an ice cream at the drug store, or would walk to the movie theater for Saturday westerns, sometimes staying to see the main feature or to follow the "serials", which always ended in a strange predicament for the main character and we anxiously awaited the following serial the next week."
Rest in Peace, Cousin Bill Wills, 1935-2016.
___________________________________________________________
Addendum to Pension Claim of Pvt. Alvah Roy Powell:
Greenville, Florida
March 20th, 1945
Hon. Joseph E. Brown
Director, Veterans Claims Service
Washington, D.C.
Dear Mr. Brown:
In the conclusion of your letter of March 6, 1945, MCC-DCC-2 474 272, you asked me to give supporting evidence showing the time my birth was recorded in the Bible. I take for granted that you had reference to the Dickson Bible from which Miss Kerr made the affidavit, as the records reveal my date of birth as December 28, 1878.
My name and date of birth were first recorded in my father's Bible, date of birth being December 28, 1878. I was married to Miss Mattie E. Martin the 4th Sunday in July, 1901 in Nashville, Georgia. On January 4th, 1903, our first child was born.
Soon thereafter, I bought a large Bible and transferred the records from my father's Bible into my Bible. I kept this Bible until after I was ordained as a Baptist Minister on the 31st of August 1910. Previous to this time, I had been called to serve the Good Hope Baptist Church. The large Bible which I had bought and transferred the records into was too large to carry. Then I bought the Dickson Bible, which was copyrighted in 1907 and transferred the records into it and sold the large Bible to the Good Hope Church but took the page containing the family record out and still have it in my possession. If you desire it, I will send the page containing the record, which was taken from the large Bible. For further information, I am enclosing a book which, if you will kindly examine page five, you will find the date of my Ordination.
Respectfully,
Rev. Alva R. Powell
Sworn to and subscribed to before me at Greenville, Madison
County, Florida, this 20th day of March, 1945.
Elizabeth Kerr
Notary Public
____________________________________________________________
Family Members
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Alma Maudell Powell Register
1903–1979
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Mary Marie Powell Bostick
1904–1970
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Culbert William Powell
1907–1987
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Ila Vann Powell Wills
1909–1989
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John Wilbur Powell
1912–1974
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Kathryn Powell Brannen
1914–1974
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Beth Powell West
1917–2000
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James Quentin Powell
1919–1951
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Dorothy Lanell Powell Holland
1922–1993
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Alvah Reid Powell
1925–2001
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