MR. WILLIAM E. POWELL, MILWAUKEE, MILWAUKEE COUNTY, WISCONSIN.
William E. Powell is a descendant of an old and prominent Welsh family, his grandfather, Hywel Powell, being one of the famous poets of Wales. William was born at Beddgelert, Wales, February 20th, 1841, the eighth of the family to see the light of day in the quaint old town. His father was Evan Powell, born in 1806, and his mother was Jane Powell, born in Beddgelert in 1811. Our subject received his scholastic training in his native town for five years, and in 1865 determined to come to America, where more opportunities were open to a young and ambitious young man.He bade goodbye to his home, friends, and family, and sailed for the new world. After reaching the United States he came to Milwaukee and located at the foot of Huron street. The following year Mr. Powell entered the service of the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul railroad as bill clerk in the freight depot. He was faithful to duty and within a short time was promoted to the position of General Immigration Agent for the company. Mr. Powell has excellent executive ability and became one of the valued employes of the road.
For forty years he continued to help many Europeans to find homes in this country, where they lighted their hearth-fires and established residences in the land of plenty. During his years of service with the railroad Mr. Powell was prudent, he saved, and two years ago determined to invest his capital in a business of his own. It was with regret that the Milwaukee road gave up his services, and it wished him nothing but success and good fortune in his new business.
Since 1906 Mr. Powell has been engaged in a general land business and is meeting with well-deserved success. He is a man who has a great capacity for work and devotes his time to earnest and continuous effort along business lines. Mr. Powell is a hearty supporter of the Republican party and had the honor to be elected from the First ward as a delegate to the State Republican convention which nominated Robert M. La Follette for his first term as governor of the state of Wisconsin.
Like many of the hardy Welshmen, Mr. Powell is a member of the Welsh Presbyterian church, in which faith he was reared and he is a member of the St. David Society, a Welsh lodge. He is also a member of the Masonic order, being a member of Wisconsin Lodge, No. 13. On September 11th, 1865, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Powell and Jane Roberts, the daughter of Rees and Margaret Roberts, natives of the Vale of Gwynant, Wales. Four children were born to this union: Rees, aged forty; George, now thirty-six years old; William, thirty-two; and Arthur, twenty-two. Mr. Powell has had the satisfaction of seeing his four sturdy sons grow to manhood and receive honor among the citizens of Milwaukee, which is one of the most gratifying things that comes into a man's life.