Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-02-08
BIOGRAPH ICAL,
THE TWENTY-FIRST MINNESOTA
STATE LEGISLATURE
Hon, @, s. POaye,.s.

Fountain, Fillmore county, is a native of Can
ada West now Dominion of Ontario, born
September 8, 1926. His father was a Vermont-
er, his mother native of the city of Water
ford, Ireland. On the paternal side the fam
lily were residents of Vermont and New Hamp-
shire, since the early colonial times. They
tree is easily traced back in that country for
period of more than two hundred years-the
name being Power. The original appela-
ton, however, comes from France-'De La
Power At the age of eight years the subject
OF this :, sketch moved with his parents
Subsequently he took up the arts of lettering.
engraving and sculpture, and in the meantime
published a literary periodical, and followed
photographic reporting, which occupation he
had previously acquired. November, 1856 he
began as an itnerant lecturer on cerebral phys
and collateral sciences, also acting as reporter
and correspondent for the press. In that
capacity he travelled over New England.
the British provinces and the Middle States.
In the fall of 1860 he came to Minnesota and
settled at his present home. Since his arrival
ne mas lectured from seven to twelve months
each year, combining himself to the States of
Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Indiana, Missou-
Fl, Iowa, Minnesota aud Nebraska. Senator Pow
ers is q man of excellent physique, full habit.
head as large as Cuviers, height nearly six
feet, weight $50 pounds; language, human ma
developed. In religion he is radical
OF the Parker school. and has a
strong leaning to what is termed 'Harmonial
Philosophy" In Canada he was STYLED .sthe
Yankee reformer," but after he arrived in the
United States he allied himself with the
aboltlonlsts. More than once has his life been
at the mercy of the mob for his radical senti-
ments but his self possession and his ready
tongue were his best weapons in the hour Of
danger. He stumped the country for Lincoln in
both his campaigns, and for Grant first term.
He then soured on the hero of Appomattox.
That high functionary vetoed the soldiers
equalization bounty act. but sanctioned the
infamous Credit Mobilier," the demonetiza-
ton of silver, the salary grab and the entire
carnival of corruption then rife in the ranks of
his party. In the fall Of 1877 Senator Powers
took up the greenback cause, and with such
men as Judge Smith, Hon. R. L. Fleming, Thos.
the politics of Fillmore county. In
the last campaign he stumped the
county, speaking in the principal towns, fol-
lowing the Hon. Mark Ell. Dunnell and from
there he went out over that Congressional dis
trlct, embracing nineteen counties, and dis
cussed the pending issues. During his absence
on this campaign he was nominated in mass
convention by reclamation for the State Senate
and was elected over Colby, the regular Repub-
lican nominee, by nearly 700 majority, carrying
several townships out Of the thirteen compris-
ing the district almost solid. He aided in
electing in his county Greenback sheriff by
nearly 600 majority also two Representative
from his district, and where they had formerly
given 1900 Republican majority or
over, those numbers were reduced
IN some instances to less than 100. In the
meantime Senator Powers furnished many of
the editorials for the Dollar Weekzy, a Green
back paper published at Wykoff, which soon
attained a circulation of 5000. Oppressive
monopolies and corrupt political rings will
find in him foe not easily vanquished. As a
political organizer he is said to be number one,
and whether on the stump or in the lecture
field discussing his favorite themes, he is able,
logical and forcible