The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-07-13

Young Man Of Brilliant Promise
Called to His Eternal Home.
HAD BEEN ILL FOX SOME TINE
Though but 20 Years Of Age He Had Won
for Himsel an Enviale Name In Edu'
catiOual and Literary Cirsles
of This Part Of the state.


for HIMSELF an Enviale Name In Edu'
catioual and Literary Cirsles
OF This Part Of the state.
While the setting sun was heralding
the death Of another day. Professor w.
George Powell, who has fingered at the
conqueror's door for the past three
months. breathed his last yesterday af-
ternoon at els o'clock. at his home on
North Lincoln avenue, and the spirit
was waited into the great unknown.
The passing was without pain, and.
surrounded by the loving ones who
have nourished him through trouble
and misfortune. he died. as did the day,
with the sweetness OF a sleeping child.
When on that September day the
news that Professor Powell had become
totally blird was announced. a pang OF
pity touched the hearts Of all. Since
then he has gradually failed, though
the best of medical skill was sought In
order to save his life. Professor Pow
elps worth as man " we'll known.
His life has been as eventful as has
been his success.
william George Powell was born at
Bellevue Heights, now within the city
limits. Oct. l. 1866. He attended the
public school until the family removed
to st. Clair, Schuylkill county, In 1877,
where he Immediately re-entered upon
the studies he had temporarily discon-
tinued at the Bellevue school, graduat-
irg from the st. Clair high school with
honors. Already the brilliant possibili-
ties OF the young man had begun to
appear and soon afterward the atten-
tion OF Hon. Charles N. Brumm was di-
rected to Mr.. Powell. and In 1888, Mr..
Brumm, who was then Congressman
| appointed him to a cadetship at West
Point Military academy.
lle Res igncd His Cadets ship
After one years experience at mill
tary life the young cadet, who held the
unique distinction Of being the young
est man ever accepted at the famous
school, discarded the soldiers clothes.
Nevertheless the training In mathema-
tics. rhetoric. French and military tao
ties obtained at West Point helped to
form sterling character In the fall
of 1884 he entered the Pottsville high
school and was graduated two years
later as one Of the foremost members
of his class. At the commencement ex-
erciseH Professor Powell read an essay
on "The Future Of Poetry and Science"
which showed evidence Of much
thought
BY this time mis- parents had moved
to Edwardsdale, Luzerne county, and
in the fall Of 1856 Professor Powell was
appointed teacher at that place, though
he was but 20 years Of age. In the year
following the principal at the school,
Professor Will C. Monroe, obtained an
other position, and the vacancy was
accepted by Professor Powell. After
successfully teaching for two years, the
| aspiring professor was invited to take
| charge Of No. IA preparatory school, of
this city. and upon acceptance filled
the place with credit until fatal 1894,
| when the strain Of constant study re-
suited on Sept. in total blindness.
The blow was terrible one. Friends
and pupils were stunned by the calam-
ity. But life was left. and his pitiful
figure, for morths. could be seen, pilot
ed by loving hands on the streets of
the West Side.
Hope never deserted him in this hour.
and his word was always one Of cheer
and courage. But Fate interposed and
the death blow was struck yesterday.
Young Man OF Great Promise.
Professor Powell was an exception
ally brilliant man. His future was as
bright as the past had been successful
and his many efforts in literary way
places him among men whose names
are most honored. When very young
he began writing for the press and the
man to be was shown In the boy. Dur
ing his stay at st. Clair he edited q
paper publishedin In the town by Captain
| w. Holmes, In the interests of the high
school there, and called The Specimen
Not long after his residence at Ed
wardsdale he entered into co-partnar-
ship with Samuel Smith In the publica-
| tion of the Wyoming Magazine. In
this paper he published one of his long
est poems, "The Poets Of Wyoming"
4 piece In Spencerian meter. Mr.. Smith.
Elmer Marshall and Professor Powell
aftaiward published small volume of
| poetry. During this time he was work
ing necessarily, and as result the
Powell library Is stocked with literary
gems, which have not been published as
yet.
A few of Professor Powell's efforts
were published In The Cambrian, a
monthly magazine printed at Utica, N.
| Y. Readers of The Tribune will re-
member his series Of articles of descrip-
ton which appeared In this paper while
Professor Powell was travelling in Eu-
rope in 1891.
| Popular with Everybody.
Professor Powell numbered among
his friends many prominent men, and
thousands of students who have passed
under his teachings testify to his popu-
larity. In 1893 he accompanied The
Tribune prize winners to the Columbian
Exposition at Chicago. having been Sc
looted with three others as the most
popular teachers In Scranton.
His father d. c. Powell, Is we'll
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