Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-02-12
WON HIS WAY.
Brief Sketch of Hon. LIewelyn Pow
ers' Brilliant Career.
How He Made Much OF His Inheritance. Brains.
Pluck and Physique.

Hon. Lleweilyn Powers was the eldest
of ten children born to Mr.. and Mrs
Arbra Powers on the farm in Pttsfeld.
Me-, where the father had settled as a
pioneer. There he had built log house
In which several of the children were
born, among them Llewellyn, who was
eight years of age when the family moved
out Of the primitive dwelling Into more
pretentious home OF the eight boys in
that family six became successful practi-
tioners of the law, and the youngest, Hon.
Frederick A. Powers, is the present attor-
ney general. The parents acquired the
enviable competence and independence
which come by dnt of great effort to the
successful farmers home. Yet the inner
itance of the children was far more than
this, the abilities which make for success
and are sure to win substantial recogni-
tion. And so Ii was that the eldest son,
though leaving home to make his way in
the world at time when his parents
could give him little assistance other than
his birthright Of brains, pluck and a
splendid physique, Immediately entered
upon successful career.
For time he attended the ungraded
school at Pittsfeld and then fitted for
college at St. Albans' Academy and
Waterville Academy. now the Coburn
Classical Institute He entered Colby in
the class Of 81, but left in his second year
to study law. taking course at the AL
bany University. In 1860 he was ad-
mitted to the New York bar in Albany
and in December of that year was ad-
mitted to the Somerset county bar. The
next month he settled in Houlton, where
he has continued to reside with the excep-
tion of the four years when he resided in
Brookline, Mass, practising his profess
sion in Boston.
The young lawyer soon built up a lllcra-
tive practice in Aroostook county and
in 1864 became county attorney although
the county at that time was Democratic
ard Mr.. Powers was, as he ever has been,
an incorporating Republican He held
this office seven years. In 1869 he was
appointed collector of the Aroostook Gus
tom district but declined the reappoint-
nent rendered him in 1873 He was
elected to the Legislatures of 1875, 76 and
'S3 and his services at the State capital
were such as to indicate more brilliant
future and showed him to be sagacious
political leader. 1t was during his first
term that he introduced the bill abolish
ing capital punisbment.
In 1876 he was elected to Congress from
the fourth district and in 1873 was re-
nominated by reclamation. But this was
the year of the greenback craze and Mr.
Powers was among the Republicans
whose defeat was due to it, Senator Hale
also failing OF election that year. Mr.
Powers then determined to give up
politics and, though taking an active part
in campaigns, devoted his entire attention
to his own private interests, which had
become large, including the ownership
and management of large tracts of some
of the finest timber land in the State. He
now owns l75, 900 acres, Of which 1877, 000
are in Aroostook county, 30, 900 in Somer-
set, and the remainder in Penobscot but