CHARLOTTE E. (nee-GIVEN) POWERS
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POWERS ADDITION
LOT : 3
ROW : 4
GRAVE # 34
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317 W. Decatur Street and corner of Union Street |
HISTORY OF POWERS ADDITION
Most of the land on the west side of the original Greenwood cemetery
was owned by Orlando Powers. As with many pioneer families, they chose a spot on their property to bury their loved ones. The spot the Powers family picked was right next to Block 8, at the west boundry of Greenwood. There are stones dating back to the 1850's.
Around 1878 that section of land was annexed to Greenwood cemetery. The lot looks like one big section, but is actually two. On the east side of the section is Block 8. On the west side is the Powers Addition. If you stand at the south end of the section and look north you will see 4 trees in a direct line with the fence to the north. That is the original property line of Greenwood.
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Charlotte E., wife of Orlando Powers, died at her home in No. 317 W.Decatur street on Monday morning, May 3 after a long illness. The immediate cause of her death was inflammation of the bowels but she had been delicate health for many months and had gradually failed so that her friends realized the death must soon come to her relief. Charlotte E. Given was a native of Kentucky. Her birthplace was Smithland, Union county where she was born on Oct. 5,1827. She was married Sept. 2, 1849 to Orlando Powers and they at once came to Decatur to make their home and where they have continuously resided since, except ten years from 1874 to 1884 which they spent in Jacksonville while their daughter was being educated at the school there. To the couple were born four children, three of whom with their father are living. They are Charles G. and Howard W. Powers and Mrs.Charles Kearney. For nearly fifty years Mrs. Powers has been a resident of Central Illinois and during the great part of that time lived in Decatur which in fact the family always considered their home. To the older residents among whom her younger womanhood was spent she was recognized of a woman of many excellent traits of character, kindly, charitable and above all devoted to her home and her family and no more fitting tribute could be paid her than to say that she was an ideal wife and mother. The burial will occur on Wednesday afternoon. The services will be at the family residence and the interment will be at Greenwood cemetery.
Herald Despatch
(Decatur, Illinois)
5 MAY 1897
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The funeral of the late Mrs. Orlando Powers was held Wednesday afternoon at 3 oclock at the family residence on W. Decatur street. The services were conducted by W.H. Penhallegon of the First Presbyterian church, assisted by Rev. W.H.Prestley of Kankakee. There were a large number of friends in attendance and there were many beautiful floral tributes. The services were brief but of an impressive nature. The music was rendered by a choir composed of Mr. and Mrs. Bert Gher and Mr. and Mrs. Frank Bunn. A prayer was offered by Rev. Prestley and Rev. Penhallegon gave a brief address in which he spoke of noble and unselfish character of the deceased. It is a mater of great regret that Dr. Marquis could not have been here to take charge of this service for he was not only a personal friend of the family for many years but an intimate acquaintance and friend of Mrs.Powers. He knew her well, the acquaintance beginning when she was at the Zenith and zest of her life. When she stood as a happy mother in the midst of her children,a devoted wife in the center of her home, a true friend accessible to all. Mrs.Powers was so plain in her life, so simple in her life that anything but a brief simple service would be out of harmony with her life and character. No words of mine can add peace to her ashes or sweetness to her sleep. Her life was her best eulogy, her character her best epitah. I state that matter none too strongly when I state that the poor of the city have lost one of their truest friends, the best institutions a faithful patron, the city one of its best women and the large circle of relatives a loss that is irreparable. She lived on the highlands of life and breathed the atmosphere of a noble purpose. Her sense of beauty and her consecration to her work was such that marked her life deeply. In closing the minister referred to the fact that the deceased during her life had always found time to devote to charity and religion. The burial was at Greenwood. A selection was given by the choir at the grave and the ministers conducted a short services. The pallbearers were John and Fred Given, Thord Ewing, Theron, Edward,Chauncey and George Powers.
The Decatur Weekly Republican
(Decatur, Illinois)
4 May 1897
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