USA > Kentucky > Collins historical sketches of Kentucky. History of Kentucky: Vol. II > Part 110
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As governor, he was distinguished for devotion to the duties of his office, his laborious and faithful examination into the affairs of the state, particularly its public debt, and his clear and concise statements thereof in his annual messages. It was the chief glory of his administration, that he checked the fearful increase of the state debt; and for the first time since it was created, began to pay it off, and continued its steady reduction to the end of his term.
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He then settled on his farm near Danville, and in honorable retirement closed a long and useful public life. He died Dec. 9, 1862, aged 80 years.
In person, Gov. Owsley was tall (about 6 feet 2 inches high) and slender. His disposition was reserved, and he talked but little. In times of greatest excitement, there was seldom any perceptible change in his spirits or de- meanor. He was proverbial for honesty, firmness, and impartiality; and made the principle of right the ground of every action. His manners were plain, simple, and purely republican. As a public speaker he was staid, sensible, and practical-seldom enthusiastic; but occasionally, when roused or stung by something pointed or unfair in his adversary, he was quick, spirited, and powerful.
PENDLETON COUNTY.
PENDLETON county was erected in 1798, and named in honor of Edmund Pendleton, of Virginia. It was the 28th county in the state, and formed out of portions of Bracken and Campbell counties ; but in 1820, gave the w. half of its territory to form Grant county. It is bounded N. by Kenton and Campbell counties, N. E. for 5 miles by the Ohio river (where it projects between Campbell and Bracken), E. by Bracken, s. by Harrison, and w. by Grant ; is situated in the northern section of the state ; is nearly square in shape, and embraces about 300 square miles ; is drained by the Licking and South Licking rivers-which flow into the county on the s. E. and s. borders, form a junction at the county seat near its center, and pass out near the middle of its northern border ; having, as tributaries, Fork Lick, Kincaid, Flower, Blanket, Willow, Crooked, Richland, and Grassy creeks. South Licking runs centrally, from s. to N., over 30 miles ; or South Licking 12 miles, and main Licking over 40 miles through the county. Along the streams are many thousand acres of rich bottom lands; elsewhere, the surface is undulating and hilly, and the soil, based upon limestone, yields excellent crops of to- bacco, wheat, oats, rye, etc. The land has risen quite rapidly in value since the completion of the Kentucky Central railroad, in 1852, from Covington to Lexington, passing up main Licking to Falmouth, and thence up the valley of South Licking. In the summer of 1873, the Covington, Flemingsburg, and Pound Gap railroad company was organized, the road designed to follow up main Licking from Falmouth, diverging northward to Flemings- burg, and thence to Pound Gap in the Cumberland mountains in Letcher county, on the Virginia state line, about 225 miles.
Towns .- Falmouth, the seat of justice, situated on an elevated bottom at the confluence of main Licking and its principal south- ern branch, South Licking, is 514 miles from the mouth of main Licking opposite Cincinnati by water, and 40 miles by railroad, 59 from Lexington, and about 60 from Frankfort ; contains the usual county buildings, five churches (Baptist, Reformed or Chris- tian, Methodist, Presbyterian, and Roman Catholic), and a rapidly growing trade; population in 1870, 614, and on July 1, 1873, probably 1,000. Falmouth was established in 1793, and being
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· PENDLETON COUNTY.
settled by Virginians, was named after Falmouth, Virginia. In 1846 it was the only town in Pendleton county, and its population about 250 ; since then the population of the county has trebled, and the following villages and stations on the Kentucky Central railroad sprung up : Boston, Butler (incorporated Feb. 1, 1868, and population in 1870, 144), Catawba, De Mossville (incorporated March 3, 1860), Leringood, Meridian, and Morgan. Besides these, are the following villages or post offices : Bachelor's Rest, 6 miles from Falmouth, Elizabethville, 5 miles, Knoxville, 9 miles, Gard- nersville, 11 miles, Dividing Ridge, 15 miles, Motier, on the Ohio river, Ash Run, Huntsville, and Salem.
STATISTICS OF PENDLETON COUNTY.
When formed. See page 26 | Hay, corn, wheat, tobacco ... pages 266, 268
Population, from 1800 to 1870 ... p. 258 Horses, mules, cattle, and hogs ...... p. 268
whites and colored .. .p. 260 Taxable property, in 1846 and 1870.p. 270
towns .p. 262 Land-No. of acres, and value ....... p. 270
white males over 21. .. p. 266 Latitude and longitude. .. n. 257
children bet. 6 and 20 ..... p. 266
Distinguished citizens .see Index.
MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE FROM PENDLETON COUNTY.
Senate .- Wm. Mountjoy, 1820-23 ; John Forsythe, 1823-26 ; Samuel F. Swope, 1844-48.
House of Representatives .- J. J. Flournoy, 1800 ; Wm. Mountjoy, 1809; Elijah Mc- Clanahan, 1815 ; Wm. Clarke, 1816, '17; Stephen Mullins, 1818, '20, '21, '24, '25, '26, '28; Wm. Littell, 1819; Stepben Thrasher, 1822; John H. Barker, 1827 ; Wm. C. Wilson, 1829 ; Thos. G. Hall, 1830; John Wheeler, 1831, '42. '43, '46; Samuel T. Hauser, 1832 ; -. Drake, 1834 ; Samuel F. Swope, 1837, '38,'39, '41 ; Thos. W. Hart, 1840 ; Henry W. Cleaveland, 1844, '45 ; Jos. Dougherty, 1847, '50 ; John E. Records, 1848 ; John T. Bever, 1849 ; Benj. F. Hume, 1851-53; Wm. A. Brann, 1853-55, '57-59, '61-63; Chas. Duncan, 1855-57 ; Jas. Mann, 1859-61; Dr. Jas. Wilson, 1863-65, '65-67, seat declared vacant Jan. 15th, 1866, and succeeded by Wm. A. Brann, 1866-67; Chas. H. Lee, 1867-69 ; Francis M. Lowe, '69-71, '73-75; Wm. W. Deaderick, 1871-73.
There are several Salt and Sulphur Springs in Pendleton county. Iron ore and coal are found, but not in workable beds or veins.
One of the earliest merchant Saw Mills on the Licking river was established at "Fallsmouth " (Falmouth), as appears by the following advertisement in The Centinel of the North- Western Territory, a newspaper established at Cin- cinnati, Ohio, in 1793. [It is probable the advertiser's name was John Wallace, and not Wallere.]
" Plank and scantling of every kind, delivered at the mill or in Cincinnati, on the shortest notice. Orders will be thankfully received and pointedly at- tended to. JOHN WALLERE.
" Fallsmouth, Forks of Licking, Dec. 15, "1794.
"N. B. The subscriber will be down with a quantity of planks as soon as the water of Licking will admit."
Within a few hundred yards of the boundaries of Falmouth, the remains of an ancient fortification are yet distinctly visible. It is situated upon elevated and commanding ground, near midway between the two rivers, and commanding the junction, and some distance up both streams. In form, it is a regular circle, with four apertures or openings, opposite to each other, and corresponding very nearly to the four cardinal points of the compass. Seventy years ago,* trees, from two and a half to three feet in diameter, were standing upon the circular embankment of earth which formed the fortification ; while the enclosure, covering probably up- wards of a quarter of an acre of ground, was grown up in trees, bearing the same
. More than sixty-five years since, when the anthor was a very small boy. he recolleets to have examined these ancient remains. The circular embankment, at that time, he thinks, was upwards of three feet high.
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marks as to age, size, &c. The timber of the surrounding forest was about the same size of that growing within and upon the embankment, and must have grown up many years after this fortification had been abandoned by its ancient builders. This fortification, combined with the fact, that every height and hill surrounding the junction of the two rivers and overlooking the fort, as well as for miles around, are crowned with one or more Indian graves, or small mounds, present strong and abiding evidence that a warfare, of a bloody and desolating character, once pre- vailed here, between a people possessing and occupying the ground, and an inva- ding and aggressive enemy.
Pendleton is not the scene of any Indian battle or bloody rencounter, within the recollection of its " oldest inhabitant." But her territory has been desecrated by the feet of hostile Britons, as well as of the blood-thirsty savages. In June, 1779, Col. Byrd, with his Canadian and Indian force of six hundred men, in his route to attack Ruddle's station, ascended the Licking river to its junction with the south branch, where Falmouth now stands. Here he landed his cannon, con- centrated his forces, and took up his line of march for that station. The track he pursued was distinctly marked by blazing the forest trees, and may still be traced where the trees are left standing. After capturing Ruddle's and Martin's sta- tions, he returned by the same route, took water at Falmouth, and descended the Licking to its mouth. The traces of his march, south of Falmouth, served to give notoriety, in the surveyors' books, to the entries of land subsequently made.
EDMUND PENDLETON, in honor of whom this county was named, was born in Caroline county, Virginia, in 1741, and died in Richmond in 1803. He was president of the Virginia court of appeals, and of the Virginia convention of 1775-was twice elected a member of Congress-in 1778, was chosen president of the Virginia convention which met to consider the federal constitution, and when the federal government was organized, he was selected by Congress to be district Judge of Virginia, but declined the appointment. Wirt says, " he had in a great measure overcome the disadvantages of an extremely defective educa- tion, and by the force of good company, and the study of correct anthors, had at- tained a great accuracy and perspicuity of style. His manners were elevated, graceful, and insinuating. His person was spare, but well proportioned, and his countenance one of the finest in the world ; serene, contemplative, benignant ; with that expression of unclouded intelligence and extensive reach, which seem- ed to denote him capable of any thing that could be effected by the power of the human mind. His mind itself was of a very fine order. It was clear, compre- hensive, sagacious and correct; with a most acute and subtle faculty of discrim- ination ; a fertility of expedient which never could be exhausted ; a dexterity of address which never lost an advantage and never gave one, and a capacity for a continued and unremitting application which was perfectly invincible. As a law- yer and a statesman, he had few equals and no superiors. For parliamentary man- agement, he was without a rival. With all these advantages of person, manners, address, and intellect, he was also a speaker of distinguished eminence. , He had that silver voice of which Cicero makes such frequent and honorable mention ; an articulation uncommonly distinct ; a perennial stream of transparent, cool and sweet elocution, and the power of presenting his arguments with great simplicity and striking effect. He was always graceful, argumentative, persuasive; never vehement, rapid or abrupt. He could instruct and delight; but he had no preten sions to those high powers which are calculated to " shake the human soul."
PERRY COUNTY.
PERRY county, the 68th in order of formation, was established in 1820, out of portions of Clay and Floyd, and named in honor of Com. Oliver Hazard Perry, the hero of the battle of Lake Erie, in which a number of Kentucky volunteers from the army assisted bravely. Breathitt county in 1839, and Letcher in 1842, were partly formed from Perry county. It is situated in the
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PERRY COUNTY.
southeastern section of the state, on the head waters of the Ken- tucky river ; is bounded N. by Breathitt, E. by Floyd and Letcher, s. by Letcher and Harlan, and w. by Clay and Owsley. It is drained by the North and Middle forks of Kentucky river, which are navigable for descending boats a considerable portion of the year ; among their tributaries are Laurel and Lost forks, and Hell-for-Certain, Cutshin, Squabble, Leatherwood, Williams', and Macy's creeks. The surface of the county is hilly and mount- ainous, and a large portion unsuitable for cultivation, but well adapted for sheep and wool-growing. The valleys are fertile and productive, with a sandstone foundation. The principal articles of export are-horses, cattle, hogs, salt, coal, ginseng, and wool.
Towns .- Hazard, the county seat, is a small village, on the North fork of the Kentucky river, about 150 miles s. E. of Frank- fort, 71 w. of s. of Grayson, Carter county, 36 N. w. of Whites- burg, Letcher county, 53 s. of w. of Manchester, Clay county. Brashearsville, 14 miles, and Salt Creek, 12 miles, from Hazard, are post offices and stores.
STATISTICS OF PERRY COUNTY.
When formed. See page 26 Tobacco, hay, corn, wheat ... pages 266, 268
Population, from 1830 to 1870 .p. 258
Horses, mules, cattle, hogs ....... page 268
whites and colored. .p. 260 Taxable property, in 1846 and 1870 p. 270
towns. .p. 262 Land-No. of acres, and value of .... p. 270
white males over 21 .p. 266 Latitude and longitude. .p. 257
children bet. 6 and 20 yrs. p. 266 - Distinguished citizens .... .. see Index.
MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE FROM PERRY COUNTY.
Senate .- Perry county has always been in a large district, and has had no resident senators.
House of Representatives .- Henry Duff, 1833; John Haddix, 1835; Elijah Combs, 1840 ; Jos. Eversole, 1848; Zachariah Morgan, 1867-69; Josiah H. Combs, 1871-73. From Perry and Clay counties-Alex. Patrick, 1827, '28, '30, '31; Elnathan W. Murphy, 1829 ; Robert S. Brashears, 1837 ; John C. Wilson, 1839. [See Letcher co.]
Commodore OLIVER HAZARD PERRY, in honor of whom this county received its name, was a distinguished officer in the United States' navy, and was born at Newport, Rhode Island, in August, 1785. He was entered as a midshipman on the sloop of war General Greene, in 1798. He served in the Tripolitan war, and secured the affection and respect of all the officers and men in the squadron. In 1810 he was a lieutenant commandant in the schooner Revenge. In this vessel, in the spring of 1811, he was wrecked in a fog near Stonington. He demanded a court of inquiry, which acquitted him of all blame in the affair. In 1812 he was promoted to the rank of master and commander, and appointed to the com- mand of the gun boats in the harbor of New York. Disliking his situation here, he solicited to be transferred to the lakes, and the greater portion of his men went with him. On his arrival at Sackett's Harbor, he was ordered by Commodore Chauncey to Lake Erie, to superintend the building of vessels in order to meet the British force on those waters. On the 4th of August, he got his squadron over the bar, and on the 10th of September met the British squadron under Com- modore Barclay. This fight resulted in a complete victory to the Americans, and Perry was promoted to the rank of Captain. In the battle of the Thames, on the 5th of October, he served as aid to General Harrison, and rendered important assistance. At the conclusion of the war, he was appointed to the command of the Java, a frigate of the first class. In this frigate he attended Commodore De- catur, to chastise the Dey of Algiers, who had committed depredations on our commerce. In 1819 he was sent to the West India station, where he died of the yellow fever on the 23d of August, 1820.
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PIKE COUNTY.
Coal .- The main coal of the center of Perry county, s. of the North Fork, is 43 to 5 feet thick, with a clay parting of one or two inches, 10 inches from the bottom. On the N. side of the same stream, 1 mile above Hazard, and 60 feet above the road, a bed of coal is exposed, 3 feet 5 inches thick, but not of very good quality.
Argillaceous Oxide of Iron, in considerable quantities, is found near the top of the ridge dividing the waters of the Elisha fork of Big Creek and the Coal branch.
Salt was made some years ago from the water of a well near Hazard, bored 400 feet below the bed of the river; a bushel of salt was produced from 85 gallons. At the mouth of Leatherwood creek, in the Brashears well, 410 feet deep, was found a fine brine-of which 65 to 70 gallons yielded a bushel of salt. In these borings several beds of coal were passed through.
Freestone, of good quality for buildings, is found on Macy's creek.
PIKE COUNTY.
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PIKE county was established in the year 1821, out of part of Floyd ; was the 70th in order of formation, and named in honor of Gen. Zebulon M. Pike. A small portion of its territory was taken in 1870, towards forming the county of Martin. It is the easternmost county in the state; and is bounded N. by Martin, N. E., E., S. E., and s. by the state of Virginia, s. w. by Letcher, and w. by Floyd county. It is drained by the waters of the Big Sandy river ; its Tug Fork forming the N. E. boundary line, and the Levisa (or Louisa) and West Forks running through the county, almost from E. to w. The surface presents quite a varie- gated appearance; along the water courses, the lands are of ex- cellent quality and very productive ; while the uplands are broken and- mountainous, and the soil comparatively poor. Corn, cattle, and hogs are the staple products, but oats, wheat, rye, buckwheat, and some tobacco are raised.
Towns .- Pikeville (often called and written Piketon, in mistake), the county seat, is situated on the s. w. side of the West (or main or Louisa) Fork of Big Sandy river, near the center of the county, about 200 miles nearly s. E. of Frankfort, 50 s. w. of Logan C. H., West Virginia, and 73 s. of Louisa, Lawrence co., Ky .; incorporated Dec. 30, 1824; population in 1870, 140. The other post offices in the county are-Coal Run, 6 miles, Robinson Creek, 7 miles, Bent Branch, 12, Little Creek, 15, and Mouth of Pond, 25 miles from Pikeville.
STATISTICS OF PIKE COUNTY.
When formed. . See page 26 Hay, corn, wheat, tobacco ... pages 266, 268
Population, from 1830 1870 .p. 258 Horses, mules, cattle, and hogs ..... p. 268
whites and colored ·p. 260 Taxable property, in 1846 and 1870.p. 270 Land-No. of acres, and value. ...... p. 270
towns. .P. 262
white males over 21. .p. 266 Latitude and longitude. ...... p. 257
children bet. 6 and 20 ..... p. 266
Distinguished citizens. .. see Index.
MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE FROM PIKE COUNTY.
Senate .- [See Floyd co.]
House of Representatives .- Jas. M. Rice, 1829 ; Colbert Cecil, 1842, '55-57 ; George N. Brown, 1849; John M. Rice, 1859-61 ; David May, 1861-63, expelled for joining or aiding the Confederate army, Aug. 29, 1862 ; John H. Reynolds, 1865-67 ; Orlando C. Bowles, 1867-71. [See Floyd and Letcher counties. ] Nelson Hamilton, 1873-75.
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POWELL COUNTY.
Coal abounds in Pike county, 1 to 2 feet thick; a workable vein, of fair quality, crops out on Chloe creek, nearly opposite Pikeville; in the bed of Big Sandy, 7 miles above Pikeville, lies a bed of coal; a 4-foot vein is re- ported at the forks of the river; and 7 miles below Pikeville, in the hills 96 feet above the river, are 52 feet of coal, with two thin partings of clay.
Iron is found, in several forms-in blocks of impure ore, in thin layers of carbonate of iron, and in a body of rusty ferruginous shale. It has not been worked.
There is a number of Salt Wells in the county, at two of which salt was made before 1846.
Col. Sidney S. Lyon's Base Line, in the geological survey of Kentucky, began at Uniontown, on the Ohio river, longitude 10° 55' w. of Washington, and in latitude 37° 46' ; and in its extension eastwardly cut the Virginia state line near the northern corner of Pike county-at a point probably now in Martin county.
The Court House of Pike county was erected, in 1823, upon a public square in the town of Pikeville-which, together with a large portion of the town itself, was in such a disputed situation, and claimed by so many persons holding adversely to each other, that the legislature was appealed to for a remedy ; and by law vested the title to the town in trustees, directing to sell the lots, and return the proceeds of sale in secured bonds to the circuit clerk's office, for the benefit of those whom the court should decree to be the rightful owners. This secured to the lot buyers a good title, to the real owners full pay for their property, and to the town the measure of prosperity incident to a new county seat.
This county was named in honor of General ZEBULON M. PIKE, born in New Jersey, Jan. 5, 1779. He entered the army while yet a boy, and served as a cadet in his father's company, afterwards as ensign and lieutenant. In 1805 he was sent by the government to explore the Mississippi river to its sources. After his return, he was sent by Gen. Wilkinson on an excursion into the interior of Louisiana, to fix the boundary line between New Mexico and the United States. This expedition proved a partial failure. Upon his return he was appointed a captain, subsequently a major, and in 1810 a col- onel of infantry. In 1812 he was stationed on the northern frontier, and in 1813 appointed a brigadier general. He was selected to command the land forces in an expedition against York, the capital of Upper Canada, and April 25th sailed from Sackett's Harbor in the squadron commanded by Commo- dore Chauncey. On the 27th he arrived at York with seventeen hundred chosen men. A landing having been effected under a heavy fire from the enemy, Gen. Pike assaulted the works; in the course of the attack, the British magazine exploded, throwing large stones in every direction, one of which struck Pike on the breast, inflicting a mortal wound.
POWELL COUNTY.
POWELL county, the 101st formed in Kentucky, was established in 1852, out of parts of Montgomery, Clark, and Estill, and named in honor of Lazarus W. Powell, then governor of the state. Portions of its territory have been taken to help form Wolfe county in 1860, Menifee in 1869, and Lee in 1870. Before the latter was formed, Powell county was about 32 miles long and 12 wide. It is situated in the eastern middle portion of the state, and is bounded N. by Montgomery, N. E. by Menifee, E. by Wolfe, s. by Lee, and s. w. and w. by Estill. The Red river runs quite centrally, from E. to w., through the county-furnishing valuable water-power throughout its length; already there are 2 large
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POWELL COUNTY.
steam saw mills, 1 steam shingle-machine, and 4 water grist-mills upon its banks ; in high water, flat-boats and rafts pass down it to a market. Its tributaries, on the N., are Indian, Cane, Hatch- er, Morris, Paint, Beech Fork, Black, Brush, Snow, and Lul- begrud creeks ; and on the s., the Middle fork and. South fork of Red river, Cow, Cat and Owl, Picks, Moppen, Hatton, and Raccoon creeks.
On the bottoms of the Red river and tributaries are some fine farms, the soil good, and producing tobacco and all kinds of grain well ; some mountain farms produce well. Both bottom and up- lands are heavily and finely timbered. All the crops usual in mountain counties are raised to advantage.
Town .- The county seat and only town is Stanton, so named after Hon. Richard H. Stanton, of Maysville, an able representa- tive in congress, 1849-55, circuit judge, 1868-74, and author of Stanton's "Revised Statutes" and other valuable works on Kentucky law. Population and business small. In Powell county are 6 doctors, 3 blacksmiths' shops, and 2 churches. The prevail- ing religious denominations are Methodist and Reformed or Chris- tian, and they use the court house and school houses as places of worship.
STATISTICS OF POWELL COUNTY.
When formed. See page 26 Tobacco, hay, corn, wheat .pp. 266, 268
Population, in 1860 and 1870 .p. 258 Horses, mules, cattle, hogs .p. 268
16 whites and colored. ·p. 260
Taxable property in 1870 .p. 270
towns. p. 262 Land-No. of acres, and value of .... p. 270 Latitude and longitude p. 257
white males over 21. .P. 266
children bet. 6 and 20 yrs. p. 266
Distinguished citizens. see Index.
MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE FROM POWELL COUNTY.
Senate .- None resident in the county.
House of Representatives .- Dillard C. Daniel, 1857-59 ; John T. Clark, 1863-65; Henderson Conlee, 1873-75.
LAZARUS W. POWELL, in honor of whom this county was named, was born in Henderson County, Ky., October 6, 1812. He graduated at St. Joseph's College, Bardstown, in 1833; studied law with Hon. John Rowan, and subse- quently attended a course of law lectures at Transylvania University. Ac- cumulated a fortune by his profession. Was elected to the State Legislature in 1836; Democratic district elector in the Presidential canvass of 1844; de- feated for Governor of Kentucky by Hon. Jno. J. Crittenden, the Whig candi- date, in 1848. Elected Governor in 1851, and inaugurated September 5th of that year. Served as one of the Commissioners to Utah in 1858, when a col- lision with the Mormons was averted by President Buchanan issuing a procla- mation of pardon to those who would submit to the Federal authority, and which was accepted by that people. In 1859 he was elected U. S. Senator . for the full term of six years, and participated in the most important discus -- sions originating in the progress of the late civil war between the North and South. He was particularly noted for opposition to the purpose of the North- ern leaders prosecuting the war for the subjugation of the Southern States, but he also condemned secession. Hon. Garret Davis, his colleague, who doubted the loyalty of Senator Powell, in 1862 had presented to the Senate the famous resolution for the expulsion of the Kentucky Senator from that body. The Judiciary Committee reported against its passage, which was strenuously advocated by Mr. Davis. The resolution was defeated. Mr. Davis afterward retracted the charges. Mr. Powell failed to secure a reelection to the Senate. He died, at his home in his native county, on July 3, 1867.
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