John Power
A Trail Driver—A Confederate Soldier

John Power was born on a farm in Waterford County, Ireland, June 21, 1832. Here he lived, worked and went to school until he reached the age of sixteen years.

Farm life did not appeal to this young Irishman. He had dreams of becoming a sailor. About the time he became sixteen years old, he enlisted in the service of the Old Lady Campbell of Waterford, bound for Quebec, Canada. The sea life was not what John Power thought it would be. The weather was cold, rough and stormy, and the waves ran high; they were eleven weeks making the trip across the ocean.

The mode of travel by water then would compare with the liners of today as the ox team compares to an automobile. This trip cooled the sailor fever of young John to a low temperature. He decided that he was more of a landbird than a sea-fowl, and he never again enlisted in the merchant marine service.

He wandered around over Canada for about one year working at any odd jobs that he could get to make an honest living. He first moved from Quebec to Montreal, then to Toronto, from there to New London. From New London, he, with a party of twelve, walked to the Canadian line and entered the United States at Detroit, Michigan. Then he went to Springfield, Ill. He worked in Springfield eighteen months, building the old State House. Here he became acquainted with President Abraham Lincoln who was practicing law in that city.

After finishing the work on the Illinois State House, John Power went to the territory of Kansas and Nebraska with a surveying corps sent out by the government and worked two years in these two territories. He then went to St. Louis, secured a passage on a boat to New Orleans. Here he was promised work at Indianola, Texas. Upon arriving he found his promised employment had been given to another.

The same afternoon that he arrived at Indianola, he rode to Port Lavaca and there worked for fifty cents a day for a nursery. Later he graded streets, made cisterns, dug wells, ditches, etc. At Port Lavaca he made the acquaintance of B. Q. Ward, Alex Hensley and other prominent men.

He was employed in 1858, to drive Texas ponies to Illinois by way of Texas, Indian Territory, and Missouri, entering Illinois near Jefferson, Mo. While there, he heard the famous Lincoln - Douglas debate. After selling the Texas ponies, he returned to Port Lavaca.

John Power married Miss Susie O’Neil in March, 1859. They were parents of the following ten children:

Mary "Mamie" Power (August 9, 1860 - January 15, 1944) – married  William Payson
James "Jim" Power (January 4, 1858 - September 24, 1953) - married Emma Asbeck
Robert Walter Power (October 27, 1865 - June 29, 1935) - married Willie F. Atkinson
Frank Power - married Mary Ellen Gisler
Carrie Power (October 27, 1865 - May 19, 1951) - Mrs. Peters
J. L. Power
Hallie Power
Charles Joseph Power (July 30, 1877 - April 24, 1965) - married Ada Theresa Johnson
Annie Irene Power (February 2, 1878 - March 6, 1949) - married B. K. Traylor
Stella Power (November 17, 1883 - November 4, 1975) - married C. E. Traylor

When the Civil War broke out, Mr. Power felt that his allegiance and service was due to the country of his adoption. He enlisted in Company A, Sixth Texas Volunteers. He was under Capt. H. Philips, and later transferred to Capt. George P. Finley’s company in the same regiment. In marching through Texas to Arkansas, they were taken prisoners. He was put in a Federal prison on the Sangamon River, Charlseven miles from Springfield, Ill. Here he and his company were well treated. When he and his company were paroled, they were carried to Fredericksburg, Va., where they were taken across the line under the flag of truce, and in a short time they were exchanged. He was put under the command of Gen. Pat Cleburne in Tennessee. He was wounded in the arm and side in the second day’s fight at Chickamauga, and never again reached General Cleburne’s command; after leaving the hospital, he took part in many minor engagements.

After the war, he returned to Port Lavaca and worked at odd jobs for a while. When the Morgan steamers ceased to come to Port Lavaca, he traded his little home in the port town for a small farm of eighty-five acres in Jackson County in 1870. He gradually increased his real estate holdings to 960 acres. Then he sold out and moved to Edna.

He was a brave soldier, honest, truthful and an excellent man.

He died October 11, 1916.

The Cavalcade of Jackson County, Third Edition, pages 409-410
Used by permission of the Jackson County Historical Commission
 

Funeral Services Held Here Saturday For James Power, 95

Funeral services were held at the graveside in Edna Cemetery Saturday at 5 p. m. for James Power, 95, retired rancher, who died at Uvalde last Thursday at 4 p. m. after an extended illness. He resided in Jackson County for over 50 years.

Rev. I. E. Walker, Methodist minister, officiated. The body was at the Slavik Funeral Home here from 3 to 5 o'clock Saturday. Pallbearers were Lewis Watson, O. B. Fenner, A. E. Westhoff, Davenport White, John A. Power and Frank Power.

Honorary pallbearers included G. A. Lowrance, Ernest Menefee, Michael Smith, Steve Scott, Phil and Eddie Asbeck, Albert Egg, E. T. Rose, H. F Stierling, H. O. Traylor, E. L. Power, M. J. Young, Lawrence Power and H. V. McIlwain.

Mr. Power was born at Port Lavaca Jan. 4, 1858, a son of John Power and Susie O'Neil Power.

Surviving are his wife, Mrs. Leona Power of Uvalde, one sister and four brothers.

Edna Herald, October 1, 1953
 

Mrs. Mary Power, 81, Native of County, Is Buried Tuesday

Funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon at Slavik Chapel for Mrs. Mary Ellen Power, 81, a native of Jackson County. Rev. Collis McKinney of the Presbyterian Church officiated, and interment was in the Edna Cemetery.

Mrs. Power, widow of the late Frank Power, was born at Morales on Nov. 23, 1879 and lived in this county all her life. She was a daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Abraham Gisler. She passed away Dec. 26 at her Edna home, 617 S. Hanover, after suffering a heart attack two days earlier.

Mrs. Power is survived by a daughter, Velma Power of Edna, and two sons, Frank Jr. of Houston and E. L. "Bill" of Williamsville, N. Y.; a sister, Mrs. N. M. McDonald of Edna; and five grandsons.

Edna Herald, December 29, 1960
 

Mrs. Carrie Peters Native of Edna, Is Buried Wednesday

Funeral services were held from the Slavik Funeral Home Wednesday at 2 o'clock for Mrs. Carrie Power Peters, 85, a native of Jackson County, who died at her El Paso home Saturday. Rev. John J. Marse officiated and burial was in the Edna Cemetery.

Mrs. Peters was born in Jackson County, being the daughter of the late pioneer residents of this section, and moved away many years ago.

Surviving are two daughters, Mrs. M. L. Young of Fort Worth and Mrs. Hattie Bayne of El Paso; a sister, Mrs. C. E. Traylor of Edna, and four brothers, Jim Power of Uvalde, Lon Power of San Antonio, Charles Power of Shreveport and Hal Power of Amarillo.

Edna Weekly Herald, May 24, 1951