Tulare County Biographies

RICHARD POWERS

Transcribed by Kathy Sedler

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

 
Of the sons of Illinois who have come to California and made a success of their 
undertakings mention belongs to Richard Powers. He was born in the Prairie 
State, June 24, 1847, and came to California when he was twenty-one years old 
with his brother John, settling in San Joaquin county, where for thirteen years 
he was engaged in stock and grain farming. Then he went to Merced county and 
farmed near Minturn for ten years, after which he moved to Butte county and 
carried on farming near Chico for three years. Subsequently he engaged in 
railroad work for two years with headquarters at Redding. It was in 1884 that he 
came to Tulare county, and in 1891 he located in Porterville, devoting himself 
with ability and energy to the stock business. His specialty was the raising of 
draft horses and roadsters, which he exhibited at the different fairs and he 
secured many premiums for his draft horses. At the time he came to Porterville 
if was a mere hamlet of but few houses, and his was the first residence to be 
erected off Main street. He has seen the settlement grow to its present 
importance and has witnessed and participated in the marvelous development of 
the country round about.
December 23, 1883, Mr. Powers married Miss Stella Smith, a native of Butte 
county and the daughter of Theodore and Sarah W. (Horton) Smith, who came to 
California in 1849 and 1852 respectively. The former was a native of Kentucky 
and the latter of Virginia. Both came across the plains with ox-teams and they 
were married in 1855 in Butte county. Later they lived for a short time in 
Shasta county, but returned to Butte county and there passed their remaining 
years. Besides Mrs. Powers two sons survive, Harry C., of San Francisco, and 
Jay, of Redding.
The devotion of Mr. Powers to the stock business during so long a period marks 
him as a man of persistency, who having formulated a plan of action will carry 
it out intelligently, allowing no obstacles to deter him, and bring it to 
ultimate success if years and opportunity are given him. He not only raises many 
cattle, but he buys and sells in the market, and in his business transactions 
has won a reputation for fair dealing of which any man might be proud.
 
History of Tulare and Kings Counties, California with Biographical Sketches - 
Los Angeles, Calif., Historic Record Company, 1913, Pp 811-812