William Henry Powell
Civil War Veteran
During my recent trip to St. Louis I found a biography at the Edwardsville Public Library on my great-great grandfather, William Henry Powell. The biography was published in a History of St. Clair County, Volume II published by the St. Clair County Genealogical Society in 1992. The book was bound in an oversized format. I used a graphic program to paste the oversize copies together and to reformated it from 2 to 3 columns to better fit on an 8.5x11 paper.The article is similar to a bio of William Henry Powell written by his granddaughter, Blanche Powell Miller.
What additional facts do I have on William Henry.
- In 1860, 16 year old William was living with his father Constant and his step mother Perlitha and his 13 year old step sister Virginia Owens in St. Clair county in or near O'Fallon.
Powell Constant 52 1808 Male Tennessee Farmer $250 $ 350
Powell William 16 1844 Male Illinois
Powell Perlitha 33 1827 Female Kentucky
Owens Virginia 13 1847 Female IllinoisCivil War Service
William served as a Private in Company I, 117th Illinois Volunteer Infantry of the Union army during the Civil War. According to his official military record, nineteen year old William H. enlisted in O'Fallon August 12, 1862 for a period of 3 years. He mustered in September 19, 1862;. he mustered out on August 5th 1865 at Camp Butler, Springfield, Illinois.According to McKendree University's Civil War Story: Students at War Between the States:
In September 1862, in response to Abraham Lincoln'scall for more volunteers, the 117th Regiment of Illinois Volunteers was formed at McKendree. The unit was known as the "McKendree" Regiment as many members of the unit were students and faculty from McKendree College.
After a short time in camp the regiment moved to Memphis,Tennessee. They were assigned to duty at Fort Pickering in Memphis, Tennessee. The regiment manned the fort and its heavy guns for most of the next two years. In 1864 the regiment fought a battle in Meridian, Mississippi, and then fought its way back to Vicksburg. The unit also fought in one of the last battles of the Civil War - leading the final infantry charge of the war at the battle of Mobile, Ala. The regiment's service was documented in The Illinois Adjutant General's Report of the 117 Illinois Volunteers.
The McKendree University web site contains additional information about his unit.
The O'fallon Centennial Souvenir Program dated 1954 contained a write-up on his unit:
O'fallon 17th Illinois Volunteer Infantry
O' Fallon men took an
active part in the Civil War. Company "I", 117th Illinois Volunteer
Infantry was organized at O'Fallon on August 12, 1862. The group had informally
organized as early as May, 1862 and drilled evenings and Saturdays on the
commons south of the railroad track and east of the present railroad station.
The ladies of O'Fallon, Ridge Prairie, and Shiloh presented a silk flag to the
company. The company left O'Fallon and marched 114 miles to Camp Butler
arriving there on August 25, 1862. On September 19, 1862 the company was
officially called into the service of the United States. The company was
chiefly engaged in campaigns in Tennessee, Arkansas, and Louisiana. It was
mustered out at Camp Butler on August 5, 1865.
The following were members of the
company: ... William Powell
His military file shows William H was with his unit at the muster roll calls with the following exceptions:
- May/June 1863 — Detailed to guard prisoners at Alton, Ill, June 18, 1863
- Jan/Feb 1864 — Detailed as division teamster
- Mar/Apr 1865 — Detailed as teamster in Ord. train Apr 4, '65 by SO No. 59, no. 2, 2 Div, 16 AC
Marriage
William married Mary Ellen Dale in St. Clair County on 19 Oct, 1867. The marriage was included in Mary Ellen's Civil War Widow's pension file.
Powell William 36 1844 Male Illinois Farmer-teamster
Powell Lizzie 12 1868 Female Illinois
Powell William 9 1871 Male Illinois
Powell Orie 3 1877 Female Illinois
Powell George 2 1878 Male Illinois
Powell Lizzie 12 1868 Female Illinois
Powell William 9 1871 Male Illinois
Powell Orie 3 1877 Female Illinois
Powell George 2 1878 Male Illinois
Death and Burial
According the Mary Ellen's pension application, William died of consumption 21 August 1883.
William was buried in the Shiloh Cemetery; see Find a grave memorial # 102760319.
Children
Children of William Henry Powell and Mary Ellen Dale who lived to adulthood:
- Elizabeth (1868-1941), never married, a nurse
- William Constant (1870-1945) married Gertrude Fix;
- Ora (1877-1910) married 1) Frank Harris 2) John McTeer
- George (1878-1954) never married
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