The Powers Family - James M. Powers

The above Picture shows Michael Powers, James M. Powers and John Patrick Powers, the three brothers who came to the United States from Ireland.

James M. Powers was born on April 7, 1829 in Killucan, Westmeath County, Ireland. He was an older brother to Michael Powers. He came to America with his brothers and traveled with them as they came south to Coweta County, Georgia. He was the only one of his brothers to stay in Coweta County, settling in the town of Newnan.
On February 14, 1861, James married Sarah Jane Huggins. She was the daughter of Asa Huggins and Elizabeth Woody. Asa was an Inferior Court Judge in Coweta County, Georgia and also a deacon at New Hope Baptist Church in Coweta County. James and Sarah became the parents of eleven children: John H., Mary Isabelle, Marcella E., Sarah Luella, Ettie Dora, James Lawrence, Asa Thomas, William Patrick, Bridget Bessie, Infant Son and Jesse.

James fought in the Confederate Army with his brother, Michael. Shortly after his marriage, in May 1862, James enlisted in the Confederate Army in Newnan, Georgia. He claims he served until the war ended. On December 16, 1864, James was captured in Nashville, Tennessee and was a prisoner at Camp Chase in Ohio. After he returned home from the war, he added on two new rooms to the front of his home so he could give lodging to travelers. He wanted to provide a home for strangers who traveled because of his experience while he was traveling home from the war.

Sarah died on January 7, 1893. She was buried near her parents in their family cemetery. On September 13, 1906, James filed for his Indigent Pension Application. He claims, "For 10 yrs. have been so I could not labor; for the past 2 yrs. have been nearly blind in both eyes. Have rheumatism and kidney trouble. Generally broken down in health." James died on August 14, 1911 in Coweta County, Georgia, just months after his reunion with his brothers (detailed in the previous post). He was buried next to his wife in the Pike, Powers and Huggins Family Cemetery.

Ancestry Page
Find A Grave Page

Sources:
Census Records 1870-1910 Coweta County, Georgia
Indigent Pension Application
Grave Stone Photos - Thanks Barbara and Curtis Mealer!
Research of Earline Johnson Powers