Marion County Pioneers Theophilus Powell Marion County, Oregon Territory as early as 1845 From: Floyd Co., KY deed records, Book B, page #12, dated January 31, 1820 - "Theo Powell from James C. Madison" - 500 acres on Marrow Bone Creek. The 1823 Tax List of Pike County, Kentucky, listed Theophilus Powell as a resident along with his father, CADAR, and his brothers George and Allen. 1850 Census, Marion County, Oregon Territory, page #90, taken on Jan 24, 1850: 259 259 Theophilus Powell 58 M Farmer $1000 Kentucky Rachel Powell 32 F Ohio William Powell 13 M Illinois Attended School Polly Powell 9 F Illinois Attended School Isaac Powell 7 M MO. Attended School Martha Powell 4 F Ore. Terr. John W. Powell 11/12 M Ore. Terr. The eldest boy, William, was actually named William Tull, son of Aaron Tull and Rachel (Center) Tull. Rachel was married to Theophilus Powell in 1840. Aaron Tull must have died soon after William's birth in 1837. Theophilus Powell, child of Cader and Frances (Foote) was a preacher. He received a certificate from the Methodist Church in 1833. In 1836 he received a grant of 50 acres of land on Big Begus Creek. In 1837 he received a grant of 250 acres on Powell Creek. Soon after, about 1838, Theophilis sold his land and went to Missouri with his brother, Allen Powell, and Allen's wife, Mary (Johnson), their sons, David, James, Jackson, John and William, and their three daughters, Frances, Malinda and Mary (?). In Missouri Theophilis was given a certificate by the Methodist Church, he was a Circuit Rider on the frontier. Not long after arriving in Missouri, Allen Powell's wife, Mary, died; leaving Allen with eight children, and shortly thereafter Allen died while fighting a prairie fire. Another brother came and took the girls back to Kentucky (either Isaac or George Powell). Four of Allen's sons (all except James) followed Theophilis to Oregon in 1847. Theophilus was recorded on the 1845 and the 1850 Census in Marion County, Oregon Territory. James, the lone son of Allen who did not follow Theophilus Powell to Oregon in 1847, moved to Oregon in 1852. William died on the plains, David married Almeda Harless and they had 6 children. He homesteaded on the Columbia River near Portland, OR., John located near David. About 1840 Theophilus Powell married a young widow, Rachel ( Center) Tull, whose husband, Aaron Tull, had died of tuberculosis, leaving her with a small son (named William). Theophilus and his family probably lived on a farm in Missouri, as he had done in Kentucky. However, lack of markets for their crops, low prices for farm products, and the prevalence of malaria, discouraged many of the settlers. While in Missouri Rachel and Theo became the parents of two children, Mary b. August 30, 1841, and Isaac Jamison b. April 11, 1843. On May 11, 1845, Theophilis and his family left Independence, MO, in one of the many groups of wagons in that great wagon train of 1845. (The wagon train records show it left from St. Joseph, Buchannan County, MO., on April 8, 1845, under command of Capt. Solomon Tetherow and later under the command of Capt .English.) Rachel's mother, Mary Center, rode in their wagon, as did Lucy, Mary's crippled sister. Two young Center boys rode horseback all the way. (On June 20, 1845, when they reached the Platte River, Samuel Center was married to Elizabeth Evans Dillon.) In Oregon Theophilus and Rachel took up Donation Land Claim No. 18, in Waldo Hills, 12 miles east of Salem. Here he built a house and a school, which was also used for the church on Sundays. He preached for the Methodist Church in Oregon, as he had done in Kentucky and Missouri. He died January 20, 1861. Rachel died several years later at the age of 71. The children of Theophilus and Rachel born in Oregon were: Martha Powell b March 14, 1846, married James Perry Watkins and had children Albert, Penny, Anna, Oscar, Bessie, John, Floyd and Lulu. John Wesley Powell b 1849, went to Kansas to study medicine.While there he married Angelina Browning and their children were: John, Martha, Gertrude, Lilly, Myrtle, Stella, and Fred. Three of these children died of scarlet fever in Kansas. Later Dr. John Powell returned to Oregon and practiced medicine in Oregon City, Oregon, where he died in 1923. [Roberta Pruett Wallace Family Tree.FTW] [1778385[1].ged] "At the time of Theophilus' first preaching, the Methodist Church issued 1 year certificates to preach under.There was 1 in Virginia in 1935," (Note: This should have been written as 1835) "Between 1838 and 1845, he received several more certificates in Missouri." "In 1836 and 1837, Theophilus recieved a total of 450 acres in Land Grants. All but 50 acres was on Powell Creek, Kentucky. The other 50, was on Begus Creek, Kentucky. The land, however, was not productive, and sometime between 1838 and 1841, he moved to Missouri with his brother Allen and Allen's family. After arriving in Missouri, Theophilus started preaching again. he was a "Circuit Rider" type of minister on the American Frontier. He officiated at many marriages. Not long after going to Missouri, Allen's wife, Mary, became ill, and died, leaving Allen with 8 children. Soon after, Allen lost his life in a prairie fire he was fighting." "Another of Theophilus' brothers came to Missouri and took the girls. Theophilus moved in with the boys. There were 5 boys. In 1941," (NOTE: Again, this should have been written as 1845) "Theophilus married a young widow, Rachael Center Tull. Her husband had died of tuberculosis, leaving her with a baby boy, William Tull. By 1843, They (sic) had 2 children of their own, Mary and Isaac. The young couple became discouraged farming, due to low farm prices and lack of markets. The area was rampant with Malaria cases. They started to hear stories about Oregon, and in 1845, they left Independence, Missouri by wagon train to Oregon. Rachael's mother, Mary Center, a sister Lucy, and 2 brothers went along. Their destination? Oregon City! By June 20,1845, they had reached the Platte River. The leader of the wagon train was Captain Solomon Tethrow. After only a few days, he resigned, and Captain English took his place. The roads at first were in good shape, fuel for the oxen, and water was plentiful. Things changed quickly. They travelled 10-20 miles a day, so the trip was going to be a long one. According to Palmer's Journal , at Independence, (Some say this took place at Fort Hall.) the wagon train company decided to hold an election to choose a pilot for the trip. They had 2 volunteers. Mr Adams, would pilot the train to the end of the trail, for $500.00 in advance. Mr. Steven Meek, an old fur trader who claimed to know the land well, offered to pilot the train for $250.00 total, with only $30.00 in advance. They chose Mr. Meek. The book "Early Western Travels", says that on August 27, some 200 families separated from the main train. Mr. Meek was leading these 200, promising a shortcut over the mountains to the Willamette Valley, from Malhuer Creek. Soon the vegetation and water disappeared, along with the good roads. The only water was stagnant pools, even the cattle didn't want to drink. Those that did became ill, many dying, and many more so weak they could barely travel. The days were hot and the nights so cold ice formed in their water buckets. As if this weren't enough, it soon began the fall rain and winter snows. Much to their discomfort. According to family stories, this was the train that discovered the "Blue Bucket" mine. The stories say it was Theophilus that flattened a piece of gold on his wagon wheel, saying "It may be gold, but I do not know that it is." No one since has found the mine area, or any gold, though many have tried. By now the t rain was helplessly lost. A scouting party returned saying they had found a way out, just in time to save Mr. Meek from being hanged by the angry train member s. Mr. Meek then left the train to fend for themselves. According to "History Of Oregon" by Harvey K. Hines,(on page 287) this was the ill-fated emmigrant train that was lost on Meek's Cutoff. After their rescue, the scouts found the Dechutes River. It took the wagon train about 2 weeks to find a place to get across."