E. Henry Powell
Encyclopedia
E. Henry Powell was a Vermont
veteran
of the Civil War
and politician
who served as State Auditor.
on September 3, 1839. He was educated in Richford and at Potsdam Academy in New York
and New Hampton Institute in Fairfax, Vermont
. Powell worked as a teacher
for several terms while he was attending school.
In 1860 Powell began studies at the University of Vermont
, where he remained until withdrawing to enlist for the Civil War. He enlisted as a Private in the 10th Vermont Infantry Regiment
on July 17, 1862, and was soon promoted to First Sergeant.
In 1863 he passed a competitive examination and a promotion board to receive an officer's appointment in the United States Colored Troops
. He was commissioned as a Lieutenant Colonel
in the 10th United States Colored Troops and served with this unit until the end of the war. After the Civil War ended in 1865 the 10th U.S.C.T. performed duty in Texas
as part of a separate brigade, and Powell often acted as brigade commander.
After being mustered out Powell returned to Vermont, studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1866.
A Republican
, Powell served as a federal customs inspector for Franklin County
from 1866 to 1869. From 1872 to 1874 he was Franklin County State's Attorney
. He served in the Vermont House of Representatives
from 1874 to 1876, and in the Vermont Senate
from 1878 to 1880.
In 1878 Powell was elected State Auditor, and he served until 1892.
In 1874 Powell was an original incorporator of the Richford Savings Bank & Trust Company, and was named its President.
Powell moved to Burlington
in 1892 to accept the position of Treasurer
at the University of Vermont. In 1892 he was also elected to the Board of Directors
of the Burlington Trust Company.
Powell died in Burlington on May 4, 1911. He was buried in Burlington's Lakeview Cemetery.
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
veteran
Veteran
A veteran is a person who has had long service or experience in a particular occupation or field; " A veteran of ..."...
of the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
who served as State Auditor.
Biography
Edward Henry Powell was born in Richford, VermontRichford, Vermont
Richford is a town in Franklin County, Vermont, United States. The population was 2,321 at the 2000 census.Richford is the birthplace of R.G. LeTourneau, American industrialist who founded LeTourneau University in Longview, Texas.-Geography:...
on September 3, 1839. He was educated in Richford and at Potsdam Academy in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and New Hampton Institute in Fairfax, Vermont
Fairfax, Vermont
Fairfax is a town in Franklin County, Vermont, United States. The population was 3,765 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 40.5 square miles , of which, 40.2 square miles of it is land and 0.3 square miles of it ...
. Powell worked as a teacher
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
for several terms while he was attending school.
In 1860 Powell began studies at the University of Vermont
University of Vermont
The University of Vermont comprises seven undergraduate schools, an honors college, a graduate college, and a college of medicine. The Honors College does not offer its own degrees; students in the Honors College concurrently enroll in one of the university's seven undergraduate colleges or...
, where he remained until withdrawing to enlist for the Civil War. He enlisted as a Private in the 10th Vermont Infantry Regiment
10th Vermont Infantry
The 10th Vermont Infantry was an infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:The 10th Vermont Infantry was organized at Brattleboro, Vermont and mustered in for three years service on September 1, 1862 under the command of Colonel Albert Burton Jewett.The regiment...
on July 17, 1862, and was soon promoted to First Sergeant.
In 1863 he passed a competitive examination and a promotion board to receive an officer's appointment in the United States Colored Troops
United States Colored Troops
The United States Colored Troops were regiments of the United States Army during the American Civil War that were composed of African American soldiers. First recruited in 1863, by the end of the Civil War, the men of the 175 regiments of the USCT constituted approximately one-tenth of the Union...
. He was commissioned as a Lieutenant Colonel
Lieutenant Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, a lieutenant colonel is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of major and just below the rank of colonel. It is equivalent to the naval rank of commander in the other uniformed services.The pay...
in the 10th United States Colored Troops and served with this unit until the end of the war. After the Civil War ended in 1865 the 10th U.S.C.T. performed duty in Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
as part of a separate brigade, and Powell often acted as brigade commander.
After being mustered out Powell returned to Vermont, studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1866.
A Republican
Vermont Republican Party
The Vermont Republican Party is the affiliate of the United States Republican Party in Vermont. Patricia McDonald serves as Chairwoman of the Vermont Republican State Committee.-Current elected officials:...
, Powell served as a federal customs inspector for Franklin County
Franklin County, Vermont
Franklin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Vermont. It is part of the Burlington-South Burlington, VT Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010, the population was 47,746. Its shire town is the City of St. Albans.-Geography:...
from 1866 to 1869. From 1872 to 1874 he was Franklin County State's Attorney
State's Attorney
In the United States, the State's Attorney is, most commonly, an elected official who represents the State in criminal prosecutions and is often the chief law enforcement officer of their respective county, circuit...
. He served in the Vermont House of Representatives
Vermont House of Representatives
The Vermont House of Representatives is the lower house of the Vermont General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Vermont. The House comprises 150 members. Vermont legislative districting divides representing districts into 66 single-member districts and 42 two-member...
from 1874 to 1876, and in the Vermont Senate
Vermont Senate
The Vermont Senate is the upper house of the Vermont General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Vermont. The Senate consists of 30 members. Senate districting divides the 30 members into three single-member districts, six two-member districts, three three-member districts, and one...
from 1878 to 1880.
In 1878 Powell was elected State Auditor, and he served until 1892.
In 1874 Powell was an original incorporator of the Richford Savings Bank & Trust Company, and was named its President.
Powell moved to Burlington
Burlington, Vermont
Burlington is the largest city in the U.S. state of Vermont and the shire town of Chittenden County. Burlington lies south of the U.S.-Canadian border and some south of Montreal....
in 1892 to accept the position of Treasurer
Treasurer
A treasurer is the person responsible for running the treasury of an organization. The adjective for a treasurer is normally "tresorial". The adjective "treasurial" normally means pertaining to a treasury, rather than the treasurer.-Government:...
at the University of Vermont. In 1892 he was also elected to the Board of Directors
Board of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
of the Burlington Trust Company.
Powell died in Burlington on May 4, 1911. He was buried in Burlington's Lakeview Cemetery.