George Wilson Powell: An Overview

George Wilson Powell, son of Smith H. Powell (1814-1897) and Eliza Orton Powell (1807-1879) was born in 1843 in Caldwell County, North Carolina. Records from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Caldwell, North Carolina confirm that George was baptized that same year of his birth. As an eighteen-year-old, George enlisted on March 19 1862 to serve for the Confederate Army as a Private. George was a member of A Company of the North Carolina 22nd regiment where he met his untimely death in July 29 1862 in Richmond VA due to battle wounds[1].

Family History

George Wilson Powell was raised in a rather large family of six with two older sisters and one younger sister by the names of Mary Lou Swanson, Vienna E. Hartley, and Louisa Sophia Hart. Mary Lou Swanson, two years’ senior of George Powell, raised three children named Hattie, Sidney P., and Cordie Lee Swanson. Swanson also birthed another child but unfortunately, it passed away within months of its birth. Vienna E. Hartley, George’s eldest sister, (April 28 1839-June 9 1908) was married to Joseph H. Hartley and raised Delia E. Harley, Josephine H. Heffner, and Ivey Powell Hartley. George’s niece, Josephine H. Heffner was the child of an affair between his sister and Rufus L. Heffner. George’s younger sister of three years, Louisa Sophia Hart, created a family of six with her husband, Jacob Samuel Hart. Hart’s children were Elizabeth Hawkins, George L. Hart, John Dickson Hart, Mary Etta McLean, Eliza Admira Seagle, and Robert Joseph Hart.[2] Overall, George Wilson Powell was an uncle to 13 nieces and nephews.

22nd Infantry of North Carolina

The 22nd Infantry of North Carolina encompassed the counties of Caldwell, McDowell, Surry, Ashe, Guildford, Alleghany, Caswell, Stokes, and Randolph. The unit was organized in Raleigh in July of 1861, approximately three months after the Battle of Fort Sumter which catalyzed the war. At approximately 1,000 men total, the 10 companies in the 22nd Infantry of NC were each led by brave leaders. Company A, which Powell served, was led by Captain W. F. Jones and was succeeded by Thos. D. Jones. Company A was home to 187 men who were referred to as the “Rough and Ready Boys.” [3]

The History of Caldwell County

Significance

James and Elizabeth (Falls) Wilson, married February 13 1829, the grandparents of George Wilson Powell, started a family in Caldwell county, North Carolina.[4] Caldwell county is very significant as it is the birthplace and resting place for all the Wilson’s descendants with the exception of George W Powell himself.

Lenoir

In 1765, a family named Tucker settled in Caldwell county. The citizens surrounding what they called “Tucker’s Barn” would gather at the residence for special occasions like July 4. When George Wilson Powell resided in Caldwell county, the meeting place for citizens in the county, or the “county seat”, became known as Lenoir. George’s family is mostly buried in Lenoir.[5]

Industrial Capacity

In 1791, Caldwell county’s first industry was the manufacturing of gunpowder for the rebels facilitated by the Pierce Iron Forge. In 1878, 51 grain mills, 41 sawmills, 5 furniture shops, and 8 tanneries were in operation to generate revenue for the county. By 1938, Caldwell county implemented a rural electrification program, one of the first across the state.5

[1] “Civil War Soldier-Confederate-NC,” digital images, Fold3 (http://fold3.com : accessed June 7 2017), North Carolina 22nd, pg. 2, headed “Muster-in Roll” entry for George W Powell; citing NARA microfilm publication Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Who Served in Organizations from the State of North Carolina, M270, roll 0290

[2] “George W Powell,” Ancestry.com. U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012.

[3] Compiled service record, “Twenty-Second Regiment”, George W Powell, pvt., Infantry, A, North Carolina 22; Civil War Index; National Archives, Washington, D.C. (http://www.civilwarindex.com/armync/reghist/22ndncinfantry_reghist.pdf)

[4] “James Wilson” Ancestry.com. North Carolina, Marriage Index, 1741-2004 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007.

[5] “History of Caldwell County” Calwellcounty.org. Facts and Figures 1771-1938 Caldwell County Government 2017.