MRS. MARY WALRATH POWELL -- February 18, 1890, as announced in the TIMES of February 28th, at the home of her son, Dr.
John W. Powell, in Rosendale, Wis., Mary Walrath Powell "entered into rest."
In connection with this announcement, more extended notice of an active and useful Christian life, may be of interest to
those old time friends, who until the very last, were held in remembrance by this one who gladly answered the summons, "Come
up Higher."
Mary W. Powell, daughter of Maj. John I. Walrath, was born at Chittenango, August 8, 1819. Under the pastorate of the
late Dr. Hoes, in the days of her youth, she confessed her Christian faith and united with the Dutch Reformed Church of this
village.
Possessed of good mental ability and a keen relish for study, she gladly availed herself of every opportunity for self
improvement, and was successful in obtaining a through education, so making ti possible to devote herself to teaching, a
calling for which by disposition and taste she was unusually qualified. Her sympathy and interest for those needing help in
any way brought to her notice, a class destitute of educational advantages, and her desire to benefit them took the practical
form of an evening school, which was usually held in her own home. There are those still living who may recall her patient,
loving interest in their individual behalf. She helped to organize and carry on the Sunday School at Bolivar, for many
years.
She was a teacher in "The Polytechny" when that institution was under the charge of Rev. G. Thompson. Subsequently she
opened a select school in "The Bethel." With this she was connected until her marriage in September 1843, to Rev. John N.
Powell of Clinton, N.Y. They were among the first to undertake home missionary work, going to the then "Far West" of
Illinois. The journey that can now be accomplished in less than twenty-four hours, was then a most formidable undertaking.
They could go by rail only to Buffalo, then by the lakes to Milwaukee, and from there by stage over almost impassible roads,
to their first mission field, Galena. Since the days of which we write, great advance in mission work has been accomplished,
much territory has been conquered "In His name." But then as now, it was a work of unselfish disregard of personal comfort,
of Unconquerable zeal and love, but lacking then the enthusiasm and encouragement which comes with the success of a popular
movement, yet bravely and cheerfully they labored in this country parish, giving little thought to personal case or pecuniary
reward if they might only be permitted to prepare the hard ground and sow the seed of future blessings -- leaving all else to
God.
Mrs. Powell was an extensive writer, and among the many valuable works that have found their way to the public is "The
Prairie Missionary." The book is in fact a history of her own life, and this part of their labors. It speaks of the
hardships and privations of frontier life, and shows us that sickness and discouragements resulting from the same were too
often a part of the cost of doing a work to which their lives had been wholly consecrated.
The work of Mrs. Powell was so varied and comprehensive, stretching out in any direction where she recognized a need of
personal effort, that it is hard to choose from among the many good works, those which had best be mentioned in a notice of
this sort. Aside from the care of her own home and family, attending to the duties that were assumed to be in those days the
natural work of a pastor's wife, it was not unusual to find her in charge of a private school, and often with one or two
girls taken into her home gratuitously as members of her family in order to secure an influence over them, and provide for
their improvement and education, all of which it would have been otherwise impossible for them to obtain. Such work cannot
be overestimated, and she lived to see her efforts rewarded in these same girls, grown to honorable womanhood, filling
positions of responsibility and influence.
Twice during the thirty-four years of their work in the West, Mr. Powell's health failed, and they, with heir children,
returned to find rest and a welcome in her father's house.
In 1858 they went to Peterboro, Madison county, N.Y., Mr. Powell as pastor of the Congregational Church there, and his
wife as teacher in the Academy. Later they returned to Chittenango, and took charge of the school in the Yates Polytechinic
Institute, until Mr. Powell was able to return to the West in 1864, resuming work under the care of the Missionary Society in
Wisconsin. In 1875 they went to Medford, Minn., where they were most successful in building u the church and doing much
good. Here Mr. Powell died. On his last Sabbath he preached as usual had charge of the Sunday School, rode out into the
country to preach in the afternoon, returning to conduct his evening service, and a few days later they laid him down to rest
in a grove of oaks near Medford, and over his grave it might well be written "He was faithful."
Mrs. Powell had five children, two died in childhood, a daughter and two sons survive her. A year after her husband's
death, she went to Wisconsin and has since lived there with her children. For several years past her health has been failing
her, but she never reached a point when service for others was anything else but a delight, and so far as her strength would
permit, endeavored to advance the cause for which her life had been spent; and as she come to know that her years of active
service were over, she joyfully anticipated the entrance to that life of unending service above.
In her own words "Life is very sweet and precious, but that which lies beyond all who love the Lord is far better. The
life to come beams so gloriously upon my way, the blessed peace of God abides with me as never before." Her deep strong
affection for her circle of family friends and those of her youth was unfailing. She loved to talk of them and pray for
them by name, and looked forward wit joy and faith to a reunion with them in heaven.
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