Born in Rochester, Windsor county, Vermont, on the 22d of May, 1830. His father, Alanson Powers, was a mason by trade. His mother was Sarepta Martin, whose family aided in gaining American independence. When Julius was about six years old the family moved to Portage county, Ohio, where the son attended a district school until thirteen and then commenced learning his father's trade. He followed it until nineteen, working during the summers and attending school in the winters, finishing his education at the Kingsville Academy, Ashtabula county. At the age of twenty he commenced teaching in Berlin (Erie county) Academy, studying law at the same time with Judge Taylor, of Milan, Huron county. During this period he taught during part of the time to defray expenses, as he had to depend entirely on his own resources for funds. Mr. Powers spent a year in Texas, working at his trade, laying the brick of the court-house and jail of Bastrop county. Returning to Ohio, he attended the law school at Cincinnati, where he was admitted to the bar on the 7th of April, 1855. During that year he visited Allamakee county, Iowa, and, after prospecting a short time, received intelligence of his father's death and returned to Ohio. In May, 1857, he again visited Iowa; opened an office at Forest City, Chickasaw county, and removed to New Hampton in 1858, on the day that the county seat was moved hither from Bradford. Mr. Powers was appointed deputy clerk that year, practicing law at the same time and still continuing the practice. He was of the firm of Powers and Kenyon, the leading law firm in the county. He was chosen state senator in the autumn of 1859, and was in the regular session of 1860 and the war session of 1861, resigning his office to go into the military service. He enlisted as a private in the 7th Iowa Infantry, but was soon afterward appointed captain of company I, of the 9th, and served until April, 1862, when he was compelled by disability to be mustered out. He has never fully recovered his health. He has a large practice, however, attends very carefully to his business, and as a lawyer has no superior in the county. Mr. Powers is an Odd-Fellow, and has passed all the chairs in subordinate lodges. He is a republican, and one of the leaders of the party in the county. He is a Congregationalist, and one of the constituent members of the New Hampton Church. He has been superintendent of the Sunday school for several years. On the 31st of May, 1859, he married Miss Enginia F. Stebbins, of Long Meadow, Massachusetts. Mr. Powers was a stockholder and director of the Bank of New Hampton and was a leading man in getting the McGregor and Sioux City railroad to this town. He was attorney for the road in Chickasaw county for some time, and is an influential and very useful man.

Born in Rochester, Windsor county, Vermont, on the 22d of May, 1830. His father, Alanson Powers, was a mason by trade. His mother was Sarepta Martin, whose family aided in gaining American independence. When Julius was about six years old the family moved to Portage county, Ohio, where the son attended a district school until thirteen and then commenced learning his father's trade. He followed it until nineteen, working during the summers and attending school in the winters, finishing his education at the Kingsville Academy, Ashtabula county. At the age of twenty he commenced teaching in Berlin (Erie county) Academy, studying law at the same time with Judge Taylor, of Milan, Huron county. During this period he taught during part of the time to defray expenses, as he had to depend entirely on his own resources for funds. Mr. Powers spent a year in Texas, working at his trade, laying the brick of the court-house and jail of Bastrop county. Returning to Ohio, he attended the law school at Cincinnati, where he was admitted to the bar on the 7th of April, 1855. During that year he visited Allamakee county, Iowa, and, after prospecting a short time, received intelligence of his father's death and returned to Ohio. In May, 1857, he again visited Iowa; opened an office at Forest City, Chickasaw county, and removed to New Hampton in 1858, on the day that the county seat was moved hither from Bradford. Mr. Powers was appointed deputy clerk that year, practicing law at the same time and still continuing the practice. He was of the firm of Powers and Kenyon, the leading law firm in the county. He was chosen state senator in the autumn of 1859, and was in the regular session of 1860 and the war session of 1861, resigning his office to go into the military service. He enlisted as a private in the 7th Iowa Infantry, but was soon afterward appointed captain of company I, of the 9th, and served until April, 1862, when he was compelled by disability to be mustered out. He has never fully recovered his health. He has a large practice, however, attends very carefully to his business, and as a lawyer has no superior in the county. Mr. Powers is an Odd-Fellow, and has passed all the chairs in subordinate lodges. He is a republican, and one of the leaders of the party in the county. He is a Congregationalist, and one of the constituent members of the New Hampton Church. He has been superintendent of the Sunday school for several years. On the 31st of May, 1859, he married Miss Enginia F. Stebbins, of Long Meadow, Massachusetts. Mr. Powers was a stockholder and director of the Bank of New Hampton and was a leading man in getting the McGregor and Sioux City railroad to this town. He was attorney for the road in Chickasaw county for some time, and is an influential and very useful man.