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Note: d place of birth for the Hiram William Powers born in Appanoose County to Thomas and Mary Powers. In the Census of 1930 in Mellette County, South Dakota, his first name, Hiram, is not used. Instead, he is listed as William Powers. However, his place of birth and age match that of Hiram William Powers, born in Appanoose County in October 1862. In the obituary for Thomas Powers, it was noted that Frank Powers (whose first name is Robert) and Will Powers (now assumed to be Hiram William) attended the funeral. We do not have records to fill out the picture, but in 1930, William lived in Mellette County, on a farm, in Township 42, somewhere near White River, SD. They had one son, William G. Powers, still at home in 1930 and one daughter, Laura, also still at home. The older children had apparently left by 1930.
It should also be noted, that William G. (the son) was 13 at the time of the 1920 Census, thus making his birth about 1907. Since he was born (according to Census records) in SD, it is apparent that Hiram William Powers was already living in SD at that time. Later on in our
research we found a Thomas Powers, 28, also living in Mellette County -- this is believed to be the son, Thomas Charles Powers. This son was born September 2, 1891 in South Dakota.
Later, found Hiram in the 1900 Census as a resident in Lyman County, SD. In 1900 the members of the household were: Hiram, three daughters; Ada L., Hattie M., and Alice M.; and two sons, Charles T. and Walter H. We know from other sources (his great grandson) that his first wife, Clara Holdredge had died prior to 1900.
Also found land patents for three parcels of land purchased by Hiram W. Powers in Lyman County
-- the same county in which his brother George Nathan Powers purchased land from the federal government. In fact, at least part of the land purchased by Hiram was in the same section as the land purchased by George and the dates (February 1906) for execution of the land patents were the same.
It is still unknown whether Hiram and George went to SD at the same time. They both purchased land in Lyman County -- and later Hiram moved to Mellette County (directly to the south) prior to
1920.
Given the timing of the land patents by Robert F. Powers in Charles Mix County, Hiram and George in Lyman County, Walter Thomas in Cherry County Nebraska and Edward E. in Buffalo County in Wyoming, it seems clear that the five brothers migrated from Iowa westward within just a few years of each other.
Hiram was first married to a Clara E. Holdredge. We have found one birth record, for Walter Howard Powers, for December 23, 1895 in Jones County SD (which would have still been Lyman county at that time; Jones county was organized in 1917) and his parents are identified as Hiram William Powers and Clara E. Holdredge. In the 1920 and 1930 censes, his wife is identifed as Minne E. Five of Hiram's seven children were born before Clara died. Walter remarried a Minnie Elizabeth Moore by whom he had two more children, William G. and Laura Grace.
In a History of Reliance, SD, it is noted that "H.W. Powers commenced the erection of a livery barn on Lot 15, Block 2, Wednesday. The building will be 24x36 and will stable 20 horses. The year was 1905." The source noted that Wm Powers lived about 8 miles east of town and they had started a restaurant in a temporary building they breought with them. September 1905. Later, an L.C. Rush moved the Dirkstown store building onto Lot 12 Black 1, noting that it would at once be fitted up for hotel purposes and rented to W. H. Powers (the initials were often reversed for Hiram William).
Note: In the 1920 Census for Mellette County, SD, there is a Hiram Powers that matches the age an
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