When Robert and Mary Powers moved to Madison County,
they had settled on the banks of Spring Fork in what later became Monroe
Township. The couple had produced seven children together and had buried four
of them.
2 In the late summer of 1821, however, they were among
the first residents of the area to succumb to a pestilence which soon engulfed
the entire area. “They are both in the bosom of the Lord now,” Dr. Jeremiah
Converse had announced to their neighbor, Jonah Bradley.
3 Jonah was the nearest thing to kinfolk that they had
in the area. His first wife had been Robert’s sister, and the couple’s two
older children still referred to him as Uncle Jonah. At any rate, he had taken
the liberty of contacting the sheriff of Madison County, Ohio as soon as his
former in-laws had passed away.
4 “What are we going to do with the children?” Sheriff
Ware asked. “Joseph’s the only one old enough to understand what has happened,”
Jonah replied. “He’s nine years old?” the sheriff asked. “That’s right.”
5 “James Burnham might be willing to take on Joseph,”
Jonah told him. “And there’s a young couple just up the road in Union County
who might be willing to take the little one,” he added.
6 “Who is that?” Ware demanded. “Andrew and Mercy
Amerine,” came the reply. “They have one little girl, and they can’t have any
more children,” Jonah explained. “Where do they live?” “Up around Mill Creek.”
“I’ll ride up there tomorrow and see if I can find them,” the sheriff finished.
7 The following morning, William Ware headed north and
reached the newly minted community of Marysville, Ohio a few hours later.
There, he was directed to the home of the young couple by one of their
neighbors.
8 After introducing himself, he explained the
situation to Andrew. “Edward is only two years old, and there is no one in
Madison County to raise him,” he said flatly.
9 “Robert and Mary were our friends when we lived in
Belmont County, and it is our Christian duty to take the child in,” Mercy told
her husband. “And it would be nice to have a little brother for Sidy,” she
added. Andrew smiled at Mercy and turned back to face the sheriff.
10 “We will raise the child in the Lord,” he assured
Sheriff Ware. “I can bring him up next week,” Ware replied. “I can ride down
and get him tomorrow,” Andrew volunteered. “That will be fine,” the sheriff
assured him.
11 When Edward was six years old, he asked Mercy about
his parents. “They were good people and great friends, and they loved their
children,” she told him. “And they would have been so proud of you!” The boy
smiled broadly, and Mercy gave him a big hug. “Now go do your chores,” she
commanded and pushed him out the door.
12 Now these are the generations of Robert Powers:
13 Robert married Mary Feagins, and they had sons: Joseph
and Edward.
14 And Joseph Powers was the father of sons: William
and Joseph.
15 And Edward Powers married Polly Dynes and had a
daughter named Providence.
16 Providence Powers married Henry Amziah Westlake,
and they had children together.
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