Born in Istaco, Wisconsin in 1877 Charles Powers resided with his parents Steve and Lulu Powers until his father's death when in 1882 he and his mother came to Oriska, North Dakota where she managed a hotel.
Charles worked on the farms of Ed Holcomb and Charlie Heath before purchasing his lifelong farmstead in Grand Prairie township taking his first crop in 1900.
When Hattie Moorhead came from Arkansaw, Wisconsin to visit her uncle the Reverend Charlie Heath, she met; and on November 11 , 1903 married Charles Powers. Her uncle performed the ceremony. They lived to celebrate their Golden wedding anniversary in 1953. They retired from the farm in the early 40's to reside in Valley City where they both died in 1957. The land Charles purchased following his employment on the farms of Heath and Holcomb is now being farmed by the third generation of Powers. Charles' son Kenneth succeeded his father on the farm and was in turn succeeded by his son Ronald who now operates the original farmstead. In addition to Kenneth, Charles and Hattie had four more children, Leslie, Glenn, Ross and a daughter Ada.
Leslie who with his wife the former Francis Detmers of Worthing, South Dakota farm in Getchel township. They were married in April, 1940 and have one daughter Linda who married Michael Naekel, in Valley City in August 1967. They now reside in Tucson, Arizona. Leslie served in the legislature at Bismarck from 1964 thru 1970. They are now retired and plan to make their future home in Mesa, Arizona.
Glenn who farms in Weimer township married Florence Larsen of Hope, North Dakota December 1941. They have two children Janice who married Kenneth Bauer of Napoleon, North Dakota August 1966 and are presently living in Barnesville, Minnesota. They are the parents of two children, daughters Tara and Tracy at home. A son Thomas who married Susan Dahl of Felton, Minnesota and now resides in Louisville, Colorado.
Kenneth who is now retired from farming lives in Sarasota, Florida. He married Lorene Briggs of Moorhead, Minnesota December 1940. They have three children, Louis who married Ann Marie Martini of Detroit, MI live in Canoga Park, California with twins Christopher and Christine. Ronald who married Clarice Noeske daughter of the George Noeskes of Noltimier township. They were married in January 1962 and have five children. Cindy, Debbie, Kimberly, Karen, and Matthew all at home. June, who married Kenneth Brobeck, Rochester, Pennsylvania July 1970. They make their home in Beaver, Pennsylvania.
Ada who married Russel Brewer of Oriska, North Dakota now live in San Jose, California. His father and grandfather farmed in Weimer township on the farm now occupied by Glenn Powers. They were married July 1940 at the farm home of her parents the Charles Powers. Russel and Ada have two children, Dennis who in August 1968 married Caryllynn Klein of Pacific Palisades, California. They and their two children, a son Brett and a daughter Devon live in Turlock, California. Nancy lives in San Jose, California.
Ross who retired as a Major in the Air Force married Ina Mae Logan in May 1942, now live in Mesa, Arizona. They have two children, a son Robert who lives in Fort Worth, Texas is married to the former Jaunita Hogwood of that city. They have two children at home, Lance and Renae. A daughter Phyllis is married to Henry Bartsche live in Ventura, California with their son Ricky.
Source: Barnes County History 1976 Page 197