William S. Powell, born at Mt. Vernon, Ohio, on September 22, 1832, to Dr. John and Mary (Scoles) Powell. In 1852, he came to Oregon, landing in Portland on the steamer 'Multnomah' on October 4th. He was a carpenter in the early years and, in 1855, married Helen C. Hill, a step daughter of Stephen Coffin. In 1864, he raised Company D, First Oregon Infantry, of which he was named Captain. After time in Eastern Oregon, he was mustered out in 1866 and returned to Portland, where he purchased an interest in Oregon Iron Works. After disaster struck that business, he went to Dayton and worked in sawmilling for 16 years. He returned to Portland to open a grocery and commission business with J. J. Shipl(e)y. He and Helen had six children, three of whom survived well into adulthood: Mary L. (Shipl(e)y), Charles A., and Frankie (Haseltine). He died January 24, 1918, a number of weeks after falling and breaking his hip.