Hon Ira C Powell
Submitted by:  Lynn Mack
 
Hon. Ira C. POWELL, president of the First National Bank of Monmouth,
is regarded as one of the leading citizens of the community in which
he resides and his progressiveness has been a potent element in its
continued development and upbuilding.  He is a representative of one
of the old and honored pioneer families of Oregon, his father,
Franklin S. POWELL, having emigrated to this state from Illinois, in
the year 1851.  In Linn county he took up as a donation claim a half
section of land near the present site of Albany, which he operated
until about 1872, then leased his property, removed to Polk county and
there became the owner of another half section.  This he cultivated
for many years and then removed to Monmouth, where he lived retired
throughout the remainder of his life.  He was an extensive stock
raiser and was one of the first to introduce pure bred Merino sheep
into Linn county.  While residing in Polk county he engaged in the
raising of pure bred Cotswold sheep and Angora goats and was very
successful in his operations along that line.  He became prominently
known throughout the state and in 1889 was elected to represent his
district in the state legislature.  He also served as chairman of the
board of trustees of Christian College and during his legislative
service was instrumental in having the college taken over by the state
as a normal school.  He passed away at Monmouth, December 4, 1916, at
the advance age of eighty-seven years, but his wife, Louisa (PEELER)
POWELL, survives and is residing in Monmouth, having attained the
venerable age of ninety-one years.  She is one of the honored pioneer
women of the state and her reminiscences of the early days are most
interesting.
 
The son, Ira C. POWELL, was born in Linn county, November 26, 1865,
and there attended the public schools, later pursuing a course of
study in Christian College at Monmouth.  He then engaged in teaching
school and also followed farming for two years.  In 1889 he first
became interested in financial affairs in connection with a private
bank and the following year in association with others he organized
the Polk County Bank, of which he became cashier.  In 1911 it was
converted into the First National Bank and four years later, or in
1915, Mr. POWELL was made president of the institution, in which
capacity he has since served also filling the position of manager.
The other officers are J. B. V. BUTLER, vice president, and F. E.
CHAMBERS, cashier, and all are substantial and progressive business
men of this section of the state.  The bank is capitalized for thirty
thousand dollars, has a surplus and undivided profits of twenty-five
thousand dollars, while its resources have reached the sum of five
hundred thousand dollars.  The present bank building was erected in
1896 and the First National Bank of Monmouth is regarded as one of the
sound and reliable moneyed institutions of this part of the state.
With keen insight into business affairs and with thorough
understanding of every phase of banking, Mr. POWELL has been largely
instrumental in promoting the growth and success of the institution,
and while he is progressive and aggressive, he employs that
conservatism necessary to safeguard depositors as well as
stockholders.  He is also a stockholder and was one of the organizers
of the Central Clay Products Company of Monmouth and is much
interested in horticulture, being the owner of two orchards, in which
he engages in the growing of prunes, cherries and walnuts.  He has won
a substantial measure of success in the conduct of his business
affairs and is a man of resolute spirit whose plans are carefully made
and promptly executed.
 
In December, 1894, Mr. POWELL was united in marriage to Miss Lena
BUTLER, who passed away in 1908, leaving three children: Clares, aged
twenty-four years, who is a graduate of the State University, class of
1921, and also associated with his father in the conduct of the bank;
Herbert, who is eighteen years of age and is a student at the
university of Eugene; and Ira D. Jr., aged twelve, who is attending
the public school.  In 1916 Mr. POWELL was again married, his second
union being with Miss Ethel JACKSON.
 
In his political views Mr. POWELL is a republican and has filled
several public offices of trust and responsibility.  In 1911 he was
called upon to represent his district in the state legislature, where
he was the stalwart champion of many measures for the public good.  He
served for four terms as mayor of Monmouth, giving to the city a most
progressive and businesslike administration, and for ten years has
been a member of the school board, doing all in his power to advance
the standards of education in his part of the state.  His religious
faith is indicated by his membership in the Christian church, in which
he is serving as a trustee, and fraternally he is identified with the
Independent Order of Odd Fellows.  He has so conducted his interests
that he has not only won individual success but has also contributed
in marked measure to the upbuilding, development and prosperity of the
community in which he resides and Monmouth numbers him among her most
valued citizens.
 
History of Oregon, Biographical, Vol. II, The Pioneer Historical
Publishing Company, 1922,  Pages 33-34
 
 
 

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