William H. Powers

One of the Earliest Permanent Residents of this Neighborhood

One of the builders of the community passed away Tuesday, in the sudden death of William Haymond Powers.  The end came 
almost without warning.  He and members of his family, with others, had been camped on McGee Creek, in Long Valley, 
for over two weeks.  Tuesday morning he did not feel well, complaining of a pain in his chest.  About 7 o'clock that 
evening there came a sudden attack, and he passed away.

Mr. Powers was born August 18, 1846, in Henry County, Indiana, and lived there with his parents until the spring of 
1863.  That year the family crossed the plains, with ox teams and desert schooners, and by fortunate chance missed all 
the trouble with the Indians.  They settled in Carson Valley, Nevada.  William and his older brother Jacob came to 
Bishop in the spring of 1866, as drivers of an ox team belonging to Elisha Mallory, for whom he worked for several 
years.

Mr. Powers, aided by the young lady who later became his wife and by A. A. Cashbaugh and John Clarke, made the first 
flag flown by civilians in this part of the valley.  Red and blue flannel blankets and white flour sacks were used for 
its material.  Flying it from a willow staff, the young men visited all the scattered dwellings in this end of the 
valley, on the Fourth of July, 1867, making their journey in a vehicle drawn by an ox and a mule.  This was probably 
the first recognition of the nations holiday in norther Inyo, except a celebration in Owensville three years before.

Thos. Soper had a squatter's claim to a tract of land, and sold it to Mr. Burdick, who in turn sold it to W. H. Powers.  
The latter was married to Miss Alzina Burdick November 29, 1870, and the young couple made their home on that property 
thenceforward.  There were born their children, all of whom are living.  These include Allen Powers, Mr. Myrtle 
McKellips, of Merced County, Mrs. Melvia Carpenter, of Bakersfield, Mrs. Leota Van Fleet, of Bishop, Ernest Powers of 
Bishop, Mrs. Jessie White, of Lothair, Montana, Mrs. Nora Cox, of Bishop.  The devoted and loved wife and mother passed 
away in May of last year, and her loss shadowed the husband's remaining days.

William Powers was an exemplary citizen, in the days when wide-open conditions ruled as well as when upright living was 
more the established order.  He was a man of integrity and uprightness in every sense.  He lived out man's allotted 
span of life in the respect and esteem of all, and leaving to those who survive him a memory to be revered and 
treasured.

He is survived, in addition to his children, by two sisters, Mrs. E. M. Chamberlain and Mrs. Jacob Franger, and three 
brothers, E. W. Powers, Stanton, R. Powers and Charles Powers.  

The Inyo Register, Bishop, Inyo County, California
Thursday, July 25, 1918 - Front Page
Transcribed by Pat Houser for Inyo County GenWeb, March 2, 2005