George Powell & Maria Mousley

GEORGE POWELL & MARIA MOUSLEY

 In the year 1863 they decided to immigrate to America, but lack of means for transportation forced Grandfather George Powell to leave his wife and family in England. He joined his son-in-law, Edward Payne, Emma's husband, who had come to America the year before, leaving his family with Grandfather Powell. Edward had come to work in the coal mines in Pennsylvania in order to obtain money for passage for their families. 

 They worked together, and in a few months saved what they could, and then borrowed the remainder for passage for their wives and families and also the family of James and Ann Price, who had been caring for the families in England. Grandmother Powell worked day and night at her profession as a seamstress to support the family and save what money she could to help with the fare to America. 

They set sail in a sailing vessel the first day of June, 1864. They were six weeks on the ocean, landing in New York City in July. From there they traveled to a pioneer campground in Omaha, Nebraska, where they stayed for some time, making preparations for the journey to Utah. 

President Brigham Young had counseled them to make haste because of the Civil War threat. Grandfather Powell and daughter Emma Powell Payne met the family, leaving Edward Payne in Pennsylvania to work to pay off the indebtedness. While at the camp, Grandmother Powell supervised the making of tents and wagon covers. Due to a sprained ankle, Grandmother Powell was lame, so she rode most of the way across the plains. As she was unable to walk, she would care for the children. She would wash their faces and comb their hair while others fixed camp, built fires, and did other camp chores. 

Grandfather walked all the way across the plains. After a hard and toilsome journey, they arrived in Heber City, Utah, October 20, 1864. 

-excerpt from familysearch.org. "History of George and Maria Mousley Lunn Powell." Contributed by: Lisa Ratzlaff