John Thomas Powell, Sr., came to Williamson County, Texas in 1896 and made a crop with his sister's, Jennie Burson (Virginia E. Powell), family. His family moved from Farmersville, Louisiana to Brownwood, Texas. They arrived by train in November 1897. (Mattie Esther Powell Andrews, daughter)

John Thomas moved his family from from Farmersville, Union Parish, LA after he married Nina Shaw. Three of their children were born there: Mamie Irene, Clarence Brooks, and Onnie Lee. His oldest son by Annie Copeland was William Reed Powell. After Annie died, the Copelands kept Reed until John Thomas remarried. Then, however, they kept taking Reed whenever they chose. Finally, John Thomas got tired of it and moved his entire family to Texas. (Gaylon Powell)

My 3rd great grandfather, William J. Powell, moved to Union Parish in the
early 1870's from Western Georgia. He left Union Parish shortly after his
late-in-life marriage to Mrs. Elizabeth Edwards in 1879. They settled first
just north of Austin in Williamson County, and then went farther west. My
2nd great grandfather, John Thomas Powell, was about 16 or 17 was left with
an older sister, Jennie Powell Burson, in Lincoln Parish. John Thomas Powell
first married Ida May Fuller in Lincoln Parish. After her death, he married
Annie E Coplen in 1887 in Union Parish. Annie died in 1890, and JT married
Nina Shaw later that year. JT left Union Parish alone in 1896 to Williamson
County, Texas, where the Bursons were living by then, and helped the Bursons
raise a crop. A year later, John Thomas moved his family to Brown County, Texas.
(from Gaylon Powell email of Mar 9, 2004 to LAUnion-L mailing list.)

1870 US Census Heard CO, Franklin PO, GA (July 4, 1870) Militia Dist 788
Wm. J, age 40, Farmer, 700, bn GA
Mary E, Wife, 39, bn GA
Leroy N., age 19, bn. GA
Virginia E., age 16, bn. GA
Elvarina P., age 14, bn. GA
William E., age 12 bn. AL
Texanna, age 10, bn. AL
John T, age 7, bn. GA
Joseph E., age 3, bn. GA


1900 US Census, Brown Co, Texas
Jno T. Powell, age 36, bn GA, f bn AL; m bn GA
Nina, age 29, md 10 years; child 6/5; bn LA; father bn MS; m bn GA
Wm. Reed, son, age 10, bn LA,
Mamie I., age 8, bn LA
Clarence B., age 6, bn LA
Annie L., daughter Onnie L. son, age4, bn LA
Floyd, age 1, bn Texas

1910 US Census, Brown CO, TX
John T. Powell, Age 47, M2 21 yr.; bn Ga, AL;AL;
Nina, age 37, M1 21 yr.; 7/7
Clarence B, age 16, bn LA
Onnie L., age 14, bn LA
Floyd J., age 10, Bn TX
Esther, age 7, TX
Fred R., age 6, TX
John B., age 2, TX

1920 US Census, Justice Pct 3, Brown CO, TX
John T. Powell, age 57, bn GA
Nina, age 48
Floyd, age 20
Esther, age 16
Fred, age 14
Burl, age 11
J. T. , age 4

1930 US Census, Justice Prect. 7, Comanche CO, TX
John T. Powell, age 66, age 1st mg. 25
Nina, age 57, age 1st mg. 19
John B., age 21
Jay T., age 14