374 
The Colorado River 
son, Ohio, and then, in 1846, went on westward to South Grove, 
Walworth County, Wisconsin, where a farm was purchased. 
They were in prosperous circumstances, and the boy was 
active in the management of affairs, early exhibiting his trait 
for doing things well. His ploughing, stack-building, and 
business ability in disposing advantageously of the farm pro¬ 
ducts and in purchasing supplies at the lake ports received the 
commendation of the countryside. 
His early education was such as the country schools pro¬ 
vided. He later studied at Janesville, Wisconsin, earning his 
board by working nights and mornings. His parents ever 
held before him the importance of achieving the highest edu¬ 
cation possible. Thus he continually turned to books, and 
while his oxen were eating or resting, he was absorbed in some 
illuminating volume. In 1851 his family removed to Bonus 
Prairie, Boone County, Illinois, where a larger farm had been 
purchased. About 1853 the Wesleyan College was established 
at Wheaton, Illinois, and the family removed there in order to 
take advantage of the opportunities afforded. The father be¬ 
came one of the trustees and Powell entered the preparatory 
classes. With intervals of teaching and business pursuits, he 
continued here till 1855, when, largely through the influence 
of the late Hon. John Davis, of Kansas, he entered the pre¬ 
paratory department of Illinois College at Jacksonville, Illinois. 
Thus far he had shown no special apitude for the natural 
sciences, though he was always a close observer of natural 
phenomena. His ambition at this period, which was also in 
accord with the dearest wishes of his parents, was to complete 
his college course and enter the ministry. Illinois College not 
possessing a theological atmosphere after a year spent there he 
departed, and in 1857 began a course of study at Oberlin Col¬ 
lege, Ohio. Among his studies there was botany, and in this 
class Powell at last discovered himself and his true vocation— 
the investigation of natural science. He became an enthusi¬ 
astic botanist and searched the woods and swamps around 
Oberlin with the same zeal and thoroughness which always 
characterised his work. He made an almost complete her¬ 
barium of the flora of the county, organising the class into a 
