From the book History of Walworth County Wisconsin, by Albert Clayton Beckwith, 
publ. 1912 - Page 550
 
DAVID J. POWERS was born in southeastern Vermont, June 3, 1814; had a common 
school education; was apprenticed to a machinist; married and came in 1838 to 
Milwaukee.  Here he met Willard B. JOHNSON, who told him of golden 
possibilities at Whitewater, and he came at once to see, and to buy half of 
section 12 (in his wife Caroline's name).  Dr. TRIPP gave him a hotel site in 
the new village, and he built and occupied the first hotel at Whitewater.  He 
was also postmaster, but he had a wider and larger aim.  In 1842 he bought a 
mill-site at Palmyra and platted that village.  He was member of Assembly in 
1853, and for the next fifteen years tarried at Madison to publish and edit the 
Wisconsin Farmer, and to served as secretary of the State Agricultural 
Society.  He next went to Chicago, and thenceforth became of that city and its 
manufacturing interests a part.  His career was, on the whole, prosperous, and 
Whitewater is yet pleased to remember him as one of its founders.
 
Submitted By:  Carol
(carolann612@charter.net)