From the book History of Walworth County Wisconsin, by Albert Clayton Beckwith, 
publ. 1912 - Pages 602 - 604
 
RICHARD POWERS.  It is proper to judge of the success and the status of a man's 
life by the estimation in which he is held by his fellow citizens.  They see 
him at his work, in his family circle, in his church, hear his views on public 
questions, observe the outcome of his code of morals, witness how he conducts 
himself in all the relations of society and civilization and thus become 
competent to judge of his merits and demerits.  After a long course of years of 
such daily observation it would be out of the question for his neighbors not to 
know his worth, because, as has been said, "Actions speak louder than words."  
Throughout Walworth county there is nothing but good words heard concerning 
Richard POWERS, well known banker of Lake Geneva.  He has passed his life here 
and his worth is well known, but it will be of interest to run over the busy 
events of his unusually busy, successful and useful life in these pages, for he 
is one of the native sons whom the county delights to honor, being the scion of 
one of our sterling old pioneer families.
 
Mr. POWERS was born on December 31, 1848, in Lyons, Walworth county, 
Wisconsin.  He is the son of Patrick and Margaret (DERENE) POWERS.  The father 
was born in county Kilkenny, Ireland, and there spent his boyhood, emigrating 
to America when about eighteen years old, in 1828.  He lived in St. Louis many 
years.  He came to this county on January 6, 1845, and located on a farm in 
Lyons township, east of Lake Geneva, on land now owned by HOMAN Brothers.  
There Richard POWERS resided until he was forty-four years old, having worked 
hard to develop a good farm.
 
Mr. POWERS was one of a family of four children, namely: William; Michael, who 
died when young; Richard, of this sketch; and John, who is now living in Dakota.
 
The father of these children farmed the rest of his life east of Lake Geneva, 
becoming one of the substantial men of that community and he established a 
comfortable home there, where he lived until his death, in 1868, his widow 
surviving until 1882.  He was active in public affairs, holding a number of 
township offices in Lyons township, and he was some of the pioneers who helped 
build the first Catholic church at Lake Geneva, and he was liberal in his 
support of the same the rest of his life.
 
Richard POWERS followed general farming and stock raising successfully until he 
was forty-four years of age.  For nearly thirty years he has been interested in 
Dakota lands and for two seasons he engaged in shipping horses there.  He is 
still interested in Dakota farm lands and has been very successful in this line 
of endeavor.  He and his brother own in partnership about twenty-four hundred 
acres there.  They built the first creamery in North Dakota and for a period of 
thirteen years operated the same most successfully, benefiting both themselves 
and the farmers over a wide territory.  They were compelled to furnish the cows 
in order to get it started, but when the farmers there saw the great value of 
the same they went into it heartily.
 
Mr. POWERS is also interested in two banks in this county, also two banks in 
Montana, being president of one of the Montana banks at Bainville.  He was one 
of the organizers of the Farmers National Bank at Lake Geneva, and he is at 
present in charge of the department of loans, discounts and collections of that 
institution.  He has been very successful in whatever he has been engaged, 
being a business man of rare acumen, sound judgment and foresight, by nature an 
organizer and promoter and able to foresee with remarkable accuracy the future 
outcome of a present transaction.  He is one of the substantial and influential 
business men of the county and he has won the good will and esteem of all with 
whom he has come into contact as a result of his industry and integrity.
 
Mr. POWERS was married in 1880 to Bridget CASSIN, a native of Ireland, born and 
reared near Waterford, from which country she came to America in early life and 
located in Walworth county, Wisconsin.  Mr. and Mrs. POWERS are the parents of 
five children, named as follows: Margaret, who married Oliver T. CODY, lives in 
Chicago; May is at home with her parents in Lake Geneva; William is in the bank 
at Bainville, Montana, of which he is cashier; Edward is assistant cashier of 
the bank at Bainville; John is superintendent of the farm in North Dakota.  
These children have received good educations and are well launched in life's 
affairs.
 
Mr. POWERS and family are faithful members of the Catholic church.  Personally, 
the subject is a quiet, unassuming, obliging and genial gentleman, whom it is a 
pleasure to meet.

Submitted By:  Carol
(carolann612@charter.net)