T. M. POWELL, Caldwell County, senior member of the large dry goods house of Powell & Henry, was born March 17, 1848, in Henderson County, Ky., and is a son of Thomas W. and Elizabeth (Dorsey) Powell, of Virginia and Kentucky, respectively. Thomas W. Powell came with his father from Virginia when quite a small boy, settling in Henderson County, where he still lives at an advanced age. Mrs. Powell is living also. They had born to them twelve children: John A.; Mollie, wife of R. A. Raymond; Samuel H., deceased; W. S.; J. F.; Elizabeth Maggie; T. M., subject; E. R. deceased; Richard, deceased; Allie, deceased; Olivia and Ida. T. M. Powell remained in his native county until attaining his majority, receiving the rudiments of a good education in the select schools of the country, and in 1867 entered the college at Lexington, Ky., which he attended one year, completing the regular English course. After leaving school he engaged as clerk in his brother's (W. S.) store in Petersburgh, where he remained four years and then formed a copartnership with his brother, Edwin R. Powell, in the mercantile business at Corydon, Henderson Co., Ky., which continued for a period of one year. In 1872 be came to Princeton, and in partnership with W. S. Powell opened a large dry goods house, with which he is still connected, his present partner being W. P. Henry, who bought a half interest in 1875. The firm of Powell & Henry is, perhaps, the largest dry goods house in the county, representing a capital of about $35,000, and doing an annual business of from $40,000 to $50,000. Mr. Powell was married December 19, 1877, to Miss Mollie B. Farrow, of Princeton. Three children have been born to them; Otho P., Bessie and S. Banks, all of whom are living. Mr. Powell and his wife are prominent members of the Christian Church, at Princeton.
Source: J. H. Battle, W. H. Perrin, & G. C. Kniffin. Kentucky. A History of the State. Louisville, KY, Chicago, IL: Battey, 1885. Page 712.