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Portrait and Biographical Record of Northern Michigan
Record Pub. Co., Chicago - 1895

Page 120

                    PERRY F. POWERS.  No men have a
                    greater chance to wield a broad and pers-
                    manent influence over the minds and lives
               of their fellow-citizens, nor a grander opportunity
               to exercise an educative power in the community,
               than the newspaper men of our cities and country
               towns.  The preacher of the press is more sure of
               an audience than the preacher of the pulpit, and
               if his efforts are in the right line, he has an op-
               portunity to do great good and to acquire a gen-
               uine ascendancy over the minds of the people.
               Among the journalists of Northern Michigan who
               are doing excellent work in the line of publishing
               a first-class newspaper, we are pleased to mention
               the owner of the name that appears at the head of
               this paragraph.
                 The News-Express, of which Mr. Powers is the
               editor and proprietor, is a consolidation of two
               papers, the News and Express.  The former was
               founded in June, 1872, and was merged into the
               latter May 19, 1887.  In December, 1887, the
               paper was purchased by the present owner, who
               has since conducted its publication.  It is an eight-
               page quarto, Republican in politics, filled with
               local news and spicy editorials, and has the largest
               circulation of any paper in Wexford County.
                 In Jackson, Jackson County, Ohio, the subject
               of this sketch was born September 5, 1858.  His
               father, Pierce (more familiarly known as Perry)
               Powers, was employed in the manufacture of iron
               in southern Ohio.  During the late war he en-
               listed in the United States service, and partici-
               pated in the Louisville naval service on a United
               States steamer.  The injuries received during such
               service were so severe as to result in his death two
               days after his return home.  He and his wife, 
               Sarah C., were the parents of three sons and one
               daughter, Perry F. being the eldest son.  He at-
               tended the common schools and high school for a
               short time in boyhood, but his information has 
               been gained principally by self-study.
                 After having learned the printer's trade in Jack-
               son, Mr. Powers went to Davenport, Iowa, in 1879,
               and became a compositor in a newspaper office.
               From there he went to Cambridge, Ill., and thence
               to Ypsilanti, Mich., where he was a partner with
               George C. Smithe in the publication of the Ypsilan-
               tian.  While in Cambridge, he was also associated
               with Mr. Smithe, conducting a paper called the
               Chronicle.  In 1887 he came to Cadillac, where he
               has since resided.  He is a prominent man in the
               newspaper fraternity, and has served as President
               of the State Press Association, President of the
               Republican State Press Association, and is now
               President of the State Republican League.  He
               
               
Page 121      Portrait and Biographical Record of Northern Michigan

              also holds the office of President of the State
              Board of Education, to which he was elected in
              1888, and re-elected in 1894.  In January, 1889,
              he was united in marriage with Miss Jessie R.
              Warren, and they are the parents of two sons,
              Warren F. and Perry F.
              
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