This information was found in the vertical files of the genealogy department of the Longview Public Library.

THE AVINGER CITIZEN
Special Historical Edition
June 18, 1954

POWELL FAMILY HISTORY

C.F. Powell was born in Douglassville, Feb 29, 1884. He came to Avinger, by way of Atlanta, 49 years ago, arriving in what was then called the "big woods", four miles east of town, in February of 1905. His stepfather was employed by H.M. Shelton, a Dallas realtor, who was engaged in selling off the old Clark & Boyse real estate holdings. It was this company that opened up the lake side addition development on Pruitt's Lake.

The old J.& N.W. railroad was still in operation at the time. Its main line ran from Jefferson up through Bear Creek and Pruitt's Lake communities to Marietta.

Mr. Powell courted and subsequently married, in 1906, Miss Eula Pendley of the Pruitt's Lake community. He ran the Pendley saw mill until the panic of 1907, during which, according to Mr. Charlie, "times really go rough all over."

C.F. Powell and family moved to Avinger proper in Jan. 1911 to become a rural mail carrier. He held this job for 35 years and three months, going into retirement April 1, 1946. During this time, to put it in his own words, he carried the mail on horseback, in a wagon, a buggy and a hack until the advent of the automobile. Beginning with his first model T Ford, he wore out an average of a car a year over the roughest roads ever traveled by mankind. Much progress and improvement was noted by Mr. Powell, however, as time went on both in the roads and other conditions pertaining to the postal service.

Elected Mayor of Avinger in 1947, he served one term and past of another, resigning of his own accord in favor of the present Mayor K.W. Simmons. Held the office of Justice of Peace for approximately eight years. Served as assessor and collector of both city and school taxes from 1950 to the present and has always been a strong supporter and booster of Avinger. A Steward in the Methodist Church for 25 years and one of the trustees of the church for ten of those years.