Augustus Powell

I am at a total loss for Augustus Powell.  I really hope someone pops up with more information on him than what I have.

The first time I have been able to find Augustus Powell is on the Indiana State Library Genealogy Database (thank you Mary Taylor for pointing me in that direction!).  On June 15, 1845 Augustus married Alice Bean (1824-?) in Union County, Indiana.  His name was recorded as, or misread as, Augustus Powers and Alice’s name was spelled “Allice”.  As Mary Taylor pointed out, the handwriting may have been difficult to read on the marriage record.

The US census records didn’t start recording all family members separately until 1850 (though a few states that had their own census reports did).  It is on the 1850 census that I find Augustus alive (for certain).  He is listed as living in Aurora, Dearborn County, Indiana.  His wife is Alice and he has two children, Hepseba (Hepsy)-daughter, age 2 years, and “Alameen” (Alanson)-son, age 1 month.  We learn from this census record that Augustus was born in Pennsylvania.  He was also a carpenter.  The age given for him is 24 years, putting his birth about 1826.  One of his neighbors, interestingly enough, is a John B Powell, age 40 years, married to Caroline (maiden surname unknown).  John was also from Pennsylvania.  He was also a carpenter and something else, but I can’t quite make it out (possibly a jailer?  I don’t know!).  Living in his household was Elijah Brewington or Bronington, age 31 years, Hester Ann Brewington or Bronington, age 8 years, and Louisa Ann Powell, age 8 years.  Elijah was a teamster.

I am sure that Augustus and John are related, but I cannot figure out how.

I can find no other record of Augustus alive.  He is not on the 1860 census.  HOWEVER, between 1850 and 1860 two more children were born:  Sarah A Powell (1852-?) and John Powell (1853-1923).  John’s death certificate lists his parents as August Powell and Alice Bean (though the handwriting looks like “Breens”).

Augustus is also not on the 1870 census, but by then Alice has had another child, Frederick (1862-1939).  Alice is widowed at this point.  Frederick’s death certificate says that his mother is Alice Bean, but it says his father is William Powell.

Is this a clue?  Maybe his real name is William Augustus.  Or maybe Augustus did pass and Alice married a William Powell in late 1860 or 1861 that passed before 1870.  Or maybe she had her last child out of wedlock.  I just don’t know.  I have looked up every imaginable mix of names I could think of.  I cannot find this guy anywhere!  I have found several men named William Augustus Powell, but the dates and locations don’t match up with mine.  I have not yet located the death records of Hepsy, Alanson and Sarah to see how their father’s name is listed.

Augustus Powell is my 4th great-grandfather through his daughter Hepsy.

I would really like to be able to trace this family back further.  If anyone has any information,PLEASE let me know!