Powers, Stephen F., 1814-1882

Born in Maine, Stephen F. Powers (1814-1882) moved to New York, where he established a legal practice in 1835. President Martin Van Buren appointed him U.S. counsel in Basel, Switzerland, in 1839, resigning in 1842. Five years later, President James K. Polk appointed Powers First Lieutenant in the 10th U.S. Infantry and assigned him to the U.S. Military Commission for the Government of Occupied Territory at Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico. In 1849, Powers moved to Brownsville, Texas, and founded a law firm with James B. Wells, focusing on contested Spanish and Mexican land claims. In addition, Powers served as Brownsville’s postmaster (1849-1851) and mayor (1850s); the collector of customs for the District of Brazos Santiago (1853); and chief justice of Cameron County (1858-1861). In 1855, Powers married the widowed Pauline Victoire (Butler) Impey, with whom he had five children. As a Democrat and secessionist, he served as judge of the Twelfth Judicial District of Texas from 1861 to 1867. Powers was also elected to the Texas House of Representatives in 1872 and the Texas Senate in 1880.

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