Powell, Infant (b. ABT 1870, d. BEF 1880)

Census: Date: 1870
Place: Sandy Lake, Mercer, Pennsylvania

Census: Date: 1880
Place: Sandy Lake, Mercer, Pennsylvania

Census: Date: 1920
Place: Pittsburgh, Allegheny, Pennsylvania

Census: Date: 1920
Place: Pittsburgh, Allegheny, Pennsylvania

Note: Hon. Allison H DeFrance, judge of the first district of Colorado, was born in Mercer County, Pa., August 5 1835 and is of French Descent, his ancestors being represented among the early settlers of the Keystone state. His great-grandfather, who founded the family in this country, bore a valiant part in the French and English wars in the middle of the eighteenth century. His son, James, inherited his father’s courage, which fact was shown by his honorable participation in the Revolution; by occupation a farmer, he settled in Crawford County and improved a homestead there.

Alison DeFrance, the judge’s father, was born in Pennsylvania and was one of three brothers who served in the war of 1812. About 1824 he settled in the Forest of Mercer County, where he cut down timber, grubbed the land and improved a valuable farm. There he continued to reside until his death at seventy-two years. He married Martha Montgomery, a native of Mercer County, where she died at the age of seventy-nine. In religious belief she was a seceder. Her father, James Montgomery, was of Scotch descent, also a seceder, and, like others of that class, possessed strong convictions and the courage to maintain them in spite of opposition. During the war of 1812 he was colonel of a regiment and later he represented his district in the state legislature.

The family of Allison and Martha DeFrance consisted of five sons and six daughters who attained mature years, of whom the following survived: Mrs. Eliza Sears, of Santa Cruz, Cal.; James Montgomery, an attorney of Kirksville, Mo., now in his seventy-second year; John Boone, who occupies the old homestead in Mercer County; William, of Golden; Allison H.; and Archibald M., who is in Oregon. Our subject was reared on a farm until fifteen years of age. He attended the public schools and a private
school in Meadville. At the age of sixteen he taught school for one winter, and then spent a year in Alleghany College, at Meadville, after which he attended Westminster College at New Wilmington, Pa., where he was a student about two years. He then returned t Meadville and continued a student of Alleghany College until 1857. Meantime he began the study of law at home and after completing his literary education he continued his law course under William M Stevenson.

When the Pike’s Peak excitement commenced Mr. DeFrance started for the west. On his way to Colorado he stopped to visit a brother, James m., in Milan, Mo., and the latter persuaded him to remain and complete his law studies. This he did, staying in Milan from August, 1859, to April 1, 1861, and meantime receiving admission to the bar. With the intention of carrying out his original plan he went to St. Joseph, Mo., expecting to cross the plains by coach; but at the hotel a man called him by name, and turning he found an old friend from Pennsylvania on his way to Colorado, with an ox-team. The friend invited Mr. DeFrance to join him, and the two came along the Platte, reaching Denver June 6, 1861, after a trip of forty days. Our subject went to Delaware Flats, seven miles from Breckenridge, where he practiced his profession under the mining laws. His brother, James M., came to Colorado in 1862, and settled on Ralston Creek, in Jefferson County, and in the winter of 1862-63 they opened a law office in Denver; but in the spring he decided to embark in the dairy business; he hired twenty milk cows from his brother, which he took to Fairplay. He carried on business there during the summer, and while there was nominated for the legislature against Jacob Stansell (Republican), but the Democrats being in the minority, he was defeated, though by only a small number of votes. In the fall of 1863 he located twelve miles north of Colorado City, but in the spring of 1864 he settled on Ralston Creek, Jefferson County, remaining there until he removed to Golden in November, 1868.

In 1867 he was elected prosecuting attorney for the county, without opposition, and held the position for a year, which was the limit of a term at that time. In 1868 he opened an office in Golden, where he has since carried on professional practice. In the fall of 1869 he was elected to represent his county in the territorial legislature and was a member of the session of 1870. In 1871 he was elected a member of the territorial council and served in the council of 1872. Upon the admission of Colorado as a state he was elected on the Democratic ticket to the first state senate, and on the deciding of the length of term by lot he drew the four-year term. He was a member of the session of 1877, at which time the general statutes were adopted. In 1880 he was re-elected, and served until 1884, in the first, second, third and fourth general assemblies. Governor Adams appointed him one of the supreme court commissioners in December, 1887, and he served until April 3, 1889, when his term expired. In the fall of 1888 he was the democratic nominee for judge of the first district, but was defeated with the rest of the ticket. He was again nominated in 1894, as the candidate of the Populists and Democrats, and this time was elected by a large majority. He took the oath of office in January, 1895, to server until 1901, as judge of the district, embracing Jefferson, Gilpin, Clear Creek and Grand Counties. He has been a member of the state Democratic central committee and in many was has promoted the progress of his party. Fraternally he is connected with the Knights of Honor.

In Golden, Judge DeFrance married Lucretia C Howell, who was born in Carroll County, Ill. They are the parents of four children now living: Hugh H., who is studying law; Allison H., Jr., Cora and Vera.

Census: Date: 1880
Place: Precinct 2, Hillsborough, Florida

Census: Date: 1860
Place: Suwannee, Florida

Census: Date: 1860
Place: Suwannee, Florida

Census: Date: 1860
Place: Suwannee, Florida

Census: Date: 1860
Place: Suwannee, Florida

Census: Date: 1860
Place: Suwannee, Florida