Individual Summary:
 
Sex: Male
Father: Dr. Robert Henry Power
Mother: Emily Browne Alsop
Individual Facts:  
 
Birth:  23 Jan 1851 in Virginia
Occupation:  1874-75 Adjunct Professor of Ancient Languages at Bethany College, VA
1875-1910 Pastor of Vermont Ave Christian Church, Washington DC
1881-1883 Chaplain to the 47th Congress
1898-? President of the American Christian Missionary Society
1902-1906 Assitant Editor of the Christian Evangelist

Written works:
Sketches of our Pioneers
Bible Doctrine for Young People
The Story of a Twenty-Three Years Pastorate
Life of President W. K. Pendleton of Bethany College
The Spirit of our Movement
History and Doctrine fo the Disciples of Christ
Thoughts of Thirty Years
Death:  14 Jun 1911 in Washington DC
Shared Facts:  Emily Browne Alsop
Marriage:  ?
Children:  Abigail Minerva POWER

 

 
  Research Notes:Back to top 
Abigail may have been adopted by Frederick and Emily Power. I haven't found evidence of the adoption yet.
1870 Census: Grafton Township, York, Virginia
Post Office: Williamsburg | Taken on: 2 Sep 1870
239Power, Robt H46MWPhysician5,0001,000b: VAcitizen
  Power, Abbie M 45 F W Keeping House     b: NY  
  Power, Robt E 21 M W Farmer     b: VA citizen
  Power, Frederick D 19 M W Minister     b: VA  
  Power, Edith M 17 F W At home     b: VA  
  Power, Anna B 16 F W At home     b: VA  
  Power, Frank G 14 M W At home     b:VA  
  Power, Lucy 12 F W At home     b: VA  
  Power, Laura B 10 F W At home     b: VA  
  Power, Fanny 8 F W At home     b: VA  
  Power, Mary E 6 F W At home     b: VA  
  Wynne, Laura B 35 F W At home     b: VA  
  McKennie, Mary H 17 F W At home     b: VA  
  Piggott, N D 25 M W Apt. M S Marhsall 2000 300 b: VA citizen

1880 Census: Washington DC
F.D. Powerb: 185129yVAHeadfather born: VAmother born: NYWMmarriedminister
E.B. Power b: 1852 28y VA Wife father born: VA mother born: VA W F married keeping house
Abby Power b: 1878 2y MD daughter father born: VA mother born: VA W F single  
J.Y. York b: 1838 42y MD other father born: MD mother born: MD W F widowed servant
Lizzie Boston b: 1854 26y VA other father born: VA mother born: VA M F single servant

1900 Census: District of Columbia
1307 77 93 Power, Frederic D Head W M Jan 1851 49 M 26 VA VA NY Minister
      Power, Emily wife W F Oct 1851 48 M 26 VA VA VA  

1910 Census: District of Columbia
Precint 10, Washington DC
154 Frederick D Power 59y b: VA Head Married W M Father: VA Mother: VA
  Emily B Power 58y b: VA Wife Married W F Father: VA Mother: VA
  Elizabeth Boston 58y b: VA   Widowed M F Father: VA Mother: VA

Newspaper Articles
Excerpt from Who's Who in America:

POWER, Frederick Dunglison, clergymand; b. Yorktown, Va., Jan. 23, 1851; s. Dr. Robert and Abigail M (Jencks) P.; grad. Bethany Coll., W. Va., 1871, A.M., LL. D.; m. Mar. 17, 1874, Emily B. Alsop, Fredericksburg, Va. Ordained to ministry Disciples of Christ; was past to Pres. Garfield; pastor Garfield Memorial Ch. since 1875; chaplain 47th Congress, 1881-3. Pres. Gen. Christian Missinoary Soc.; trustee U.S. Christian Missionary Soc.; trustee U.S. Christian Endeavor; mem. Nat. com, to Promote Univ. of U.S. Residence:1307 Wallach Pl., washington.

Excerpt from Churches of Christ: a historical, biographical, and pictorial history of Churches of Christ by John T. Brown, M.A.

There is an interesting bit in this article about several battles of the Civil War being fought near his home in Virginia when he was 10. It gives biographical information about his life.

[click picture for larger graphic]


 


 

 
 
 Interesting Stories: Back to top 

Excerpt from a book: Men of Mark in America. Vol 2

POWER, FREDERICK DUNGLISON, D.D., pastor, preacher and chaplain by acclaim of the forty-seventh Congress, was born in Yorktown, Virginia, January 23, 1851. His father, Doctor Robert Henry Power, was a physician of high standing, and was a member of the house and of the senate of his state. In his son's estimation he was characterized by "firmness, sympathy, breadth, conscientiousness and devotion to God and church, country and home." Benjamin Franklin and Lucretia Mott were kinspeople of his mother. Her father, Colonel Jencks, was an officer in the War of 1812. She was a teacher, having been one of the early graduates of Mrs. Willard's famous school at Troy, New York. Her son felt her influence in his moral and spiritual life. A studious and ambitious boy, he was reared on the farm, learning from his laborious life independence, self-reliance and love of nature. He recalls the first battle of the Civil war at Big Bethel, and the encounter of the Merrimac and Monitor in Hampton Roads, and he has vivid recollection of the siege of Yorktown and the battle of Williamsburg, which were near his home.

He entered Bethany college, West Virginia, when seventeen and was graduated at twenty, in 1871, his diploma bearing the name of James A. Garfield, a trustee of the institution. He later received from his alma mater the honorary degree of LL.D. He was ordained to the ministry in 1871, and took charge of three country churches in East Virginia.

Doctor Power was married March 17, 1874, to Miss Emily Brown Alsop, of Fredericksburg, Virginia. The same year he accepted the professorship of ancient languages in Bethany college. In September, 1875, he became pastor of the Christian church on Vermont, avenue, Washington, District of Columbia, of which he is still pastor in 1906. At that time this church enrolled but one hundred and fifty members. General Garfield was then in congress and a member of the church, as was also Judge Jeremiah S. Black, ex-attorney-general of the United States, and secretary of state, 1860-61. When Garfield was elected to the presidency, the present church building was projected as a memorial. It was completed at a cost of sixty-seven thousand dollars. During Doctor Power's pastorate this church and the six colonies it has sent out have numbered over two thousand members.

Doctor Power has published "The Life of W. K. Pendelton, President of Bethany College" (1903); "Bible Doctrine for Young People" (1899); "A Sketch of the Pioneers of the Christian Church" (1898). He was president of the General Home Missionary society, and of the General Educational society of the Disciples of Christ, the denomination of his choice and of his lifelong service. "The classics, Greek, Latin and English, the Bible, with but little theology," are his best loved reading. He enjoys walking, travel and light reading. His own decision led him into the ministry, in which he has been signally useful. He says, " failures have come, and have only stimulated to more persistent effort. They have always been my greatest helps. Christian principles, up-to-date methods, industrious and temperate habits will bring the consummation "-true success in life.

In the dual relation of friend and pastor Doctor Power preached in the Capitol at Washington at the funeral of the martyred President Garfield, in 1881. He is generally beloved in Washington where he has given his best energy to the promotion of the moral and religious elevation of the community. He is an earnest advocate of temperance and of all moral reforms.

Excerpt from The American Home Missionary, Volume 17. Page 185 (This is a compilation of the Disicple's of Christ's Magazine. The original story ran in the July, 1911 edition (volume 17) of The American Home Missionary.)

            

 

 
  Pictures: Back to top 
 
For Larger graphics, click on the pictures below
 
  [click on photo for larger picture]

From left to right:Jared E Sparks, Abigail M Power, Emily Brown (Alsop) Power, Frederick Power
 
 

Shanty

Pictured in the stained glass is the "shanty" where Garfield worshiped. Many citizens of Washington teased the little congregation by saying it was unbecoming for a president of the United States to worship in this "Campbellite shanty." Looking around at the magnificent space where this window is located, we understand why Hilda Koontz, author of our first history, entitled her book, From Shanty to Cathedral. The James Abram Garfield presidential window was dedicated in April 1981.
 
 
Window given in honor of Frederick D Power by his congregation. It is in the National City Christian Church:

Power Window

Dr. Frederick Power, Garfield's pastor, was a beloved minister of Vermont Avenue Christian Church for thirty-five years. The congregation became National City Christian Church in 1930. Dr. Power's congregation gave this window in appreciation for his faithful service to them as well as his service as chaplain of the U.S. House of Representatives. The theme of the window is Christian Unity. The central medallion is the figure of Jesus as the Good Shepherd. Above him is the Hand of God and the Dove, symbols of the Holy Spirit. The border is in small panels containing symbols of the twelve disciples.

http://www.nationalcitycc.org/
   


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