John’s parents, Joseph and Mary Powell, emigrated from England to the United States in 1830. John was married in March 1862 to Emma Dean, and had a daughter Mary Dean Powell named after John’s mother. He studied at Illinois College, Wheaton College, and Oberlin College, but never received a diploma. His formal education included Greek and Latin history. Once he left school he was self-educated in the natural sciences.
John fought in the Civil War and lost