Powel,Julia

Julia Powell – 1851 - 1904

(some notes about her from Godfrey Rhodes Diary)

Julia DeVeaux Powel Peters was born in 1851, in Pennsylvania, to Robert Hare Powel and Amy Smedley Powel. Her family lived in Philadelphia and spent time in Quebec City and during the summer, in Tadoussac. Julia’s father was a good friend of William Rhodes and Willis Russel and he built the house that later became the Baileys’.

Julia was the same age as Godfrey and William Rhodes and William Russell, and they spent some happy years growing up together. Their family houses in Tadoussac were in a row next to each other. Julia was very popular and outgoing. The boys led an active outdoor life boating and fishing and she would join them, rowing up the Saguenay and sometimes camping overnight at St Etienne. The girls had their own tent. In the evenings when the young gathered at the Powel’s or Russel’s houses for dancing and singing, Julia was featured doing waltzes, gallops and the “jig” with the group. At a Grand Concert and Charade held at the Hotel on July 22, 1870, Julia was one of the performers along with Godfrey Rhodes, Jim Gordon and Pete Meredith. Julia was actively involved with the Tadoussac Chapel and sang in the choir on Sunday’s with Godfrey and Willie.

When her family were in Quebec City she joined in the social life of parties and teas, came for dinner at Cataraqui and played cards in the evenings with the Rhodes, and Russells. One day, according to Godfrey, “she drove the cart like a bird and broke a shaft, jamming it at St. John’s Gate”.

Julia married Samuel Winslow Miller Peters from Virginia in 1874. They had 2 daughters.