From History of Rochester and Monroe County New York From the Earliest Historic Times to the Beginning of 1907
by William F. Peck (1908)
pages 512 & 515
transcribed by Linda H. Gutiérrez

As some one has expressed it, "to know Rochester is to know POWERS." In other words, the name of POWERS is inseparably interwoven with the history of the city, its commercial enterprise and business development, and Daniel W. POWERS was the first builder of the modern business structure which is now a typical feature in every progressive city. The spirit of advancement which he thus manifested characterized him in all of his business undertakings and made him one of the most prosperous as well as best known citizens of Monroe County. Born in Batavia, Genesee County, New York, on the 14th of June, 1818, he was a son of Asahel and Elizabeth (POWELL) POWERS, who were natives of Vermont. On leaving New England they removed to western New York, establishing their home in this section of the Empire state when it was largely an unimproved district, giving little evidence of its present development and upbuilding. The father died about 1821 and the mother survived until the period of the Civil war.

Following his father's death Daniel W. POWERS made his home with an uncle and his early experiences were those of farm life. He worked in the fields from the time of early spring planting until after crops were harvested in the late autumn but the pursuits of a mercantile career seemed more attractive and at the age of nineteen he became a salesman in the hardware store of Ebenezer WATTS of Rochester. For twelve years thereafter he was connected with the hardware trade, during which time the careful husbanding of his resources, together with the increase in his salary as his years and efficiency advanced, brought him capital that enabled him to engage in business on his own account as a banker and broker on the 1st of March, 1850. He made the announcement to the public through the columns of the paper that he would conduct an "Exchange business in the Eagle block, Rochester, one door west of the MONROE BANK in Buffalo street." The new enterprise prospered from the beginning. He gave close and earnest attention to his business and the public soon recognized that he was thoroughly trustworthy, reliable and competent, so that his patronage therefore increased and in years brought him a handsome fortune. His success in the undertaking is evidenced by the fact that on the site of his original office now stands the beautiful and substantial POWERS fire proof building, the first as well as the finest and most celebrated of the great modern commercial structures erected in the city. He continued to engage in the banking business until his death and was recognized as one of the foremost financiers of western New York, not unknown throughout the entire state and in other sections of the country. In addition to the POWERS BLOCK he erected the POWERS HOTEL, scarcely equaled in the state outside of New York city. Mr. POWERS was one of the best balanced because one of the most masterful of men. He rated his own powers and opportunities at their just worth and recognized the possibilities of every business situation. He never allowed anything to divert his attention from his business or to detract from the devotion which he gave to his clients' interests.

It was not alone through his private business affairs, however, that Mr. POWERS became reckoned as one of the most distinguished and prominent citizens of Rochester. His labors were of the utmost benefit to the city along various lines of progress. He was one of the founders of the present park system and was a member of the commission which directed the construction of the city hall and the elevation of the CENTRAL HUDSON RAILROAD tracks. Twice he served as alderman and his official prerogatives were exercised in support of valuable measures. The ROCHESTER CITY HOSPITAL found in him a stalwart friend and champion and for many years he was president of its board of trustees. He was likewise president of the board of trustees of the HOME OF THE FRIENDLESS and a member of the board of trustees of the INDUSTRAIL SCHOOL. He was charitable and benevolent, giving freely of his means to ameliorate hard conditions of life for others and in all of his benefactions was entirely free from ostentation or display. He recognized individual responsibility and his charitable work was conducted as was his business - from a sense of duty, of privilege and of pleasure.
Mr. POWERS was married twice. His first wife, who in her maidenhood was Miss Lucinda YOUNG, died in early womanhood, leaving a son, Edward, who passed away in youth. In 1856 Mr. POWERS wedded Miss Helen M. CRAIG, a daughter of the late John CRAIG, of Niagara County, who was one of the early retired citizens of Rochester. He removed from Niagara County to that city and became the owner of extensive real-estate interests here. His birth occurred in New Hampshire, his father being Colonel Joseph CRAIG, who won his distinction as an officer in the Revolutionary war. John CRAIG was united in marriage to Miss Rhoda FASSETT and died at the age of seventy-seven years, while his wife's death occurred when she was seventy-one years of age. Mr. and Mrs. POWERS became the parents of five children: Helen, the wife of J. W. AITKEN, of New York city; William C., a resident of New York city; Jessie, the wife of G.N. PERKINS; and John Craig and Walter W., who make their home in Rochester.

Mr. POWERS attained the Knight Templar degree in Masonry and was attendant on the services of the Brick church, to which he gave liberal support. His was an especially well rounded character. While he achieved success in business that would alone entitle him to distinction, his interests beyond this were most varied and extensive. He was a patron of art and the founder of the famous POWERS ART GALLERY, valued at more than a million dollars. His knowledge of artists and their work was very extensive and his judgment discriminating. The beautiful in form and color had great attraction for him and he possessed that breadth of mind which induces interest in all that is refining and elevating. At all times he kept in touch with the progress of the land, being a man of broad general information. He traveled extensively, going abroad several times and visiting many points of historic modern and scenic interest in the old world as well as in his native land. He was imbued at all times with the spirit of advancement and progress may well be termed the keynote of his character. In the counting house or the office he was regarded as a most level-headed business man but when the call for aid was made he was found to be most sympathetic and charitable. If one met him in the galleries at home or abroad he might well have been judged a connoisseur of art and in social circles he was found to be a most genial and companionable gentleman. A resident of Rochester from early manhood, he was honored and respected by all and his name stood to the outside world largely as a synonym of Rochester's greatness and upbuilding.

From Historical section, page 113:
The year as a whole was remarkably healthy, there being the fewest deaths for ten years, in spite of the increase in population, and in December the fewest on record for that month. Nevertheless, our necrological list is quite full, as will be seen from this record: ...December 11th, Daniel W. POWERS, one of the millionaires of the city, and perhaps the first to pass that mark; he was born in 1818 and was first employed in the hardware store of Ebenezer WATTS, on West Main street, with wages of eight dollars a month; in 1850 he opened, in the EAGEL HOTEL block, a brokerage and exchange office, which soon grew to be a bank, though it was not incorporated as such till 1890; on the outbreak of the Civil war his confidence in the stability of the government led him to invest all his available funds in United States bonds as fast as each issue was put forth; he held several public offices and for many years was president of the board of directors of the CITY HOSPITAL; the block that will always stand as his monument was built at the close of the war, the hotel, just west of it, being erected in 1882, as a part of the original design; in the block he had collected one of the largest and finest art galleries in the country; it was broken up and sold after his death, one of the greatest losses that the city ever sustained.