Hugh J. Powell is the editor and proprietor of the "Daily and Weekly Republican" at Cherryvale, and is one of the popular business men of that city. He was born at Braidwood, Will county, Illinois, March 13, 1877, a son of Morgan and Jane (Parry) Powell, both of whom were born in Wales, near Abergavenny. There they were reared and were married, and in 1869 they came to America, locating at Hannibal, Mo. In 1872 they removed to Republic county, Kansas, where the father homesteaded a farm, improved the same and erected one of the first frame houses in the county. He held the high esteem of all who knew him, and continued a resident of Republic county until 1876. He then removed to Braidwood, Ill., and five years later removed to Iola, Kan., where his widow is now residing. They became the parents of six sons and two daughters, all of whom are living: Margaret, Lewis, Ulysses G., James A., Thomas, Charles A., and Mary M., the last named being the wife of C. H. Smith, of Chicago, and Hugh J. is the fifth son and sixth child in order of birth. He was four years old when he came to Kansas with his parents, and after completing the course of study in the public schools, at the age of nineteen, he began his independent career as a teacher in the schools of Ness county, in western Kansas. He remained there, engaged in teaching four years, and then went to Iola, Allen county, where he engaged in business college work for five years. He removed to Cherryvale in 1905 and purchased the "Republican," to the publication of which he has since devoted his attention. He has added to the plant a type-setting machine and has made many other improvements that have resulted in giving him an up-to-date and modern printing establishment. He is a member of the Associated Press and publishes daily and weekly editions of his paper, giving his readers all the latest news. He has one of the best printing plants in the state for the size of the city. He is the city and county printer and is one of the well known newspaper men of southeastern Kansas. Fraternally, he is a member of the Masonic order, and his religious views are expressed by membership in the Methodist Episcopal church. In his political faith he is a stanch Republican. On June 15, 1910, Mr. Powell was united in marriage to Miss Ora G. Rennick, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. M. F. Rennick.