POWELL, ELIZABETH (?–?). Elizabeth Powell, a widow with five
children, four of whom came with her to Texas, was reportedly
born in Pennsylvania. She entered Texas in 1828 as a colonist of
Stephen F. Austin and in 1831 received a league of land from the
Mexican government. This was grant number one in Austin's second
colony and was located on Turkey Creek and the San Bernard River
in what is now Fort Bend County. Her house was situated on the
trail from Brazoria and Columbia to San Felipe near where it
crossed one of the routes to San Antonio. The Mexican general
Vicente Filisola left the only contemporary description of Madam
Powell's place. The house he described was in the style that
early Americans called double pen or dog-run houses. This style,
typical of many homes in early Texas, was two rooms separated by
a hallway open at both ends. The kitchen was separate from the
main house along with several smaller buildings. Madam Powell,
as she was known, had operated a pension or boarding house in
New Orleans