Elder Interview-Marcella Powless
Name/Title
Elder Interview-Marcella PowlessEntry/Object ID
A.2008.001.346Tags
Needs Accession Sheet, Needs Location, Needs PhotoDescription
Powless, Marcella (Sickles) Born 12/08/1919 in Bowler, WI Parents: Abraham and Caroline Cornelia (Peters) Sickles Paternal grandparents: Peter and Elizabeth (Antone) Sickles Maternal grandparent: Peter Peters Her grandparents were from New York. They moved from Oneida to Bowler because they lost their land. Her dad worked in Tigerton in the woods. Her mother stayed at home taking care of the family and the house. They did not have running water or electricity. Her parents spoke the Oneida language. She went to a public school in Tigerton and her brothers and sisters went to a government school in Wittenberg. Her mother went to government school in Carlisle. She does not know where her dad went to school. When they used to live in Oneida, their house was on the way to DePere. Her mother made baskets, lace work and crochet. Her dad prepared the wood for her mother to make the baskets. Her mother made corn soup and corn bread. Her dad has a Model-T car. They went to Episcopal Church and later on, they went to the Lutheran Church. On Christmas Eve, they went with their dad to chop down their Christmas tree. Then they all helped trim the tree. Then the children were sent to bed. Each child got one present. On New Year’s Day, they went Hoyoning. On Easter, they colored eggs. On the 4th of July, they went to the parade after they had a big picnic. She did not go to high school. She got married to Peter Powless; they have 4 children. All her children went to school in Tigerton. When her youngest daughter was 12 years old, she went to work at a Glove Factory for 10 years in Clintonville. Then she went to work in Shawano; she worked there for 10 years. Then she retired. She is a foster grandparent at the Turtle School. She moved from Gresham to Oneida. She lives in Site 1. Her advice to the youth is to get a good education; they need a good education in this day and age.Recording Type
Audio/VisualCollection
Elder InterviewsCataloged By
Gerzetich, Courtney (Cottrell)Category
Digital Media