Elder Interview-Matthew Matt Powless
A.2008.001.348 PP
Name/Title
Elder Interview-Matthew "Matt" PowlessEntry/Object ID
A.2008.001.348Tags
Needs Accession Sheet, Needs Location, Needs Photo, MissingDescription
Powless, Matthew "Matt" Born 01/17/1935 in Tigerton, WI Parents: Marcella (Sickles) and Peter Powless Paternal grandparents: Combie and Elizabeth (Smith) Powless Maternal grandparents: Abraham and Caroline (Peters) Sickles His grandfather on his father’s side was a laborer; he worked in the woods around Tigerton and Bowler. Then he worked in a lumber mill. His grandparents spoke the Oneida language. His grandmother Sickles used to make baskets. His father only finished the 3rd grade. She worked in a glove factory in Clintonville. She worked at a garment factory. He remembers the first home in Wittenberg. He started to go to school in Tigerton. He went to that school until the 4th grade. Then they moved to Wisconsin Rapids. He got a job working in a cranberry marsh. They stayed there for about 7 years. When they moved back to Tigerton, he was in the 11th grade. He worked in the marsh for about 3 years. His chore was to split the wood and haul in the wood and water. He finished school at Tigerton High. After school, he got a job at the Neenah Paper Mill. Then he went in the Army in 1957 to 1960. Then he went to work for the Menominee Reservation for about 2 years. Then he went to work in Sheboygan as a boilermaker. Then he moved to Milwaukee and worked at A.O. Smith, Caterpillar and as a welder. Then he worked at New Rights until he retired. He got married to a Tonya; they had 1 child, and then got a divorce. He went back to work in the woods. Then he met his next wife Eleanor LaRock. They had 6 children, 30 grandchildren. Then he went to Iowa to work. Then he worked for the Oneida Tribe. His advice to the youth is to stay away from drugs and alcohol and stay in school, get a good education.Recording Type
Audio/VisualCollection
Elder InterviewsCataloged By
Gerzetich, Courtney (Cottrell)Category
Digital Media, Military