Attorney James J. Powell Sr., a lifelong resident of the Minooka section of Scranton, established the Powell law practice in 1906, and was a member of the Lackawanna County bar for nearly 40 years. He was widely regarded as one of the region’s outstanding lawyers.

At the tender age of 13, he was orphaned when both his parents were killed in a train wreck known as the Mud Run Disaster of 1888. He went to work in a coal breaker to help support his family. Educated in the public schools, he graduated from East Stroudsburg State Teachers College and taught school in Moosic for nine years, seven of which he served as supervising principal.

While teaching school, he studied law at night in the office of the late Attorney John T. Quinnan of Scranton. He achieved his ambition of becoming a lawyer when he was admitted to the bar on May 5, 1905, and began the practice of law, with offices in the Mears Building, in December 1906.

Active in Democratic politics for many years, Attorney Powell served as First Assistant District Attorney under District Attorney M.J. Eagen, who later became a Lackawanna County Common Pleas judge. In that capacity, he handled many of the major criminal cases that came before the office for disposition. He also served for several years as regional counsel for the Reconstruction Finance Corp.

Serving as counsel for the Streetcar Men’s Union since its inception, Attorney Powell gained wide prominence in the labor and industrial field in the Scranton area. He assisted the union in framing its working agreements with the Scranton Transit Co. and also acted as union adviser in wage negotiations and arbitration matters.

Although he was one of the busiest lawyers in the county, Attorney Powell devoted much of his time to civic and welfare activities. He served for many years as Lackawanna Township solicitor and also as school board solicitor in the township. He was a forceful speaker and served as a campaign orator for the Democratic County Committee for many years. He also served as chairman of the Pennsylvania Board of Law Examiners. He had been a member of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick of Lackawanna County for many years and was toastmaster at one of the organization's annual dinners.

A great lover of his home and community, Attorney Powell was a devout communicant of St. Joseph's Church, Minooka. He was known far and wide and to young and old in Minooka, where practically every family had at one time or another sought him out for advice in legal or personal matters.

Attorney Powell was preceded in death by his wife, the former Mary M. Boland, sister of the late Congressman Patrick J. Boland. Mrs. Powell died on August 10, 1936.