About 1853 the Wesleyan College was established at Wheaton, Illinois, and the family removed there in order to take advantage of the opportunities afforded.

The father became one of the trustees and Powell entered the preparatory classes.

With intervals of teaching and business pursuits, he continued here till 1855, when, largely through the influence of the late Hon.

John Davis, of Kansas, he entered the preparatory department of Illinois College at Jacksonville, Illinois.

Thus far he had shown no special aptitude for the natural sciences, though he was always a close observer of natural phenomena.