David J. Powers

Biography

David J. Powers, born in 1814, was among the early builders of the Chicago he cherished, a man whose business acumen expanded the reach of trade across the Midwest. He invested himself in developing infrastructure and supporting the bustling exchanges that gave Chicago its national prominence.

He also nurtured younger entrepreneurs, sharing the lessons of perseverance and integrity that had sustained him through decades of change. When he passed in 1909, the community remembered him as a steady mentor and generous spirit, a fitting rest beside Chicago’s other pioneers at Graceland Cemetery.