Date of birth: 1869
Date of death: 1947

---

Burial Information

Section 10 (Click Here for Section Map)
Cemetery: Odd Fellows Cemetery
Plot: 0173-08
Status: Occupied

---

Notes

Son of John Paul Povall, Captain, Fifth Mississippi Cavalry, who is buried in Booneville, MS. Captain John Paul Povall fought with the Confederacy from 1861 to the end of the war in 1865, much of it with Nathan Bedford Forrest. John Paul Povall was a graduate of William and Mary (1842) and a lawyer. He followed his friend Seldon Wright to Lexington and eventually married Seldon's sister, Emily Wright., who is buried at Odd Fellows. Seldon took his family and moved to San Francisco in about 1852. Seldon owned the lots from the corner of Tchula and Pine Streets up through the old Watson house where Holt Smith now lives. Roland Austin was born four years after the war ended and grew up in its shadow. Roland's father, John Paul Povall, after the death of his wife Emily, moved to Booneville, MS where he bought the local newspaper, "The Booneville Pleader." His son, Roland Austin Povall, who was born in Lexington moved with his father to Booneville, but returned to Lexington in the 1880's as a member of a semi-pro baseball team that was touring the state. He had fond memories of the town, which were confirmed by that visit, and he moved to Lexington when he was about twenty around 1887. He married Gretchen Oltenburg, joined her father Cass at "The Lexington Advertiser," and ultimately bought it from Cass sometime prior to 1908. Roland owned the Advertiser until 1946. The man who bought The Advertiser from Roland sold it after two years to Hazel Brannon Smith, who won a Pulitzer Price in 1964 as Editor of The Advertiser.

- Contributed by Al Povall, 29 May 2020

Family Relations of Roland Austin Povall

Parents:

John P. Povall

Emily M. Povall

Siblings:

Ann G. Povall Walton

William Stuart Povall

Rosa May Povall Ellis

Alice Lou Povall

Roland Austin Povall

Spouse:

Gretchen Oltenburg Povall

Children:

Cass Oltenburg Povall

Sidney Povall Rhyne

Albert Sessions Povall

Emily Wright Povall Lucas

George Oltenburg Povall

Allie Stuart Povall

More information, family relationships, and images may be found by CLICKING HERE (external link)

---

Walking directions