1. Leven Powell was a Virginia planter, merchant, Continental Army officer and Federalist politician who served several terms in the Virginia House of Delegates as well as in the Virginia Ratification Convention representing Loudoun County, and one term as a United States representative for Virginia's 17th congressional district.
Leven Powell was born near Haymarket in Prince William County in the Colony of Virginia.
Leven Powell's ship worked in the coastal trade and he moved from Somerset County, Maryland to Dumfries circa 1734, then invested in land in Prince William and Loudoun counties before becoming a commissary furnishing beef to the patriot forces in the American Revolutionary War.
Powell married Sarah Harrison, the daughter of local planter Burr Harrison, who like Leven Powell would serve in the American Revolutionary War.
Leven Powell began his public career deputy sheriff of Prince William County under his uncle Col.
Leven Powell purchased 500 acres in newly formed Loudoun County and moved there in 1763, shortly after marrying his wife, Sally, whose planter father Burr Harrison owned a large estate further upstream along the Potomac River.
Leven Powell built a home he called "the Shades", as well as the first flour mill in the area.
Leven Powell owned 22 slaves, 18 horses, 24 cattle and a 2-wheeled carriage in 1787.
Leven Powell owned 13 slaves in 1810, the year Powell died visiting a health spring in Pennsylvania.
Leven Powell operated a store, and at some point purchased a mill on Hungry Run, which he named "Sally Mill" after his wife.
Leven Powell fought at the Battle of Long Island, Battle of Brandywine and the Battle of Monmouth.
However, health complications due to the harsh winter encampment at Valley Forge led Leven Powell to resign in 1778, although the Virginia General Assembly would later vote him a full share of land for his service.
Three of his brothers served with the Continental Army: Dr John Thomas Leven Powell served as a surgeon, then returned to Dumfries.
Leven Powell first won election to the Virginia House of Delegates in 1779, representing Loudoun County alongside his cousin, veteran Francis Peyton.
Leven Powell won election as one of Loudoun County's delegates to the Virginia ratification convention in 1788, this time alongside Stevens Thomson Mason, who unlike Leven Powell but like his uncle George Mason voted against ratification.
However, Leven Powell did not again win election to the House of Delegates until 1791, when he served alongside Albert Russell, who had represented the county alongside bridgebuilder William Gunnell during the previous two sessions, then Leven Powell won re-election and served alongside Joseph Lane.
Leven Powell had purchased 50 acres from Joseph Chinn.
Leven Powell collected ground rent but declined to have the town named after him, so it became "Middleburgh".
In 1801 the Fairfax and Loudoun Turnpike Company of which Leven Powell was a director was superseded by the Little River Turnpike Company.
Meanwhile, in 1790, Leven Powell was one of the founding trustees of Matildaville, which was promoted by Lighthorse Harry Lee.
Leven Powell died visiting health springs in Bedford, Pennsylvania in 1810, and was buried there in the Old Presbyterian Graveyard.