[1] Powell was born in Windham Township, Norfolk County, Upper Canada.
[1] Powell prepared the village plan for Port Dover,[2] where he opened a store and built a new home.
He also served as warden for the Talbot District and as a member of the municipal council for Norfolk County.
His son Walker Powell also served in the legislature for the Province of Canada.
[7] Another son, also named Israel Wood Powell, served in the colonial Legislative Assembly of Vancouver Island and later as British Columbia's Superintendent of Indian Affairs, and is the namesake of the city of Powell River.