When Cortez Scott Powell was born on 24 April 1856, in Harmony, Vernon, Wisconsin, United States, his father, Simon Scott Powell, was 25 and his mother, Elnora Elizabeth Franklin, was 22. He married Sena Kight on 12 January 1879, in Orrock, Sherburne, Minnesota, United States. They were the parents of at least 3 sons and 8 daughters. He lived in Lenore, Nez Perce, Idaho, United States in 1910 and Clarkston Election Precinct 2, Asotin, Washington, United States in 1940. He died on 28 February 1946, in Clarkston, Asotin, Washington, United States, at the age of 89, and was buried in Lenore, Nez Perce, Idaho, United States.