The Mitchell Families of Knox County, Ohio

A representative of one of the old and honored families of Knox county, which since pioneer days has been prominently connected with the development and substantial progress of this section of the state, Torrence Mitchell, farmer of Milford township, has worthily sustained the good reputation of the family through his active and useful life and prominence in connection with the agricultural industries of this favored section of the Buckeye state. There is utmost compatibility in here entering a brief review of his career, and aside from being a valuable and perpetual record, the article will be read with interest by the many friends of himself and family.

Mr. Mitchell was born on the farm he now owns in Milford township, this county, on April 22, 1851. He is the son of Almon and Margaret (Hawkins) Mitchell. The paternal grandparents, Sylvanus Mitchell and wife, were natives of Connecticut, where they spent their early lives, emigrating in an early day to Licking county, Ohio, and in 1824 they moved to Knox county when neighbors were few and a wild stretch of woods covered the earth. Here they established their home and spent the balance of their lives. The maternal grandparents, Harrison and Phebe (Lovell) Hawkins, were natives of Rhode Island, locating in Milford township with a colony from that state. Here Mr. Hawkins entered a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, which he cleared, developed and on which he and his wife spent the balance of their lives.

The father of the subject was born in Licking county, Ohio, in 1816 and the mother was born in Knox county in 1818. When eight years old the former came to Knox county and here grew to manhood and married and devoted his life to general farming and stock raising, being very successful and owning four hundred acres of good land at the time of his death. Politically, he was a Republican and was more or less active in party affairs. His family consisted of thirteen children, twelve of whom grew to maturity and were married. Of the number, five sons and two daughters are still living. The mother was a member of the Church of Christ. The death of Almon Mitchell occurred on April 4, 1896, and his widow survived until in March,

Torrence Mitchell grew up on the home farm and assisted with the general routine of work there in his boyhood. He was educated in the public schools and in the Galena Academy. He began life for himself by teaching school, which vocation he followed for a period of ten years with much success, but he finally tired of the school room and took up farming. He remained on his father's farm while and then went to Tennessee, where he remained three years, then, his father urging him to take charge of the home farm, he returned here and has since operated the same in a most gratifying manner, keeping it well tilled and well improved. This place of one hundred and forty-two acres ranks with the best in Milford township. Mr. Mitchell also has a farm of one hundred acres in Tennessee. In connection with general farming he carries on stock raising, handling some good grades; however, he merely overseas the place, leaving the active work of the same to his son since April 1, 1910.

Politically, Mr. Mitchell is a Republican and he has held various township offices. He is a member of the Grange, the only secret order to which he belongs, and he and his wife belong to the Church of Christ, he having been an elder for twenty years.

Mr. Mitchell was married on October 27, 1875, to Clara Stevens, a native of Knox county, and the daughter of John and Emmeline Stevens, old settlers here. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell, namely: L. Grace, who was graduated from the Centerburg high school and Hiram College, has been engaged in social settlement work in Cleveland for the past eight years; Laura L. died when eighteen years of age; Margaret S., also a graduate of Centerburg high school and Hiram College, is also engaged in social settlement work in Cleveland; John S. was graduated from the Mt. Vernon high school, also took the short course in agriculture at the Ohio State University, and is now operating the home farm and has been very successful in carrying out the work inaugurated by his father.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

WILLIAM HAYES MITCHELL.

At this point we are permitted to touch upon the life history of one who, if for no other reason, merits recognition of his lifelong residence in Milford township and a representative of one of the sterling old families of Knox county. But superadded to this circumstances are others which render the appearance of this biography within these pages all the more consistent, for he attained a position of prominence in connection with the business activities of his community, and was honored as one of the upright, genial and reliable citizens, his home life being the center of a cordial hospitality.

William Hayes Mitchell was born in Milford township, this county, January 3, 1854, the son of Almon Mitchell and wife, a well known family of this county, a complete sketch of whom is to be found on another page of this work.

William H. Mitchell was educated in the township schools and reared on the home farm. In 1872 he was married, and then entered the mercantile business with his father-in-law at Lock, continuing the business alone after the death of his partner. He remained in this life of endeavor in all about thirty-seven years. His father-in-law had begun the business in 1854 and the family still conduct the store.

Politically, Mr. Mitchell was a Republican and served as township treasurer for a period of nineteen years, this certainly being evidence of his good standing in his locality, and he made a most faithful and efficient public servant. Both he and Mrs. Mitchell belonged to the Congregational church at Lock. Fraternally, he belongs to the Centerburg lodge of Free and Accepted Masons: lie was a member of the independent Order of Odd Fellows at the same place.

Mr. Mitchell was married in 1872 to Ida Hildreth, who was born in Lock, this county, on September 2, 1856. She is the daughter of Washington and Harriet Hildreth. The father was born in New York and the mother in Delaware county, Ohio, in 1836. The father came to Ohio with his parents when a boy, but he lived with the Delano family for a number of years. He was the son of Minor and Nancy Hildreth, of New York. She died young and his father re-married. Mrs. Mitchell’s mother, who was born in Delaware county, later moved to Brandon, Knox county, thence to Lock, where her death occurred.

Washington Hildreth was a merchant, having begun his career at Brandon in 1853, coming to Lock a year later, and he enjoyed a liberal trade there. In early life he taught school, later he clerked and then went into business for himself, and was successful all along the line. He was a public-spirited citizen and influential in his community, a man of exemplary habits and many warm friends. For about thirty years he served as postmaster at the town of Lock, giving eminent satisfaction to the department and to the people. Mr. Mitchell, the subject of this sketch, followed him as the incumbent of that office. The death of Mr. Hildreth occurred in January, 1902.

Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell, named as follows: Winnifred Estelle, wife of Eugene Cornell; Minnie Belle, wife of C. C. Jackson; Hattie May, who lives at home; Anna Laura, who died in infancy; Arthur Hildreth married Mabel E. Hess, both of whom were graduated from the Mt. Vernon high school in 1905; Laurence Washington, who married Mildred McManus, is managing the store; Almon Maurice is a student in the Mt. Vernon high school. William H. Mitchell died January 30, 1910, after a short illness. He is survived by his wife, three daughters and three sons.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

CHARLES A. MITCHELL.

The old-fashioned notion that hard work, patient industry and farsightedness make for success in the various avenues of life does not seem to be accepted so unreservedly in our day. The spread of pessimism engendered by many phases of our complex life is in a great measure responsible for the lack of faith in the old idea. However, if we observe conditions closely we will find that the intelligent individual, who leads a practical and industrious life, will reach a point of success commensurate with his efforts. The life of Charles A. Mitchell, ex-mayor of Mt. Vernon, will afford us an instance of this.

Mr. Mitchell was born June 1, 1868, in Mt. Vernon, Ohio, being the representative of one of Knox county’s honored old families. He is the son of John A. and Malissa ( Jackson) Mitchell, who were both born, reared, educated, married and spent their entire lives in this community. Sylvester Mitchell, the great-grandfather, came to Ohio from Salem, Massachusetts, in 1808 and first settled near Granville, Licking county, soon afterwards moving to Milford township, Knox county, and the land on which he located still remains in the Mitchell family. The old pioneer had made the long journey from Massachusetts on horseback, bringing all the earthly goods of the family in that manner, in a saddle-bag. Grandfather Albert Mitchell was only three years of age at that time. This country was then a vast forest through which roamed red men and various kinds of wild game. He built a cabin and began clearing the site for the splendid farm which he later developed. He was the possessor of many commendable qualities, stood for good citizenship and right living and he took a leading part in the affairs of his community. John Allen Mitchell, father of the subject, was a stonemason by trade, and he spent all of his active life in Mt. Vernon, with the exception of the years spent in the army during the Civil war, having enlisted in the Union army in April, 1861, in the Fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in response to President Lincoln’s call for seventy-five thousand troops. At the expiration of his term of service he re-enlisted in Companv H. Eighty-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in which he served until the close of the war. For meritorious service he was promoted to the rank of captain of his company. He saw hard service, being continuously in the Army of the Potomac. He participated in both the first and second battles of Bull Run, Chancellorsville and many others. On the first day of the battle of Gettysburg he was taken prisoner and was sent to Libby prison, where he had a long term of confinement, remaining there until the spring of i86q.

not being released until after Lee's surrender. Prior to that battle he had also seen the inside of Confederate prisons in various parts of the South, having been taken prisoner long before the great conflict in Pennsylvania. He had mane thrilling experiences. He is described by his comrades as a valiant soldier, always at his post, and he leaves an enviable war record. After his career in the army he returned to Mt. Vernon and resumed his trade as brickmason. His death occurred on May 6, 1892. He was a man of positive character and strong in his likes and dislikes, and he had many warm friends throughout the county.

Charles A. Mitchell, of this review, has spent practically all his life in Mt. Vernon and he was educated in the public schools here. When eighteen years of age, in April. 1887, he secured employment as brakeman with the Cleveland, Akron & Columbus railroad, and he remained with this company until August, 1899, giving them high grade service, being advanced through the different stages until he became a conductor of freight. He suffered from a severe attack of rheumatism for several years, at times being compelled to use crutches, and one leg being seriously and permanently affected he is still compelled to use one crutch. In May, 1903, he entered the office of the auditor of Knox county as deputy auditor, which position he filled most satisfactorily until October, 1906, when he was appointed auditor to fill an unexpired term.

Mr. Mitchell has always been an active Republican in politics and in the fall of 1908 he was the party’s candidate for county auditor, but, Knox county being Democratic, he was defeated. He has always been prominent and active in the councils of the party and has been a frequent delegate to county, district and state conventions. In November, 1909, he was elected mayor of Mt. Vernon and his term expired January 1, 1912. His administration proved to be most satisfactory to all concerned, irrespective of part alignment, and he is doing much for the permanent good of the vicinity.

Fraternally, Mr. Mitchell is a member of Mt. Vernon Lodge No. 140, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and the Sons of Veterans.

Mr. Mitchell was married on June 30, 1897, to Lucy Clark, daughter of John and Sarah ( Johnson) Clark, of Mt. Vernon. This union has been without issue. The family home is at No. 1 1 [ East Front street, which property has been the Mitchell home for more than fifty years. Mr. Mitchell is fearless and outspoken when he knows he is right, a man of positive ideas, integrity and force of character, and as a public servant is faithful and conscientious, and is proving to be one of the most popular favors the city of Mt. Vernon has ever had.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

ROLLIN C. MITCHELL.

One of the well-known citizens of Mt. Vernon, Knox county, Is Rollin C. Mitchell, who enjoys distinctive prestige among the enterprising men of this locality, having fought his way onward and upward in industrial circles, and in every relation of life his voice and influence have been on the side of right as he sees and understands the right. Like his worthy father before him, he has always been interested in every enterprise for the general welfare of the community and liberally supports every movement calculated to benefit his fellow men, and therefore enjoys the esteem of all who know him.

Mr. Mitchell was born on April 7, 1847, in Chesterville, Knox county, now a part of Morrow county, Ohio. He was the son of William and Lucy (Brown) Mitchell, the father born near Fredericktown, July 15, 1811.

William Mitchell, grandfather of the subject, came to this country from Pennsylvania about 1805, one of the earliest pioneers, he having been commissioned by the government as agent for government lands of this section of the Northwestern Territory, and here he spent the remainder of his life, dying at his home near Fredericktown, Knox county, in 1848. He is described as a brave man of strong characteristics. Thus the Mitchells have been well known in this locality for more than a century. William Mitchell, father of the subject, was reared in the pioneer forest home here and obtained a meager education in the old log school houses of his day. As a young man he learned the trade of ax maker, winning thereby the sobriquet of “the ax maker,” by which he was widely known, and it is said of him that he made a most excellent ax and that his axes filled more trees of Knox county than any other make. Most of his life was spent in this county, but the machine-made axes supplanting his business, he turned his attention to tool making and dressing, and for a number of years he sold machinery for the Cooper Company of Mt. Vernon, though he was known all his life as “the ax man.” Soon after his marriage he moved to Illinois and was a resident in the same district in which Abraham Lincoln resided, and at one

Cio time Lincoln won a lawsuit for Mr. Mitchell. The latter returned to Ohio in 1846 and located at Chesterville, where the subject was born, later moved to Centerburg, this county, where the family lived for about ten years, and in the spring of 1864 moved to Mt. Vernon, where he spent the remainder of his life, his death occurring on December 9, 1909, at the advanced age of ninety-eight years and five months, his wife having preceded him to the silent land in 1878. William Mitchell was active in the work of the Methodist Episcopal church, having been a class leader and exhorter, a devout churchman, and he was an acquaintance and on friendly terms with many of the church dignitaries of his time. He was a man of exemplary character. charitable and hospitable.

Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. William Mitchell, three of whom died in infancy, the other five growing to maturity, namely: Naomi, deceased, was the wife of Henry A. Hyatt; Emma L., also deceased, was the wife of Captain Harrison; Stephen Lewis Y. was a captain in the Union army during the Civil war and breveted major at the close of the war; Rollin C., of this sketch; Sarah is deceased; Luella lives in Mt. Vernon.

Rollin C. Mitchell was educated in the schools of Centerburg and Mt. Vernon, and when a young man he learned the jewel-maker's trade with Levi Stone, of Mt. Vernon, for whom he worked for some time, later working in Mt. Gilead and Coshocton, being very skilled in this line of endeavor.

Mr. Mitchell was married on November 22, 1871, to Perliette O. Stauffer, daughter of Joseph and Deborah (Brown) Stauffer, her father having been a merchant in Mt. Vernon for many years, building up an excellent business, which is still continued by his son, Almon F. Stauffer. Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell, namely: Clifton A.

lives in Columbus, Ohio; Florence D. married Halbert M. Eggleston, of Mt. Vernon; LuNylla married John Whitford, of Mt. Vernon; Harry O. lives in Mt. Vernon; Lena A. married Vincent Welker, of Gambier, Ohio; Lucy M. married Phillip J. Brereton, of Mt. Vernon.

In March, 1872, Mr. Mitchell engaged with Mr. Stauffer, his father-in-law, as a clerk, with whom he remained for a period of twenty-three years, assisting very materially in building up a lucrative business. Then he went into business for himself, men’s and women’s furnishings, under the firm name of R. C. Mitchell, Son & Company. This continued successfully for six years, during which time he enjoyed an excellent trade with the town and surrounding country. He then traveled for two and one-half years for the Patric Furnace Company of Springfield, Ohio. During the five years following this he kept books for B. E. Salesbury. Since 1908 he has been in charge of the third ward school building.

Politically, Mr. Mitchell is a Republican and he has always been active in public matters. For four years he served as city treasurer. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and are active in church work. Fraternally, he is a member of the Masonic order and the Knights and Ladies of Honor, his wife being a member of the latter also. He also belongs to the Independent Order of Foresters and the Ben Hur lodge. The pleasant home of the family is located at No. 113 East Lamartine street, Mt. Vernon.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

WILLIAM McCOY MITCHELL.

One of the farmers of Butler township, Knox county, who believes in adopting twentieth-century methods and in having system in whatever he attempts to do is William McCoy Mitchell, a public-spirited citizen who withhold his co-operation from no movement which is intended to promote public improvement. What he has achieved in life proves the force of his character and illustrates his steadfastness of purpose, and because of his many commendable characteristics he enjoys the good will and the friendship of his neighbors and acquaintances over the county.

Mr. Mitchell was born in Allen county, Ohio, November 20, 1864. He is the son of William Ottawa Carter Mitchell and Sarah Ellen (Boyei) Mitchell. The paternal grandparents, Jonathan Mitchell and wife, were early settlers in Allen and Logan counties, having come from Virginia in the early forties, and they both died in Allen county. The maternal grandfather was a native of Scotland, from which country he emigrated to America years ago, changing his name to Boyer from the original in order to escape military service. He finally married and came to Allen county, Ohio, where he sent the balance of his life. The mother of the subject was born in Allen county, Ohio, in 1839, and the father of William M. Mitchell was born in Virginia in 1832. When a small boy he came to Ohio with his parents, and located in either Allen or Logan counties, and there he was married, in Allen county, and continued to reside there eight or nine years, and then, in 1872, moved to Millwood, Knox county, and engaged in milling until 1880, then moved to the Giffin farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Butler and Union townships, and there his death occurred on February 19, 1905. His wife is still living. In connection with his farming, Mr. Mitchell also ran a country store in the same building as his residence until it burned in 1900. Politically, he was a Democrat, and he took an active part in public affairs He was one of the prime movers in establishing the Millwood special district and he served on the school board there. He joined the Presbyterian church early in life and his wife belonged to the Methodist Episcopal, which he later joined.

William M. Mitchell received his education in the public schools of Millwood and he was reared on the home farm and when a boy worked on the farm and in the mill. As a young man he followed school teaching for about five years very successfully, then went to farming, operating his mother-in-law’s farm of thirty acres. In 1910 he purchased forty-seven acres of the old home place, although he has continued to live on the first place he selected as a permanent home. He has been very successful as a general farmer and stock man, being widely known as a breeder of Poland- China hogs. He has a good home and his place is well improved.

Politically, Mr. Mitchell is a Democrat, and fraternally he belongs to the Grange and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

Mr. Mitchell was married in 1885 to Rose Ellen Harbaugh, who was born on the farm where she still lives, and here she grew to womanhood and received her education in the common schools. She is the daughter of Benjamin and Sarah H. Harbaugh, the former of Tuscarawas county, Ohio, and the latter of Knox county, Ohio. The father died before the wife of the subject was born. The mother is still living. They had but one child, Rose Ellen, wife of Mr. Mitchell.

To the subject and wife one son has been born, William Fletcher, a machinist by trade, who is living at home.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

JAMES WALTER SCOTT MITCHELL.

A very creditable and worthy representative of one of the sterling old families of Knox county is James Walter Scott Mitchell, successful young farmer of Union township, a man who has succeeded at his chosen life work because he has not depended upon anyone to do his work, believing in being self-reliant, honest and straightforward in all the relations of life and he is therefore deserving of the confidence and good will of his fellow men.

Mr. Mitchell was born on the farm lie now owns in Union township, January 26, 1881, and is the son of W. O. C. and Sarah Ellen (Boyer) Mitchell. The paternal grandparents were natives of Pennsylvania and early settlers in Allen county. He was a farmer and there spent the rest of his life, dying many years ago. The maternal grandparents were natives of England and early settlers in Auglaize county and there spent the rest of his life. The father of the subject was born in Allen county, Ohio, in 1831 and the mother in 1839. He was a carpenter by trade and a stock shipper, which he followed until 1876, when he came to Knox county and engaged in the milling business at Millwood. About four years later he traded the mill for a farm of one hundred and eighty acres in Union and Butler townships and there spent the balance of his life, having sold about fifty acres of his farm prior to his death to the Millwood White Sand Company. His death occurred in March, 1907. The mother is still living at the age of seventy-two years. Politically, he was a Democrat, and a man who took an active part in political and public affairs. He was the man who founded the special Millwood district and made it possible to have a high school here. He and his wife were members of the Methodist church, having joined the Millwood church soon after coming to this locality. They were the parents of seven children, namely: Moses Mac McCoy, John Marion Alfonso, Charles Delmont, Minnie Milinda Rose, Mary Jane Eugene is deceased; Royal Noble Desmond, and James Walter Scott, of this review.

James W. S. Mitchell, of this sketch, was reared on the home farm and received his education in the Millwood and Ddnville high school, graduating in the year 1902. Early in life, while living at Sand Plant, he learned the machinist’s trade, but he took up farming, which has been his chief life work. He and his brother. Moses Mac, bought one hundred and twenty-five acres of the home place, and the subject also owns twenty acres in Butler township. He has been very successful as a general farmer and stock man, being widely known as a breeder of Delaine sheep and Percheron horses, also has bred Welsh ponies, and because his stock has been of superior grade they have found a very ready market.

Politically, Mr. Mitchell is a Democrat. He has filled a number of township offices, such as trustee for one term, and is now school director in Millwood, a special district. During camp meeting seasons Mr. Mitchell rents the “Caves” (a resort) to religious societies for revival purposes. His wife is a member of the Disciples church. Fraternally, he belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Patrons of Industry and the Maccabees.

Mr. Mitchell was married in 1902 to Alma Beal, a native of Knox county, where she grew up and was educated. She is the daughter of Benjamin and Phoebe (Strieker) Beal, he a veteran of the Civil war and still living. Three children have been horn to Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell, namely: Robert Ottowa, Charlotte Resale and Benjamin Gordon.

The father of the subject was one of the best known and most influential men in this section of Knox county. In connection with farming, which for years he superintended, while his sons did the actual work, he conducted a general store at the Caves, enjoying a good trade.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.