Joseph M. Mitchell

As printed in 1912

JOSEPH M. MITCHELL (1880) is the owner of a fine eighty-acre farm and comfortable home in Amiret township, and he is today a prosperous farmer after more than thirty years' residence in the county. Mr. Mitchell's introduction to Lyon county was perhaps not one to lend enthusiasm to the mind of a new settler, inasmuch as his first winter in the county was the one of deep snows, blizzards and blockades. Our subject, however, is one of many who regrets not that he has made his home in Lyon county.

Mr. Mitchell took an active part in the Civil War. He enlisted January 5, 1864, as a private in Company A, Thirty-fifth New Jersey Infantry, and was mustered out

July 2 0, 18 65. During that time he took part in General Sherman's campaign in Georgia and in the famous "March to the Sea." Mr. Mitchell is a member of D. F. Markham Post No. 7, G. A. R., of Marshall, and has held at different times the office of post commander, senior vice and junior vice.

Joseph Mitchell was born in Glen Gardner, New Jersey, December 13, 1847, and is a son of George and Lydia (Narcross) Mitchell, both deceased. His parents located in Illinois in 1871 and resided there until their deaths. Joseph received a common school education in New Jersey and during the later years of his residence in that state worked out at farm labor. He came to Illinois with his parents and worked out in Ogle county two years. He then married and rented land in Winnebago county, where he farmer eight years.

In March, 1880, our subject came to Lyon county and purchased the land he now owns on section 23 from the Winona & St. Peter Railroad Company. It is one of the nicest farms in the township, and thirty-two years ago Mr. Mitchell paid for it the small sum of $6 per acre.

In various capacities Mr. Mitchell has been called upon to serve in an official capacity. He was a member of the Township Board two years ago and served one year as chairman. For three years he was clerk of the township, and for the past ten terms he has been the assessor. He was road overseer several years and was for eighteen years the clerk of school district No. 23. In 1895 and 1905 he was census enumerator.

Our subject's marriage to Sarah Seal occurred at Elida, Illinois, August 12, 1871. She was born August 18, 1847, in New Jersey, and is a daughter of John and Jane (Bellis) Seal, now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell are the parents of the following children: Elizabeth (Mrs. George Purves), of Tracy; Eleanor (Mrs. Eleanor Gary), of Marshall; Lydia (Mrs. M. D. Bair), of Amiret township; Agnes (Mis. C. J. Armstrong), of St. Paul; and Belle, who lives at home. The Mitchells are members of the Presbyterian church, of which Mr. Mitchell was for a number of years a trustee.

As printed in An illustrated history of Lyon County, Minnesota (1912). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.