William McCoy Mitchell

As printed in 1912

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 Past and present of Knox County, Ohio (1912). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.