MITCHELL, George T. - 1914

MITCHELL, TANDY, OLPIN, HODGES, GOWAN, GOODRICH, LONG

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 7/8/2009 at 18:04:56

HISTORY OF
Cherokee County
IOWA
VOLUME II
ILLUSTRATED
CHICAGO
THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY
1914
by Thomas McCulla

GEORGE T. MITCHELL.

George T. Mitchell, a retired agriculturist who has made his home at Cleg- horn since 1902, was for a number of years actively and successfully identified with general agricultural pursuits in Cherokee county, owning a farm of one hundred and seventytwo acres in Sheridan township. His birth occurred in Gloustershire, England, on the 22d of January, 1834, his parents being William and Eliza (Tandy) Mitchell, who spent their entire lives in that country. The father, a baker by trade, reached the venerable age of eighty-two years, while the mother passed away in 1859.

George T. Mitchell was reared and educated in his native land and when a youth of fifteen began learning the blacksmiths trade, completing his apprenticeship at the age of twenty-one years. He worked at that occupation in England until 1857 and then emigrated to the United States, remaining in this country for three years and being employed as a blacksmith. Returning to his native land, he was married and remained there until May, 1871, when he again crossed the Atlantic to America and worked at his trade in Massachusetts and Pennsylvania. After a short time he came to Iowa, locating at Farley, Dubuque county, where he was engaged in business as a blacksmith for about fifteen years. On the expiration of that period he came to Cherokee county and purchased a farm of one hundred and seventytwo acres in Sheridan township, the cultivation and improvement of which claimed his attention throughout the remainder of his active business career. In 1902 he took up his abode at Cleghorn, where he has since lived retired, spending his declining years in well earned ease in an attractive home on South Main street.

On May 26, 1860, Mr. Mitchell was joined in wedlock to Miss Mary Olpin, a daughter of Charles and Anna (Hodges) Olpin, who were natives of Gloucestershire, England. The father, a cloth weaver, spent his entire life in that country, passing away on the 25th of February, 1871, at the age of sixtytwo years. The demise of his wife occurred on the 1st of November, 1882, when she had reached the age of sixtyeight years. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell were born nine children, as follows: Charles W., who is a resident of Cherokee; Arthur, residing at Storm Lake; John W., who follows farming in Amherst township; Edwin H., an agriculturist of Sheridan township; Maurice E., a resident of South Dakota; Annie, who is the widow of William Gowan and resides on a farm in Amherst township; Emma, the wife of M. E. Goodrich, who is a well digger and house mover of Cleghorn; Ada, who is the wife of E. Long and resides in Oklahoma City; and Emma E., who died in England in 1863.

In his political views Mr. Mitchell is a stanch democrat, while his religious faith is that of the Presbyterian church. Fraternally he is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He has now passed the seventyninth milestone on lifes journey and enjoys the veneration and respect which should ever be accorded one who has traveled thus far on this earthly pilgrimage and whose career has been at all times upright and honorable.