Mitchell, Alonzo Winfield 1848 – 1904

MITCHELL, MCCOLLUM, FRITZ, MCGOWEN

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 7/4/2019 at 15:55:50

Source: Twice-A-Week Plain Dealer May 20, 1904, LP, C6

OBITUARY.
Alonzo Winfield Mitchell was born on a farm near Kankakee, Ill., April 28, 1848, and died in Harmony, Minn., May 16, 1904. When Alonzo was six years old he removed with his parents to a farm one mile west of the old town of New Oregon, where they lived for several years. His father was Josiah F. Mitchell, one of the first settlers of Howard county.
Alonzo was the oldest of five children. When he was sixteen years old he went with his father and a number of other across the plains to the mountains of Montana, where he remained for three years.
At the age of twenty he was married to Hattie A. McCollum, youngest daughter of the late Dr. James McCollum of Cresco. Mr. Mitchell was at this time one of New Oregon’s choicest young men, loved by every one, and marrying the bride of his choice.
To this union were born four children, Harry A., of Elma, Iowa, Mrs. Annie C. Fritz of Chicago, Holland J. of Minneapolis, and Clyde H. of Cresco, Iowa.
While the children were small Mr. Mitchell engaged in farming near Cresco, afterwards moving to New Hampton where he and his family resided for eight years, the last four being spent on a farm north of New Hampton. Fifteen years ago he engaged in selling organs and pianos for Geo. H Kellogg of this city, which kept him from his home to a great extent, being out over the country most of the time.
Five years ago he was married to Liza McGowen of Harmony, Minn., where he resided at the time of his death.
The funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon, May 17, in the M. E. church at Harmony, Rev. Thompson officiating and preaching a most kindly funeral discourse. The church was filled to overflowing by the friends and neighbors who came to pay their last tribute of respect.
The deceased had a wide acquaintance all over this section and was universally known as a man of honesty and truthfulness, a good citizen and a steadfast friend, and a man who acquired and held the friendship of men in every walk of life. He had but one enemy, one that in his later years was slowly but constantly working to the culmination which resulted in his tragic death on Monday evening.

Added by Joy Moore July 4, 2019
Source: Decorah Republican May 19, 1904 Page 5

SUICIDE AT HARMONY, MINN.
A. W. Mitchell Commits Suicide Early Monday Morning
Cresco P. D., May 17th.—Yesterday (Monday) morning, various rumors were current concerning the sudden death of A. W. (or “Lon” as he was more familiarily called) Mitchell at his home at Harmony, Minn.
Inquiry by telephone brought out the facts that at 4: {illegible} yesterday morning, a neighbor heard the report of a gun and rushed into Mitchell’s place and found him lying dead in the kitchen, shot through the head by charges from both barrels of a shotgun. Everything went to show that he had probably leaned over the gun and pulled the trigger by means of a string and stick found near the gun. The verdict of the coroner’s jury was that he came to his death by his own hand.
No letter was found giving any motive, and so far as known he had never intimated his contemplation of such a rash act.