Mitchell, E. W.

MITCHELL, WRIGHT, FREEMAN

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 8/13/2009 at 13:24:12

E. W. Mitchell, Justice of the Peace at Newton, was born in Hanover, June 13, 1826. His father, Jacob Mitchell, was of Scotch ancestry, and was a jeweler by trade. The mother of our subject, Amarilla (Wright) Mitchell, came from good old Puritan stock, and was the sister of John S. Wright, the wealthy Boston merchant. When our subject was but two years old, the parents removed to the Empire State, and located on a farm in Livingston County, some six miles south of Geneseo. When he was ten years of age, he went to Geneseo, where his mother had a brother who was a merchant. Being naturally of an industrious disposition, he assisted his uncle in the store and attended school. After this he spent five years in the dry goods store of W. W. Bond, of Geneseo, N. Y., where he worked for his board and clothes, keeping the books and almost taking charge of the whole business. The last year he received $150 for his services. After leaving the store he went from city to city, going as far west as Detroit, and disposing of bankrupt stocks of goods.

Our subject is the youngest of four brothers, one of whom, H. F., had gone west and made considerable money as a land speculator, and at that time was a farmer living near Canton, Ill. He and our subject formed a partnership under the firm name of H. F. & E. W. Mitchell, and engaged in the mercantile, grain and pork-packing business in Canton, Ill., his brother furnishing the capital. This partnership continued for five years, when our subject sold out his interest and went into the general merchandising and pork-packing business at Farmington, Ill., with A. D. and H. Reed, under the firm name of A. D. Reed & Co., it being one of the largest packing and mercantile firms in the west, but he only remained one year. He again sold his interest to his partner, and he and his brother once more entered into partnership, building a business house at the corner of Third and Brady Streets, in Davenport, Iowa, and engaged in the dry-goods business, but after two years sold out to his brother.

In 1856, our subject came to Newton, and was in the mercantile trade for about a year and a half, when he again sold out, and since that time has been in public positions. He filled the office of Constable and City Marshal for several years, Justice of the Peace twelve years and served two terms in the City Council. During this time he was Government Internal Revenue Assessor of the county. April 26, 1867, he was appointed Government Inspector of the Fourth Iowa District, holding this position until the revenue law on tobacco, snuff and cigars was repealed, when he was appointed Deputy Sheriff of Jasper County. This position he held for some years, and about the year 1878 engaged in the book and stationery business with his son under the firm name of J. J. Mitchell & Co. In this he continued until 1888. In 1890 he was again elected Justice of the Peace, and elected in 1892, he still fills the position. Politically, he has been a Republican ever since the party was organized.

Mr. Mitchell was united in marriage October 18, 1848, in Canton, Ill., to Miss Margaret F. Freeman of that place. Of this union there were nine children, two of whom died in infancy, Laura Deborah, born in Canton, Ill., and Herbert Hamilton, born at Newton. Iowa. The eldest son, Rev. James J., or J. J. (as he is familiarly called), was born at Canton, Ill. He removed with his parents to Newton and received most of his education in Pella and at Iowa College, Grinnell, Iowa. He was studying to be a Congregational minister, but his health failed and for a time he engaged in business with his father. In the fall of 1885 he became an ordained Congregational minister and was pastor of the Wittenburg church. He is now pastor of the Congregational Church at Chester Centre, where he is located with his family. He is one of the great workers in the Iowa Chautauqua Assembly; he was its first President, and is now the Superintendent of Instruction and one of the Board of Trustees, and is justly called the Father of the Assembly.

Charles F. was born in Canton, Ill., and removed with his parents to Newton. When he was grown, he became a harness-maker. He worked at his trade most of his life, and carried on the harness business successfully for several years at Oxford, Iowa. He then came to Newton and worked in the book and stationery store of his father and brother. He made a good clerk and was liked by all who knew him. He died from the effects of injuries caused by an accident that occurred at the depot at Newton in the year 1885, at the age of thirty-two years.

Carroll F. was born at Davenport, Iowa. As soon as he was old enough he went into a drug store and learned the business. He worked at the drug business at Grinnell for more than ten years. Then he studied law under Judge Winslow, and was admitted to the Bar at Newton. After a short time he left law and became a commercial traveler. He traveled first for a Des Moines house, then for a New York firm, and later for a Chicago house. While traveling for the latter he made his home in Minneapolis, Minn. At length he left the road and engaged in business in the city, but in the summer of 1893 he sold the business he was engaged in and accepted a position in a large drug store in San Francisco, where he is now located with his family. Willis M., Mary E., Arthur L. and Gertrude F. were all born at Newton. Willis M. is an artist of note, and is now located at Minneapolis. He did the artistic work in the Congregational Church at Newton, which is considered to be one of the finest pieces of fresco work in the state.

Mary E. is a graduate of the high school at Newton, and for a while studied music in the Conservatory at Grinnell, and is now residing at home with her parents. She gives music lessons on the piano and organ. Arthur Lynn was a natural artist and become an expert in his art; he was work in a studio when he was taken sick, at Denver, Colo., where he died January 21, 1891. His body was brought home and interred in the Newton cemetery.

Gertrude F. was graduated at the high school at Newton, after which she taught country schools several years, and then attended the State Normal School at Cedar Falls, and by her untiring zeal completed the high school course in two years, and graduated with honor in 1890. In the fall she accepted a position in the Des Moines schools, which she held until in January 1893, then she accepted a position in the schools of Minneapolis, and is considered one of the best educators in Minnesota. Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell have a family of more than ordinary ability, of which they may be justly proud. They are members of the Congregational Church. Portrait and Biographical Record, Jasper, Marshall and Grundy Counties, IA Page 355.