Charles Mitchell (1929)

GORMAN, MITCHELL, RANDALL, WILSON

Posted By: Pat Hochstetler
Date: 12/11/2014 at 11:00:39

Earlham Echo
Earlham, Iowa
Thursday, January 17, 1929

After a day of toil and struggle the evening shadows lengthen toward the west and the weary toiler with the burden of the heat and toil of the day behind, turns homeward with face alight, with love and happy anticipation, for he is homeward bound, and home means rest and quiet and loved ones waiting with loving hearts and a welcoming smile.

Seventy-three years, six months and nineteen days make a long day, and for Charles Mitchell it has been one of much toil and earnest endeavor. There has been sunshine and shadows, joy and sadness. The way has been long and oftimes over rough and storm swept stretches, but with faith undaunted and with the love and courage of the loved ones at his side, with the welcoming smile of the Christ and loved ones waiting ahead, he traveled patiently on to the end of the way.

Charles Mitchell, son of William and Sarah Mitchell was born June 15, 1855 near Nottingham, England. At an early age he with his two sisters and several half brothers and sisters lost in death the mother from the home and when Charles was seven years of age the father left the home in England and brought his children to America, locating near Whitehall, Illinois. Here the boyhood days of Charles Mitchell were spent. At the age of 31 he came to Iowa where he met and wedded Amy Wilson. He took his bride back to his boyhood home in Illinois where the first four years of their married life was spent. After this they came back to Iowa, locating on the Mitchell farm north of Earlham, which place remained as home to him until the day of his death, although the last two years of his life, owing to failing strength, was spent in the homes of his two sons.

Seven children came to this home, four of them being spared to love and cherish the parents to the end of their stay in the home. Three died in infancy.

The father in the home loved his home and family and gave the best of his heart and service to them, looking well to the care and best interests of the children. Happy in the companionship of the wife and mother in the home, considerate always of her happiness and patiently and tenderly cared for her during the two and one half years of her illness.

On May 20, 1922, the wife was called from the home and the remaining six years and more of the way were left for the husband to travel alone, but comforted and strengthened by the hope of reunion and reward at the end of the last mile.

Charles Mitchell was converted and joined the Bear Creek Friends Church and remained a member the twenty-five more years which were allotted to him. After failing in health so that he could no longer attend the services of the church he became a member of the Home Department of the Bible School and was faithful in the study of the lessons from the Book he treasured so highly.

For two years he has been in failing health; but patient and kind through all his sickness, desiring to relieve the loved ones of every care possible. He desired and prayed earnestly that he might be spared having to be confined to the bed long for the sake of sparing the loved ones the needed care they all would have gladly given. But the desire and petition was granted and on January 4, 1929 in the home of the son Bert, while sitting in his chair he came to the close of his life’s day and entered the open door into home where there is rest and joy evermore.

He spent these past two years in the homes of the sons Bert and Earl where he was loved and cherished and the members of these two homes found happiness in giving loving care and will miss him, but are comforted in the hope that the father has now reached home and loved ones.

Charles Mitchell was the last of a large family to be called home, and in his going he leaves four children, Ethel Gorman, of Gowrie, Iowa; Lorena Randall, of Ogden, Iowa; Bert and Earl, of Earlham; six grandchildren, nieces and nephews and many other relatives and friends.

Funeral services were held at the Earlham Friends Church at 2 p.m. January 6, conducted by Mrs. Riddle assisted by Simon Hester.

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