Mitchell, Arthur I.

MITCHELL

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 9/22/2019 at 19:42:51

Arthur I. Mitchell

(From the 1891 Biographical History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, p.340)
ARTHUR I. MITCHELL, a well known physician and surgeon of Macedonia, Iowa, was born in Decatur Co, Indiana, February 13, 1847, son of DR. James H. and Nancy (IRMLAY) MITCHELL; the former is a well known physician of that place, and the latter is of a prominent family; her brother was once Sheriff of Decatur County. The father was born in Bourbon Co., Kentucky, and at the age of four years, his parents removed to Decatur Co., Indiana. He and his father edited the first paper published at Greensburg, Indiana. He was a personal friend of ex-Governor CUMBACK and intimately acquainted with Mills & Co., ex-State printers of Des Moines, Iowa. He afterward commenced the study of medicine, and when he was 27 years of age, practiced in Decatur Co. In the spring of 1853, he journeyed west with his family to Iowa, where he settled at Twin Groves, Keokuk Co., Iowa, where he remained 13 years. He then removed to Washington Co., Iowa, and three years after, moved from there to Seward Co, Nebraska, where he remained three years; then came to Pottawattamie Co, settling at old Macedonia, and when the new town of Macedonia was built he moved there, in 1880. He resided there until 1885-86. When visiting his son, Brutus MITCHELL, at Axtell, Kearney Co., Nebraska, he died at about sixty-six years of age. His widow still resides at Macedonia. They had six children, four sons and two daughters: A.I., our subject; Mary, wife of Henry DAVISON of Axtell, Nebraska, who is in the livery and harness business; Brutus I., also in the livery business at Wilcox, Kearney Co.; Lewis E. STRYKER, in company with Brutus I., at Wilcox; E. Summer, who died at age 19 years at old Macedonia; and Delia, wife of Henry KENNEDY of Macedonia.

The subject of this sketch enlisted at Keokuk, Iowa, in May 1864, in the 47th Iowa Infantry Volunteers, Colonel J.P. SANFORD, the well known Iowa lecturer, and Captain Harrison E. HAVENS, now editor of the Sigourney News, in command. The regiment was stationed at Helena, Arkansas. In 1872 Mr. MITCHELL lived at Crete, Nebraska, where he studied medicine with Dr. A.D. ROOT, a well known physician of that place, and after 3 years of study, he attended the Rush Medical College at Chicago, IL, in the winter of 1876-77. He then practiced in Wheeler, Pottawattamie Co, for three years, then in 1880, attended another year at the Rush Medical College, where he graduated February 22, 1881. He was for a year in company with his father and brother, Brutus, in the drug business at Macedonia. He was a registered pharmacist, the firm being A.I. Mitchell & Co. In 1882, the doctor removed to Wheeler, where he resided five years and then located at Macedonia, where he has since resided. His extensive acquaintance in this part of the county and his success in business, insures him an extensive and paying practice. He was married April 10, 1869, to Miss Annie EFNER, who was born in Brighton, Iowa, the daughter of DR. William H. and Sarah C. (JOHNSTON) EFNER; the mother still resides with Mrs. Mitchell, at the advanced age of 82 years.

Dr. and Mrs. MITCHELL have one son, Sumner, who was born August 2, 1879. They lost one child, Frank, by death when an infant. Politically the Doctor is a Republican. His father was an old Abolitionist, and was a conductor on the "Underground Railroad." The Doctor is a member of the Botna Valley Medical Association, and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he is a class leader, and is also licensed to preach; his wife is a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, and her father was a Master Mason. Dr. MITCHELL is also a member of the I.O.O.F. Macedonia Lodge No. 421 of which he is Secretary.