MITCHELL, JAMES

MITCHELL, HARRIS

Posted By: Doretta Pimlott Cowman (email)
Date: 4/16/2013 at 14:27:56

The 1880 History of Poweshiek County of Iowa

Sugar Creek Township

Page 685-6

MITCHELL, JAMES -- Farmer and stock-raiser, situated on the east half of the southeast quarter of secion 5, in township 78 north, of range 16. Was born in the State of North Carolina, and remained and lived with his parents in Wilkes county until he was about twenty-two years of age, where he labored on a farm. In the year 1832 he removed to Henry county, Indiana, where he resided and continued to labor on the farm until the year 1836, when he took as a partner in life Miss Elizabeth Harris, with whom he lived until about the year 1877, when she died. He has a family of six children living: Robert W., Sarah M., John S., Shelly U., Mary K. and Julia A. After remaining in Henry county about two years he removed to Rush county, in the same State, where he lived about two years, when he again removed to Henry county, where he remained until the year 1827. During this time, with the exception of one year, while he engaged in the grocery business, and four years while he was engaged on the construction of the National road, he engaged in farming; at the end of this time, viz: 1857, he removed to Iowa, settling at Lynville, Jasper county temporarily, while he was opening up his farm in this county, which was at that time an unknown and unbroken wilderness. After living at Lynn Grove about one and one-half years he removed to his present location, when there was not a house visible for miles around him and his nearest and only neighbor being one and one-half miles distant. But things have greatly changed and now the county is all settled. In plain sight is the beautiful village of Searsboro, with its school-house and church spire glittering in the sunlight, the railroad bearing its burdens of freight and bringing the luxuries of the world, the telegraph speaking and bringing the intelligence of all nations, as it were, in his own ears. Happy changes! Besides the comfortable home which he enjoys he is the owenr of ten acres of timber and has given one eighty acre farm to his sons.