George Mitchell (1868-1938)

MITCHELL, GUGE, SMITH, TOWNSEND, SEE, BERRY

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 8/22/2021 at 15:01:32

From Nevada Evening Journal July 25, 1938 (page 1)

Nevada Man Fatally Burned In His Home Sunday

George Mitchell, 72, died late Sunday afternoon as the result of burns suffered in his home about 12:30 p. m., when a kerosene stove he was filling evidently exploded, throwing flaming oil upon the lone crippled man and the interior of the one-room shack in which he lived.

He managed to crawl to the door and was part way out when neighbors seeing the fire rushed over and dragged him from reach of the flames.

An ambulance was called and he was rushed to Iowa Sanitarium where everything possible to alleviate the pain and aid him was done, but he passed away at 5:00 p. m.

A fire alarm was turned in but by the time the small wooden shack, ignited on all sides with the flaming oil, was reached, it was too far gone to save and within less than half an hour all that was left of the building and its contents was charred embers.

The shack stood north of Q avenue on the west side of Third street. Mr. Mitchell had lived there alone for a number of years.

George Mitchell was a native of Wisconsin, in which state he was born seventy-two years ago in April. The Mitchell family lived for many years in the neighborhood in Iowa Center. Later the mother, Mrs. Elizabeth Mitchell, moved to Nevada and died a few years ago at her home on North Fourth street.

The first wife of George Mitchell died several years ago and about a year ago he was married to a sister of the first wife, but they lived together but a short time.

He leaves a brother Bob Mitchell of Riceville, and sisters Mrs. Sam Townsend of Nevada, Mrs. George See of Nevada township and Mrs. Jesse Townsend of Newton. There is also an adopted daughter, now the wife of Ike Berry of Nevada.

Mr. Mitchell, who had lived in Nevada for a number of years, had been more or less invalided since suffering a stroke of apoplexy a few months ago. He was able to be up and around, however, and his sudden tragic end came as a shock to the family and friends.

Funeral services will be conducted by the Bishop Funeral home Tuesday morning at 9:00, with Rev. C. E. Lookingbill in charge. Burial will be in the family lot in the cemetery at Iowa Center.

SUBMITTER'S NOTE: George Mitchell married (1) Jennie Belle Guge on 9 August 1888 in Story County, Iowa. He married (2) her sister, Isabella Ann (Guge) Smith, widow of Charles Franklin Smith, on 5 August 1936.