ROY C. MITCHELL

Roy G. Mitchell, filling the position of postmaster at Manly, was born in Racine county, Wisconsin, on the 13th of August, 1857, a son of John and Jeannette (McKercher) Mitchell, both of whom were natives of Scotland, the former having been born in Banffshire and the latter in Perthshire. The father pursued his education in the schools of his native country and took up the occupation of farming. In 1836 he started for the United States, becoming a passenger on a sailing vessel called the Royal George, which was twelve weeks in making the voyage to New York. In the Empire state he began working as a farm hand at a wage of eight dollars per month, and then thinking that he might have still better business opportunities in the west, he removed to Racine county, Wisconsin, in 1844 and there took up government land, for which he paid the usual price of a dollar and a quarter per acre. He was offered the site whereon Milwaukee now stands but would not take it as a gift, for he did not consider the land valuable. He built a log house upon the tract which he secured and at once began to improve his farm, continuing its further development and cultivation to the time of his death, which occurred on the 13th of December, 1884, when he had reached the age of seventy-seven years. His wife survived him about two years and died in 1886, at the age of sixty-seven years. She had come to the United States with her parents in 1836, the family home being established in the state of New York. Later a removal was made to Racine county, Wisconsin, at which time the McKercher family took up their abode near Burlington. Her father obtained a tract of government land, on which he built a log house and then began the development of a farm upon the western frontier. Southport, which is now Kenosha, was at that time the nearest market. He and his wife spent their remaining days upon the old homestead there and Mrs. McKercher passed away in 1869.

Roy G. Mitchell, whose name introduces this review, pursued his early education in the schools of Racine county, Wisconsin, and afterward attended the Rochester Seminary. He continued upon the old homestead until his mother's death, when he removed westward in 1886, taking up his abode at Manly, Worth county, Iowa. Here he turned his attention to mercantile pursuits, in which he engaged in connection with his brother, D. A. Mitchell. This association was maintained for twelve years, on the expiration of which period the partnership was dissolved and Roy G. Mitchell took over the business, which he continued to conduct successfully until 1914. In the year 1893 he was appointed postmaster of Manly under Grover Cleveland and continued to act in that capacity for four years, while at the same time he conducted his store. In 1914 he was reappointed postmaster and during his incumbency the postoffice has been advanced from a fourth to a third class office. Mr. Mitchell also handles real estate to some extent and is accounted one of the substantial and representative citizens of Manly. He has held several other offices beside that of postmaster, has been township trustee, justice of the peace, city clerk, member of the school board and mayor of Manly and at all times has discharged his duties with marked promptness and fidelity, for he has ever regarded a public office as a public trust and it is a well known fact that no trust responded in Mr. Mitchell has ever been betrayed in the slightest degree.

On December 14, 1887, Mr. Mitchell was united in marriage to Miss Bessie Johnson, a daughter of O. M. Johnson and a native of Norway township, Racine county, Wisconsin, where her father followed the occupation of farming. To Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell have been born three children: Adelphia, who is teaching in the schools of Odebolt, Iowa, and who is a graduate of the Iowa State College at Cedar Falls, which conferred upon her the degree of Bachelor of Arts; Vilas R., who is a sergeant at Fort Deming, Camp Cody, New Mexico; and Glen A., who is in the aviation school at Madison, Wisconsin.

Mr. Mitchell has always voted with the democratic party since age conferred upon him the right of 'franchise and is a stalwart champion of its principles. Fraternally he is a Mason, while his religious faith is that of the Presbyterian church. In these associations is indicated much of the nature of his interest and the rules which govern his conduct-rules which have made him a stalwart citizen and upright man possessed of many qualities which everywhere command respect, confidence and regard.

Source: History of Mitchell and Worth Counties, Iowa, 1918, Vol. II, Pages 157 & 158

Transcription by Gordon Felland, 9/13/2006