Milton Mitchell, a prominent citizen and successful farmer
as well as a member of one of the leading families of Macoupin County,
owning a well improved farm of 163 acres, situated in sections 23 and 26,
Gillespie township, was born August 13, 1861, in Brushy Mound township,
Macoupin County, Illinois, on which farm he lived until the age of 40 years.
He is a son of Rev. Levi and Emily (Brown) Mitchell, and a grandson of
Elijah Mitchell.
Elijah Mitchell was born in North Carolina in 1800,
and in 1827 came with his brother to Illinois as one of the early pioneers
of Macoupin County.
Elijah Mitchell accumulated more land than any
other man in the county and, as his children were born, he deeded to each
one a farm, thus ensuring the child's future. The children who survived
infancy were: Mrs. Mildred Moore, who died in Macoupin County; Levi; Mrs.
Lucy Scott, who reared a large family all of whom are doing well in Kansas;
Mrs. Martha Ann Brown of Corsiciana, Texas; Mrs. Sally Morgan of Missouri;
Mrs. Jane Carrico, who died in Macoupin County; Mrs. Phoebe Pope, who died
in Arkansas; Travis Moore, of Honey Point township, Macoupin County; William
T., of Honey Point township, Macoupin County; Elijah, who died during the
Civil War; Mrs. Mary Perrine, of Brushy Mound township, Macoupin County;
Ansel J., of Arizona; Archibald H., of Honey Point township, Macoupin
County; Mrs. Matilda Anderson, who died in Honey Point township, Macoupin
County; Asa Clinton, Ira and Mrs. Henrietta Baughman, of Honey Point
township, Macoupin County; and Mrs. Elizabeth Bull, who died December 10,
1868.
Rev. Levi Mitchell was born December 28, 1825, at Bowling
Green, Kentucky, and died October 18, 1902, at San Jose, California, where
he had resided for the preceding 15 years. He accompanied his parents from
Kentucky, at the age of two years and spent the greater part of his life in
Brushy Mound township, Macoupin County, farming and raising stock. He was an
ordained minister in the Baptist Church, and, with his brother, Travis Moore
Mitchell, deeded the land for and was chief promoter in the building of the
Honey Creek Baptist Church. He was much valued as a preacher and served as
moderator for the Apple Creek Baptist Association for a considerable period.
He was opposed to the liquor traffic and in late life left the Democratic
party to support the Prohibition party's candidates and principles. He
married Emily Brown, born in Macoupin County, Illinois, November 23, 1831,
who still resides at San Jose, California. She is a daughter of Samuel and
Rowena (Connors) Brown. The surviving members of their family are: Francis
Marion, a resident of Providence, Rhode Island; Warren L., of Table Rock,
Nebraska; Pauline G., of Antioch, California; Milton, of this sketch;
Arthur, of St. Louis, Missouri; Eunice V., of Oakley, California; Mrs. Mary
B. Johnson of San Jose, California; three are deceased.
Since 1901
Milton Mitchell has occupied his present fine farm in Gillespie township and
has most successfully engaged in farming and the breeding of fine stock and
cattle. He owns 18 head of registered Durham and Shorthorn cattle and has a
herd of 40 fine specimens. He gives considerable attention to the raising of
Poland-China hogs for market, raises all his own horses and realizes immense
crops from his land, making features of hay and corn. He has one of the
finest farms of the locality, well improved and highly stocked.
On
April 24, 1888, Mr. Mitchell was married to Sarah S. Gross, who was born
March 17, 1868, in Montgomery County, Illinois, and is a daughter of Dr.
William Gross. They have a family of seven children, namely: George M.,
Roger W., Clarence L., Olive G., Harvey G., Doris B. and Elizabeth.
Fraternally Mr. Mitchell is associated with the Modern Woodmen of America.
Following in the footsteps of his ancestors, he is identified with the
Democratic party. He is a man of enterprise and possesses many of the
qualities which made his father both successful and universally esteemed.
Extracted 2018 May 07 by Norma Hass from Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens of Macoupin County, Illinois, published in 1904, pages 271-273.
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