Travis
Moore Mitchell, one of the
substantial citizens and for many years an extensive farmer and stock raiser
of Macoupin County, owning large tracts of valuable farming land both in
Honey Point township, where he resides in section 30, and in Brushy Mound
township, was born in the latter township on February 13, 1833. He is a son
of Elijah and Jane (Moore) Mitchell.
Elijah Mitchell was born
January 30, 1800, in North Carolina, and was the third son of Archibald
Mitchell, who was born in the same State, but died in Kentucky, leaving nine
children, as follows: John, Nathaniel, Elijah, Elisha, Thomas, Nicholas,
Betsey, Harriet and Sally. Elijah Mitchell married Jane Moore, who was born
in Kentucky, and a family of 12 children was born to them, II of whom grew
to maturity, as follows: Mrs. Amelia Moore; Levi; Mrs. Martha Ann Brown, of
Texas; Mrs. Elizabeth Bull; Travis Moore; Mrs. Sarah Friend, of Missouri;
Mrs. Lucy Scott, of Kansas; Mrs. Jane Carrico; William T., of Honey Point
township; Mrs. Phoebe Pope; and Elijah. In 1829 Elijah Mitchell and family
came to Illinois, and in 1831 to Macoupin County. He became a very large
investor in land, although when he first came here he was able to enter but
80 acres. Before his death he owned 3,500 acres of land in the States of
Illinois and Kansas. Some of this he disposed of and some was divided with
his children, to whom he also left a sum of money. In politics he was an
old-time Democrat. In religious faith he was a Baptist. For his second wife
he married Hannah Hollensworth, by whom he had nine children: Mary
(Perrine); Ansel J.; Archibald H.; Matilda (Anderson); Asa Clinton; Ira;
Henrietta (Baughman); and two that died in infancy.
Travis Moore
Mitchell has spent his life in Macoupin County and until the last 11 years
has been actively engaged in general farming and stockraising, making
features of wheat, oats, corn and hay, and of Poland-China hogs. Mr.
Mitchell has owned considerable valuable stock, much of it registered, and
has always been considered one of the good farmers and excellent managers of
his section. When he started out for himself, his father assisted him,
giving him 70 acres of unbroken prairie and a good horse, and with the other
children, he was remembered in his father's will. Mr. Mitchell is the owner
of various tracts of valuable land, situated as follows: 160 acres in
section 36, Brushy Mound township; 40 acres in section 25, Brushy Mound
township; 150 acres in section 30, Honey Point township; and 85 acres in
section 19, Honey Point township. At one time he owned 495 acres in these
two townships.
On April 15, 1858, Mr. Mitchell was married to Sarah
E. Jackson, who was born in Honey Point township, and is a daughter of
Frederick and Sarah Jackson. Four children were born to this marriage, all
of whom are now deceased. One son, Frederick Elijah, married Nellie J.
Smith, who, with one son, Frederick E., survives and lives in Kansas.
Although Mr. Mitchell is a stanch Democrat, he confines his interest in
politics to casting his vote. Both he and his wife are leading members of
the Baptist Church, in which he has been a deacon for 25 years, and has
served for a long period as superintendent of the Sunday-school. Mr.
Mitchell takes a deep interest in religious work and is a generous supporter
of his church. He has made provision so that the Honey Creek Baptist Church
is to have the interest on $2,500 as long as it remains a church. He is a
man of unswerving integrity, one of the township's first class citizens, and
is held in universal esteem.
Portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell
accompany this sketch, being presented on foregoing pages.
Extracted 2018 May 08 by Norma Hass from Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens of Macoupin County, Illinois, published in 1904, pages 433-439.
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