Mitchell.William.1899.Mason-Montgomery.BIOS


This is the obit of my gggf that was published in his newspaper.  It may
have been written by his son, John Fowler Mitchell.  The bracketed items
are my additional contributions.  

William Mitchell, Sr. the veteran editor and publisher of THE HANCOCK
DEMOCRAT and one of the best known men and honored citizens of this section
of the State, died at his home on South State Street in this city at five
o'clock a.m. Friday, April 7, 1899, at the age of seventy-five years, seven
months and twenty-two days.  He had been in his usual health until about
four weeks prior to his demise when he was taken ill and among his ailments
was a bad case of erysipelas of the foot.  This, however, his physicians
were able to relieve, but the trouble was found to be of a more serious
character and the vital forces which had been so marked and vigorous in
former years were seen to be gradually failing and the honored and
courageous old man, surrounded by his children and friends, sank into the
sleep that knows no waking.

William Mitchell was born in Kentucky [Montgomery Co], August 15, 1823.

His father, John Fowler Mitchell, was a native Kentuckian, his birth
occurring in 1791, in a fort built by Daniel Boone.  [Washington, Mason Co]
[Mother - Charlotte Enfield Ralls of Montgomery Co.] William Mitchell
received a partial education at Maysville, Ky., and while there learned the
printing business.  [He may have attended school with U.S. Grant in
Maysville- not proven yet]  He traveled extensively for several years and
engaged in his chosen business in a number of cities.  In 1849 he located
at Cincinnati and was foreman of the old Dollar Times which in those days
was one of the largest printing offices in the West.  For a time he managed
the New York office of Dye's American Bank Note Detector, which was con-
sidered authority on banking.  In 1855 he removed to Lafayette (IN), but
in 1856 he came to this city and took charge of the Greenfield Sentinel,
owned by the late Thomas D. Walpole, which he managed until 1859 when he
founded The Hancock Democrat, which under his management grew as the
country and city developed and has been a great force in the education of
the people and in upbuilding and bettering the community.  In connection
with the paper he established a job printing office, which has few equals
and no superiors in point of efficiency and quality of work produced. 
There is not a better equpped office outside of the large cities anywhere
in the State.  Mr. Mitchell filled many positions during his long and
eventful life and always with credit to himself and to the advantage of
those who entrusted him with placed of preferment.

He was an earnest advocate of the public schools, with which he was
connected in an official capacity for many years.  He served as postmaster,
as County Recorder, as Deputy Provost Marshal of this District, as a member
of the Democratic Central Committee, as Sergeant of the Home Guards, and
filled several municipal offices.  He served with the Indianaians during
the Morgan raid, and was under fire at Harrison, O.

In politics Mr. Mitchell was originally a Whig, but with the demise of that
party became a Democrat, to which party he faithfully adhered until his
death.  During the civil war he was a strong Unionman, and his pen was
vigorously used for the support of the Union and the suppression of the
rebellion.  As an editorial writer he was terse and vigorous, driving to
the point without any evasion or obscurity.  His opponents long ago learned
to respect the courage of his convictions, while his political friends
admired the vigorous and pointed sentences which he penned.  He united with
the christian Church at an early date, and was a prominent Odd Fellow until
some thirteen years ago, when he had the misfortune to lose his eyesight.

In 1852 Mr. Mitchell married Celesta Long, an orphan girl, without a living
relative.  They lived as husband and wife until September 25, 1892, when
Mrs. Mitchell died at their home in this city.  This bereavement, together
with the loss of his sight, weighed upon him heavily, but he continued to
live at the old home where he was cared for by his daughters, and daily he
was led to his office where he sat in his arm chair and listened to the
reading of the current events of the day in which he retained a lively
interest and upon which he still continued to express his views through the
columns of The Democrat until near the close of his life.  After the loss
of his eyesight the business of his establishment was managed by his eldest
son, John F. Mitchell, who has shown rare good judgment and business
ability, and added largely to the fortune of his father.  For several years
a partnership existed between William, sr. and John F. Mitchell.  The
deceased was indulgent to a fault, and even when in great need of money
would not ask those who owed him to pay him.  Another characteristic of the
man was his kindness to the poor, which in turn caused them to look upon
him as their friend and adviser.

To William and Calasty Mitchell were born thirteen children; of whom eight
are still living, vis:  John F, George, Thomas, William, Jr., Mrs. Nellie
Kinder, Mattie, Eliza and Fannie Mitchell.

The funeral occurred at the Christian Church on Sunday, the 9th inst., and
was attended by a large crowd of relatives and friends both in and out of
the city.  The Grand Army and the city officials marched to the residence
from the house to the church and thence to the cemetery after the services.
 The old veterans, though becoming somewhat aged, are loyal to their
comrades and never fail to show their respect and love for their comrades
and friends.  The funeral sermon was preached by the Rev. T. H. Kuhn, and
was an able and inspiring discourse.  Numerous beautiful and costly floral
tributes were presented, among them a number from different members of the
family, one from each of the printing houses in the city, the city
officers, the Helping Hand Society of the Christian Church, the Bimetallic
Club of Hancock county and employees of The Democrat office.

The remains were laid to rest in a beautiful vault in Park Cemetery and the
earthly career of one of Hancock county's best and most influential
citizens is at an end.  While thisis true the influence of his life will
live for years and is interwoven in the business, social and intellectual
life of the county.  While he, like all mortals, may have made mistakes,
the influence of his life and his motives were right, and the world is
better by the influence he exerted.

Hancock Democrat, April 13, 1899, p. 4.


Submitted by: Linda Comstock-Teel <104457.653@CompuServe.COM>
Date: Sat, 05 Jul 1997