Biography of J. W. Mitchell - Conway Co, AR *********************************************************** Submitted by: Cathy Barnes Date: 21 Jun 1998 Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm *********************************************************** SOURCE: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Western Arkansas. Goodspeed Publishers, 1891. page 86 J. W. Mitchell, a highly respected citizen, and member of the firm of Neal, Mitchell & Henry, merchants of Morrilton, was born in Lownds County, Mississippi, in 1837, and was the oldest in a family of three children born to William and Ann M. (Lane) Mitchell; parents were natives of North Carolina, and were married at Wilmington, in that State. In 1837 the family immigrated to Mississippi, where father followed the pursuit of farming; he later made a permanent settlement at Richmond, in Holmes County, where he resided till his death. Our subject was mainly reared by his maternal grandmother, and attended the common schools, Milton Academy and Eureka College up to his fifteenth year; from that age until his majority, he served as clerk for various firms in New Orleans. In 1857 he engaged in general merchandising for himself at Goodman, Mississippi. This business was conducted by Mr. Mitchell with success until the outbreak of the civil war, when he at once closed his store and enlisted at Canton in Joe Davis' company, known as the Madison Rifles, attached to the Tenth Mississippi Infantry. Was at the bombardment of Pensacola, and other engagements during the twelve months term of his enlistment. Mr. Mitchell then re-enlisted in Company C, Quitman's Rifles (J. P. Norton, Captain), in the Fifteenth Mississippi Regiment, and was in the battles of Baton Rouge, Corinth, Hatchie River, and in all the battles of the Georgia campaign. He was made Sergeant-Major of the regiment, and after the battle of Jackson was commissioned Adjutant by the War Department He was wounded at Kennesaw Mountain, and after his recovery he commanded a camp of direction at Meridian, Mississippi, where he served till the war closed. On his return home engaged in farming, and the next year re-engaged in mercantile business, which he continued for five years. In 1881 Mr. Mitchell came to Arkansas and located at Morrilton, where he engaged as bookkeeper and salesman for J. T. Hannaford. In 1885 he started in the grocery business for himself, which he continued till he formed his present business connection in 1888. Our subject was married in 1864 to Miss Alabama O. Cowan, a native of Mississippi. To this union have been born five children, three of whom are dead- William Oscar died at the age of 15 years; Irene died in infancy; Walter died in infancy- Emmett, who is bookkeeper and cashier for the firm, and Eugene, who is attending school, and is also engaged as clerk during his leisure. The family hold membership in both Baptist and Presbyterian Churches, and Mr. Mitchell is the most diligent and active Superintendent of the Baptist Sabbath School, Socially, our subject is a member of the Masonic fraternity, in which he has advanced to the Royal Arch and Knights Templar degrees. He is also a member of the Knights of Honor. Mr. Mitchell has become intimately associated with Morrilton's improvements, has erected a pleasant residence, and is ever to be found in earnest advocation of church and school.