Georgia:  Coweta County:  Biography of WM. A. MITCHELL 

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WM. A. MITCHELL, clerk of the superior court of Coweta county, Ga., and son 
of B. H. and Susan W. (Barnes) Mitchell, was born in November, 1839. His 
father, who was born in Virginia in 1800, went to North Carolina with his 
parents when eight years of age, and at the age of twenty-one started out for 
himself. He walked from North Carolina to Georgia, and in 1832 settled in 
Newnan, and, being a saddler by trade, opened a shop. In 1838 he was elected 
clerk of the superior court and served ten years; and in 1852 was elected 
ordinary, serving sixteen years, when he retired on account of old age. He 
was a devout member of the Methodist Episcopal church and a council degree 
Mason. He was the father of eleven children, only two of whom are living, 
William and a sister, Mary. William A. Mitchell was reared in Newnan and 
received a common school education. In April, 1861, he enlisted in Company 
A, Twelfth battalion, Georgia volunteers, in Gen. Evans' brigade, entering 
before the first gun was fired and remaining until after the surrender. In 
1862 he was made sergeant. He was present at the battle of Cold Harbor, 
Laurel City, and retreated at Monocacy; was in the smaller conflicts in the 
Shenadoah valley in Virginia, and was present when Sheridan made his famous 
ride. He was with E. Kirby Smith in his raid in Kentucky, serving in the 
artillery and living on roasted ears of corn and pumpkins. After the war he 
returned to Newnan and engaged in the hardware business until 1891, when he 
was elected clerk of the superior court of Coweta county. In 1868 he was 
united in marriage to Neah W. Brown, daughter of Joseph Brown, who served one 
term as representative of Coweta county, sometime in the fifties. To this 
union three children were born, Brown, Bessie, and Lillie. Mrs. Mitchell was 
born in Heard county, Ga., but came to Coweta county when a child, and here 
died in 1875. She was a member of the Methodist church. In 1876 Mr. 
Mitchell married Mrs. Susan M. Coleman, daughter of Henry K. Allen, a native 
of South Carolina, who came to Georgia in an early day, and engaged in 
merchandising and cotton buying. He was a member of the M. E. church and 
also a member of the masonic order of the council degree. He was one of the 
leading citizens of the county, and his death was deeply mourned by the 
community. To the second marriage of Mr. Mitchell three children have been 
born, John, Mary E., and May Bell. Both Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell are members of 
the M. E. church south. He is a member of the masonic order, council degree, 
and is also a member of the I. O. O. F.

Transcribed from MEMOIRS OF GEORGIA published by the Southern Historical 
Association, 1895.