David M Mitchell's biography, Charlotte, Eaton County, Michigan

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SUBJECT: David M. MITCHELL
SUBMITTER: Jan Lubitz Sedore
EMAIL: am0773@a1access.net
DATE: Apr 24, 1999
SURNAMES: MITCHELL, WRIGHT, WHITCOMB, JONES, WHEATON
PAST AND PRESENT OF EATON COUNTY
Page 449
DAVID M. MITCHELL

DAVID M. MITCHELL, who is now living practically retired in the city of
Charlotte, has passed his entire life in Eaton County and was long and
prominently identified with the agricultural interests of this section,
while he still retains possession of his fine farm property, in Chester
Township. He was born and reared in that township, the date of his nativity
having been November 3, 1851, and his early education advantages were those
afforded by the schools of the locality. He is a son of Asa W. and Lydia
L. Mitchell, the former of whom was born in Genesee County, New York, September
14, 1815, being reared to manhood in the old Empire State, where he continued
to reside until 1842, when he came with his wife and one child to Michigan
settling in Chester Township, Eaton County, where he purchased land, reclaiming
the same from the forest and developing one of the valuable farms of the
county. He was a business man of much sagacity and was prospered in material
affairs, overcoming many obstacles and pushing steadily forward to the
goal of independence and prosperity, which he attained through honorable
means and without sacrificing the rights and privileges of others. He was
guided and governed by lofty motives and was a citizen worthy of the uniform
confidence and esteem in which he was held. September 27, 1836, he was
united in marriage to Lydia L. Wright, who was born at Lake Pleasant, Montgomery
County, New York, September 7, 1817, and who died April 16, 1891, his death
having occurred December 7, 1888. They became the parents of six children,
of whom four are living, namely: Mrs Lucy A. Whitcomb, of Charlotte; Mrs
Sylva C. Jones, of the same city; David M., the immediate subject of this
sketch, and Chauncey R., residing on the old homestead farm. Mrs. Lydia
L. Mitchell was a woman of gentle and gracious character, gaining the affectionate
regard of all with whom she came in contact. She was a zealous member of
the Free Baptist Church in Lansing and was actively identified with the
neighborhood aid society in her home community. David M. Mitchell remained
associated with the work and management of the home farm until he was twenty-two
years of age, when he initiated his independent operations as a farmer
and stock-grower. He began with but thirteen acres of land available for
cultivation, and he personally brought about the reclamation of the remainder
of his farm, acquiring greater acreage with the passing years and making
the best of improvements on his property. His energy and good management
brought the due measure of success and prosperity, and his landed estate
today comprises two hundred and forty acres of as fine land as can be found
in this favored section of the old Wolverine State. He continued to reside
on the farm until 1893, since which time he has lived practically retire,
in Charlotte, where he has an attractive home. He is a stanch supporter
of the cause of the Republican Party, but has never had any ambition for
public office. In 1873, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Mitchell to
Miss Lanie Wheaton, who was born in Hillsdale County, Michigan, being a
daughter of Otis Wheaton, and they have four children, namely: Gertrude,
who is now teacher of Latin in Charlotte high school; Guy, who has charge
of the operation of the homestead farm; P.T., who is taking a course in
electrical and mechanical engineering in the University of Michigan; and
Goldie, who was graduated in the Charlotte High School, as a member of
the class of 1905, and is now attending school at Ypsilanti, Michigan.