Bertie  COUNTY  NC  Obits  James S. Mitchell

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by 
Jvosper489@cs.com   Jim Vosper

http://www.usgwarchives.net/nc/bertie.htm


>From the Biblical Recorder of Raleigh, NC October 20,
1869(from film at NC Baptist Archives at Reynolds Library
at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem NC).  This
obituary is so long I am breaking it into five parts.
Jim Vosper.


OBITUAL Died, at his residence in Bertie County of the
6th day of October, James S. Mitchell, aged sixty-eight
years, eleven months, and twelve days. It is seldom Bro.
Mills, that you are called on to record the death, so
good, honest and upright man.  When I call to mind his
many amiable qualities, and his numberless acts of
personal kindness, my breast is filled with emotions
which exceed the powers of language, and I cannot but
feel that my effects to exhibit him to others with all
his amiable characteristics as they present themselves
before me, are as futile as would be an attempt, without
the talents of a painter, to put on canvass the vivid
image of his form and features impressed upon my memory. 
In or about the 26th year of his age he embraced the
christian religion, and was baptized into the fellowship
of the church (Outlaws' Chapel) called Holly Grove, by
that man of God, William Hill Jordan, forty three years
ago. Ever since that time he remained a member of that
church until his death and he has been a consistent and
leading member.  

As a Christian, as I may say in every other station of
life, he was unostentatious, unpretending and diffident,
yet strong in his faith, confirmed in hope, firm and
steadfast in doctrines.  He never made great
demonstrations of his feelings, nor indulged in noisy
exultations as some; but was calm, serene and thoughtful,
and yet we are persuaded that the inner man was nurtured
and fed almost to overflow with grace divine.  And as he
grew older, he grew more and more in the knowledge of his
divine Master, until he became to be the full statue of a
man in Christ Jesus. He was always delegated every year
to the Chowan Association, and was scarcely ever known to
fail, unless some providential occurrence.  The few last
years of his life his health became so bad of course he
was not appointed. Bro. Mitchell's walk during all this
time, was circumspect; faithful as becometh a disciple of
Christ. He was a christian whose faith was laid deep  and
strong and abiding, the trusting in his Lord.  He
possessed also as a christian, much fortitud and
forbearance.

As illustrated, by the last four years of his existence. 
It pleased God, in His wise purposes, we can't see for
what, to lay the hand of affliction heavily upon him in
July, 1866. Perhaps it was to exhibit the faith of a true
christian that trusted in him, to his friends and
neighbors, but we can't understand all this.  It is with
God only, and although he suffered a considerable portion
of that time what no tongue can relate or pen can
describe--pains the most acute and lascerating at some
times, and at other times chronic and enduring--yet in
all this time, we speak what we do know, and testify of
that which we have seen.  He was never heard to utter a
word of complaint, or murmur at his Lord, but on the
contrary praised him daily and his prayers were constant.
Oh Lord let Thy will, and not mine be done!  He would
sometimes say, if it was the Lord's will, to take him
unto Himself, that he would much prefer it, but always
with the proviso if it was the Lord's will.  He said he
was willing to suffer what was laid upon him, and would
exclaim, as I have often heard him do, while by his
bedside, "Oh Lord, though thou slayest me, yet in thee
will I trust. "

We love all this with a resignation, forbearance and
christian submission, seldom equalled, and never
surpassed in this, our day.  He had the christian
fortitude to submit to two dangerous and difficult,
operations, in his old age, the first in his sixty-sixth
and the second in his sixty-seventh year, both operations
of Lithotomy: few men of his age would have submitted to
two, the last of which was the most severe, or as much so
as any recorded.  He entirely recovered from both, though
in the last, for two weeks death grappled sorely with him
in vain.  The same endurance, resignation, strong faith,
that he was the Lord's and that he recognized his hand in
all of his dealing with him, was ever present and
sustained him in all his sufferings and afflictions.  And
when he was attacked for the last time, the same trust
and faith in his adorable Redeemer, was with him as a
present help and support, and he often uttered his praise
still.  Although in his last moments he was not all the
time in his perfect mind, but when he was he praised his!

God, and expressed a willingness to depart at his Lord's
time. Thus, the reliance upon a supeintending Providence,
which was one of the governing principles of his life,
did not fail him in death, and if love unceasing for his
Maker and a reference in almost all that he said and did
to the will of God, may be considered as the indications
of a spirit prepared for immortality, his friends may
confidently indulge the belief, that in dying he has but
exchanged the uncertain gratification of this world for
the sure happiness of that to come.


"Sure the last and Of this good man is peace. How calm
his exit; Night-dews fall not more gently to the ground,
Nor weary, worn-out winds expire so soft."
About ten minutes to 10 o'clock on the 6th inst, he
softly breathed his last and his soul made haste to wing
its flight to his Redeemer's bosom.  Brother Mitchell
left many friends and neighbors to mourn their loss, and
he left a happy family, a happy household---all adults,
all Christians, all Baptists. A sweet, fond, amiable
wife, and two sons and a young lady living with them.
His house was a home for Ministers and a lovely one it
was, too.  All quiet, peacable and heavenly.  We have
spent much of our time there for the last three years,
and we always felt better in breathing so pure and
healthy atmosphere--we felt built up in our faith and
delighted to be there, -- all so kind, good, easy and
affable--everything in order and in place, and no jarring
discord, but peace, peace!


I have spoken only of his character as a Christian.

Although Brother Mitchell's record as a Christian was so
good, he always attended to every duty with punctuality,
and every trust that was committed to his keeping, yet I
will say, as a citizen, and gentleman of Bertie County,
his qualities-were surpassed by no one, a man of the most
strict veracity and honesty, and, in fact, these two
leading traits characterized every act of his life.
Honesty and truth were the most prominent of his good
traits.  He was moderate, temperate, prudent, disceet,
careful, consistent, industious, punctual, amialble,kind
and confiding, and, in short, he possessed every good
attribute and virtue that should adorn a christian
gentleman. He was a model farmer. Order, system,
discipline, care and industry were his weapons to insure
him always sure success. There was no man in the county
that farmed with so much ease and comfort and made as
much as our Brother.  Order and peace and smoothness of
getting along was inculcated and carried out.  He did not
speak often and not without careful consideration but
when he did speak it was to purpose and meant something.
He never indulged in levity on any occasion whatever, but
always seemed serious and contemplative. With due regard
for the opinions of others, he always thought for
himself, and acted accordingly.  His ideas were
frequently original, he was a man of quick decision. He
bequethed to his children a name and character as
spotless, pure, and unsullied as the driven snow, and so
free from any and every reproach, that even false
accusation can not be brought against it.  He had the
power of instilling into all around him his own nature
more or less.  

He brought up and has four adult children and they were
trained up in the way they should go, and now they are
old will not depart from it.  His oldest son, Elder John
Mitchell, known all over the State of N.C., and all a
christian minister can be, lives with him.  And if I were
called upon to write an epitaph on his grave stone, I
would deem it sufficient to his memory to write upon it--
- James S. Mitchell, the father of John Mitchell. He
leaves behind him two other sons, both Christians and
Baptists, both men of great personal worth, he has but
one daughter the industrious and amiable consort of W. W.
Mitchell, of Hertford county, she too is a good christian
and a member of the Baptist Church. He has left them a
legacy more pure and precious than gold, and more durable
than brass.

He trained his servants also to be honest industrious and
all of the adults belong to the Baptist Church,
notwithstanding he lived so near the Yankee lines during
the war, but one, and he a small boy could be induced to
leave him.  They are all with him on his farm, but some
very exceptions, working under his guidance and
supervision and making a good living, and are not
loitering about stealing and committing other
depredations as many do.  This is all owing to his
training and his good and moral bearing before them and
their confidence in his honesty and integrity that they
had so long witnessed.  He was a magistrate for many
years in the county of Bertie, his decisions were always
impartial and discreet.  He was elected a member of the
Legislature from Bertie county in 1842, and served the
people acceptably.  In his dress he was plain but neat
and always cleanly; he was a man of good observation and
judgment, his advice among his neighbors was always good,
and a vacuum has been made by his death that can not be
easily filled; his faults if any were few; he managed his
affairs so well and so guided that he, never had any
difficulty to encounter, hence quarreling, litigation and
such like, he was a stranger to those things, he was
always so careful, so particular, and had everything so
well understood, there was no room for broils. His family
and friends feel that his loss is a grievous one, but are
perfectly satisfied he is at rest and enjoying now that
rest that remains for the people of God.


Farewell my dear brother, whose memory I shall ever
cherish, and whose character I would desire to imitate.
Farewll  forever!--


                                                A. J. ASKEW.

========================
USGENWEB NOTICE:  In keeping with our policy of providing
free information on the Internet, data may be freely used
by non-commercial entities, as long as this message
remains on all copied material. These electronic pages
cannot be reproduced in any format for profit or other
presentation. The submitter has given permission to the
USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for FREE
access. ==============