BIO: John & Samuel Mitchell, Cumberland County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Bookwalter

Copyright 2010.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/
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History of Cumberland and Adams Counties, Pennsylvania.
Containing History of the Counties, Their Townships, Towns, Villages, 
Schools, Churches, Industries, Etc.; Portraits of Early Settlers and 
Prominent Men; Biographies; History of Pennsylvania; Statistical and 
Miscellaneous Matter, Etc., Etc.  Illustrated.  Chicago: Warner, Beers 
& Co., 1886.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/beers/beers.htm
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                                PART II.

             HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY. PENNSYLVANIA.

                             CHAPTER XLVIII.

               HOPEWELL TOWNSHIP AND BOROUGH OF NEWBURG.

489  HOPEWELL TOWNSHIP.

  JOHN and SAMUEL H. MITCHELL, farmers, Newburg.  John Mitchell, the 
grandfather, came from County Antrim, Ireland, about 1760, and settled 
on the farm, now the property of our subjects.  At that time the lands 
in this neighborhood were nearly all subject to pre-emption, and he 
received a warrant for about 300 acres.  At that date his uncle, Samuel 
Mitchell, resided on the tract now owned by Joseph Heberlig, but just 
when Samuel Mitchell came to this country can not be ascertained.  John 
Mitchell was married, after locating his land, to Miss Mary Irwin, 
about 1773.  The young couple went to work with a will, and ere long a 
log house and log barn were erected, both of which are yet standing, in 
a good state of preservation, and in the barn loft is still hay and 
straw which were placed there before the Revolutionary war.  The 
historian learns of no buildings ante-dating them in the county that 
are still serviceable.  The land was then in its primitive state, but 
with combined energy and muscle John Mitchell soon had a few acres 
cleared and ready for the plow.  With prosperity came also a number of 
children to gladden their home in the wilderness:  Margaret, William, 
Mary, Martha, Jennette and Elizabeth.  Through his wife (Mary Irwin) 
John Mitchell acquired quite a considerable fortune, as the Irwins were 
a wealthy and noted family of Scotch origin, who resided near Middle 
Springs, Franklin (then known as Lancaster) County.  Of John Mitchell's 
children the only son, William (father of our subjects), was born 
September 2, 1777.  He was reared and educated under the old roof tree.  
During his younger days he was a lieutenant in the militia formed to 
protect the State and county from invaders; he was one of the most 
lithe and active men of his times, and enjoyed a great reputation as a 
runner, and he was as fearless as he was fleet.  He was married, about 
1817, to Letty McCune, being at that time about forty years of age.  
Her death occurred as early as 1819, and in 1822 he was married to Mary 
Hanna.  The death of John Mitchell occurred prior to the second 
marriage of his son, his widow having preceded him a number of years.  
William Mitchell purchased his sister's interest in their father's 
estate, and with his last wife began a happy domestic life under the 
roof which had sheltered the family so many years.  Aside from his home 
duties William was quite a noted politician and swayed a power in his 
neighborhood, and he was courted alike by democratic and Republican 
friends, for as "Billy" voted so voted a majority of his neighbors, and 
numerous candidates for office owed their election to his earnest 
support.  Of the children born to this good man six are deceased and 
five living:  Elsie J., widow of John Gilmore; John; Mary; Samuel; 
Elizabeth, wife of John Swartz.  Samuel was married, in 1866, to 
Margaret, daughter of Abraham and Elizabeth Wingert, and on the 
ancestral farm their married life commenced, and there were born their 
children:  Minerva J., Elizabeth M., Annie M. and William W. (the 
latter was born in September 1877, and his grandfather, William 
Mitchell, in whose honor he was named, in September, 1777).  John and 
Mary Mitchell have never married, and make their home with their 
brother Samuel and his pleasant family, who revere the spot where for 
more than a century the family have lived and where their father and 
grandfather died.