Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1857-07-25
From the Chapel Hill Gazette.
THE LATE PROFESSOR MITCHELL.

wasbinoton Litchfeld county, Conn, August 10,
179s-eraduated at Yale College in 1S15-appointed
Professor of Mathem mates and Natural Philosophy IN
the University of North Carolina in 1Sl7-marrled
in 1s19-ordained by the Presbytery of Orange In
1s21-transferred to the Professorship OF Chemistry
Mineralogy and Geology in ls25-h"nored with the
Doctorship in Divinity by the University OF Alabama
in l64O and appointed Bursar OF the University OF
North Carolina in 1886. He died June 9th, 1857.
DR.. Mitchell was the son of Abner Mitchell re-
spectacle farmer in Washington, Conn. His moth
er's maiden name was Ph@be Elliot and so he was
the descendant in the fifth remove, of that celebra-
ted man of God John Elliot, the Apostle of the In
dians John Elliot and his wife Ann had six chill
dren whose descendants are now very numerous
and can be found in all parts of our country.
Wherever found, and whatever he the number of
their generation their position in society, and their
influence in Church and in State, shows that the
family still receives of that mercy which is shown
unto thousands of them that fear God and keep His
commandments.
Having received his preparatory education in his
native town, he was graduated at Yale College IN
July, 1915. He counted among his class mates there
Judge Badger and Mr. Thos p Devereux, and the late
Rev. Mr. Singeltary, of this State Judge Longsreet,
the famous author of Georgia Scenes" and Presl.
dent of the University of Mississippi and others OF
note in Church and in State. Among these men ne
maintained hi ghly creditable rank in scholarship,
and thus excited hopes which were fully realized.
After graduating, he spent some time as tutor III
Yale College, and then as principal of school Tor
young ladies in New London, Conn, and afterwards
as teacher in Jamaica, L. l. While in this last po-
sition, he received an appointment to the Chalr Oh
Mathematics and Natural Philosophy III the Unlver
sity of North Carolina at the same time that Dr.
Olmsted, now of Yale College, received one to the
Chair of Chemistry, then first created
uary 1878 when the Senior Glass contained Bishop
Green, Mr. Reporter Jones, the Rev. DIR. Morrison
President Polk, Hon. Hugh Waddel, &c at the
same time the late Judge Anderson of Fla, and Sem
ator Haywood of N. c., and Hon. James l. More
head were in the Junior Class; the Hon. Judge Bat
mores, and the Hon. j. R. j. Daniel, the Hon. An
derson MITCHELL and the Rev. Jos. H. Saunders were
Freshmen. The Faculty at the time consisted OF
Dr. Caldwell as President and DR.. Hooper as Pro-
fessor of Ancient Languages Gov. Morehead and
the late Presty H. Mangum were tutors. Dr.
Mitchell also found 100 students his pupils. He
left behind him Faculty of President, nine Pro-
fessors and six Tutors with 40 pupils.
He was licensed to preach the everlasting Gospel
by the orthodox Congregational Church in Conn,
after spending some time at the Theological Semina-
~ at ADdover Mass He preached his first sermon
after licensure in Chapel Hill, and ordained by
the Presbytery Of Orange in Hlsbororgh. His
wife, Maria S., was the daughter of Elsh North, an
eminent physician of New London, Conn.,, and the
house to which he brought his bride is still the home
Of his widow. AS the fruits Of this union, he left
behind HIM five children and nine grand children.
When Dr. Olmsted returned to Yale College in
1925, DR.. Mitchell stepped into his place. because
its studies always particularly attractive to him,
and he was succeeded in the place he left by the
Rev. James Phillips, D. D., who is the only
member of the Faculty of 1926, remaining at
Chapel Hill.
Always remarkable for great bodily activity, he
devoted much time during the early years of Ills
Professorship to forming intimate acquaintance
with the botany and geology Of North Carolina
The plants and the rocks of the State he visited in
their own homes, and during his life he was one of
the best authorities on both bjects in the country.
The expeditions that he conducted into all parts of
North Carolina, looking for flowers, and mosses and
trees and for rocks, and strata, and deposits,
dered him the best physical geographer that the
State has ever had. The information that he gath
cred thus was used profusely in the instruction of
his classes, who always reaped greater benefits from
his acquisitions than any other part of our commu-
nifty He loved the University of North Carolina as
he loved his child and to its advance in all that
should mark institution of the highest grade in
our land he sedulousy devoted the best years of his
life His requirements by reading and by observa-
ton were immense. But they mainly for his
pupils. Sometimes he wrote for the public papers
on matters of scientific interest, and sometimes on
other sub ects. But lie read than he observed
and observed more than he wrote. The following
the titles to of the articles he furnished
Sil'iman's Journal On the low country of n c. in
1928; On the geology of the gold regions of n C.
III 1929; On Welther's tube of safety, with notices of
other subjects, in 1880; On the Causes of Winds and
Storms, in 1881; Analysis of the Protogea of Leib-
nitz, in 1881; Notices of high mountains of n G..
in 1889, &c. These articles he continued at inter-
walls to the day of his death, and they were always
received with much respect by the SaUans of the
country.
The survey of the life of scholar, especially if
he be diligent and painstaking teacher, seldom
presents points OF much public interest. Engaged
for nine months out of twelve in daily attendance on
Prayers, Rectations, Lectures Faculty meetings and
the details OF discipline, his abors do not often fur
nish materials for extended or exciting memoir
What his wisdom and experience teach him to be
use1ui exercises for class of pupils this year. he
must repeat with some notifications next year The
intervals between his special duties as teacher must
be occupied in learning through the press what 9TH
ers are thinking the subjects he has to teach for
ne has but few opportunities for personal intercourse
with others than his immediate colleagues. If he
publish many books he must do so at the expense
OF the midnight lamp, or by ntruding on those Pc
RODS ofrelaxaton from his exhausting labors which
perhaps was more wisely spent in communing with
his telow-men, and acquiring common sense from
the common people.
Dr. Mitchell was Professor in the University of
North Carolina, and all that he acquired. and most
OF what ne did was with eye single to his influ-
ence and success in what he felt to be great Office
His reading was subservent to this end, and what
ne puDhshed was mainly connected with his duties
as teacher To facilitate these labors he prenared
for his own classes Manual of Chemistry. the ser.
ond edition of which was passing through the press
when ne died; Manual of Geology, illustrated bv
geological map of North Carolina; Manual Of
Natural History, and collection of facts and dates
l resp the history, geography &C., of the holy
into ~
ways very DESTROYS to promote amono his nun;ls az
Inc abors of such recluse must find their annro-
Pa,ate reward not in present notoriety nor in the
comforts OF ll.hed purse, but in the annrovaI
OF an enlightened conscience, in the gradual i'm.
provement OF society, in the permanent well. being