The Cecil Whig., 1885-11-28
A NOBLE CITIZEN GONE.
Arthur W. Mitchell Passes to
His Final Rest.

|
But little while ago were the remain:
of David Scott laid sorrowfully in theil
grave when we are again called upon tt
most leaders in the pubnc and social life
of Cecil county. Mr.. Mitchell died al
his home in this town on last Monday
evening at 9:45 o'clock of heart disease
From the time of the contracting of a
severe cold during the progress of the
late fair, at which he was daily present
to aid in its success, his disease proceeded
to rapidly develope until it resulted Sc
fatally and sorrowfully on Monday night.
Fatigued in mind and body, he had been
a patient sufferer for many weeks ere
death came, and about his bedside were
continually gathered those who knowing
his own kind heart and gentle DISPOSE
ton, tried to exhibit toward him all the
| tenderness and love he deserved. When
there occurs the death of a man so earn
estly endeared to every private circle it
| becomes labor of loveafter his death
to bring forward his past public career.
But in his public as well as private life
Mr.. Mitchell has always been the same
ardent and faithful and noble hearted
man. Geo. Edward Mitchell, the father
of the deceased, stadied medicine under
the tuition of his father, Dr. Abraham
Mitchell, and also attended the lectures
at the medical department of the Penn
sylvania University, by which he was
licensed 70 practice his profession on the
the 5th of June, 1905. For years prior
and subsequent to this time he practiced
his profession in partnership with his
father in Elkton, but IN 1908 was elected
one of the representatives of this county
in the General Assembly of the State,
and served in that capacity during the
session of 1S0S-9, being Jealous sup
porter of President Jetferson's Admins
tration. Having declined reelection
to the General Assembly, he was elected
a member of the Executive Council, and
took his. seat in that body on the eth of
November, 1909, Edward Lloyd being at
that time Governor of the State. Mr..
Mitchell's colleagues were Thomas w.
Hall, Levin DuvalI, Reverdy Ghiselin
and James Butcher. For his valuable
services during the winter of 1912 as a
Major, General Armstrong, Secretary of
War, promoted him to the rank of Lieu
tenant Colonel on the Sd of March, 1918.
In the spring of that year the cam paign
on the Northern frontier was opened by
the capture of York, an important post
in Upper Canada. Colonel Mitchell was
tunate affair. After the British troops
had been beaten and completely routed,
the diabolical plan of destroying the
American troops, which were advancing
in columns, by exploding their magazine,
containing 500 barrels of gunpowder, was
carried into effect, and General Pike and
300 gallant soldiers were killed or badly
wounded by the explosion. Col. Mitchell,
who was much injured, assisted in re-
forming the shattered columns. In the
April following, while en- route with his
command from Sackett's Harbor to Buff
falo, having arrived at Batavia he was
ordered by General Brown, who had rode
forty miles during the night to meet him
there, to take command at Oswego, an
important post at the mouth of Oswego
river and the key to a very important de-
pot of naval stores, twelve miles further
up the river at Great Falls, which were
intended for the use of vessels recently
launched, but not yet finished at Sack
ett's Harbor. His gallant defence of Os-
wego was one of the most brilliant affairs
on the Canadian frontier, and was in
striking contrast with the mishaps and
failures in the previous campa' gn, which
competency or cowardice of those in
command. An American historian, in
writing of the defence of Oswego two
years afterwards, used this language:
"On no occasion did the Americans de-
serve better of their country; at no time
before did the enemy buy victory with
less advantage to himself, or at dearer
price. Twice they repulsed and nearly
two days maintained contest against
seven times their number, and finally
succeeded in preserving the stores at the
E,1l tha Of ,nl,
terially impeded the operations of the
army and navy" For the gallantry dis
played at Oswego, Colonel Mitchell re-
ceived the thanks of his superior officers,
and on the 14th of the following August
was breveted Colonel in the Regular
army. Shortly after the conclusion of
peace the Legislature of Maryland passed
a series of resolutions highly compliment
tary of his bravery and good conduct,
and ordered the Governor to present him
with an elegant sword. Ca the 2Sth of
May, 1916, Colonel Mitchell married Miss
Mary Hooper, daughter of Samuel and
Ann Conway Hooper, Of Dorchester
SouhpJy 4'ihi iahus SuC " do d Dtdulllui
and highly cultivated and accomplished
lady, and no doubt her husband, after his
long and arduous service in the army,
hoped to enjoy long season of repose
in the bosom of his family; but he was
not allowed to do so. For his country
men being fully sensible of his eminent
| fitness for the positiop apd bainr deS,r
Gus to reward him in some measure for
his gallant service in the army in the fall
of 1922, elected him member of the
Eighteenth Congress from the Congress
ional district composed of Cecil, Kent
and Hartford counties, without oppos-
ton. Colonel Mitchell was reelected to
Congress in the fall of 1924, carrying his
native county against Mr.. Reed, his op-
ponent by majority of 565 in vote of
a little upwsrds of two thousand. In
April, 1929 he was called upon to mourn
the loss of his estimable companion, who
for nearly tn rteen years had shared his
joys and sorrows, and been his helpmate
in every emergency, leaving him with a
family of seven helpless children. Colo
mel Mitchell felt the loss of his wife
keenly, but notwithstanding he was
nearly overwhelmed with grief, he con-
tinued to serve his country in Congress
with credit to himself and acceptability
to his constituents. In October, 1881, he
| frio with in "a;