The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1886-10-09

An Eyentful Carcer--A Carpenter--a SAT
Death--The Black Hawk wsr--Terrifiee
Strawberry Party--An Ambuscade-- In
dian Horrors.
The subject Of this sketch was born il
Penn Yam, New York, September 4, 1906
His father was Zenas Mitchell and his
mother Elenor Race. They became the pa
rents Of eleven children, nine boys and two
girls. John S. was the second SON. A
brother, Orson D., lives in Otter Church, in
this county; and another, Ira, has not been
heard of IN years, and, il alive, his resi-
dence is unknown. All the others of this
once numerous family are dead.
Mr.. Zenas Mitchell and family went from
New York State to the western limits OF
what is now Indiana, pitching their tents at
For, Harrison, on the Wabash river, just
east of the line Of what is now Nermillion
county, Ill. A short distance from the fort
they found suitable water power, and the
older sons tried to erect a saw and grist mill
thereon; but the Indians were numerous
and dangerous, so that the work was aban-
doned and the would.be builders returned
and Joined the family. After some time they
"took up section of land and EARNED it,
a couple of years. The Indians by this time
having been dispersed and quiet reigning,
Mr. Mitchell, sr., finished the mills; but
hearing of better land in the great prairie
country of Illinois, the family removed to
Stevens Point near what is now Paris, in
Edgar county. There they built saw mill
and distllery. Then corn was worth only
sir cents a bushel, and there was no market
for it anywhere within hundred miles
Chicago or St. Louis, which distance had to
be made by wagons across the unbroken
prairies, over which no roads had ever been
made, other than buffalo trails and Indian
paths. Moreover, these great plains were
filed with chains of immense ponds or
marshes, which were passable only at points
few and far between; and, in addition, there
was not bridge probably in the whole ter
ritory of Illinois, Under these circum-
stances, therefore, corn was a drug, or,
rather, was turned into drug called "spir-
it's" and the "spirits" into liquor; and this
in those days was a tolerably free "circu-
lating medium everywhere.
There were no school houses in those
times. Mr.. Mitchell, ST., realizing that his
large family, some of them growing into
mans estate, needed education, he having
no means of doing anything for the boys,
save to teach them him his trade, that of a
carpenter, built school house, and his
children and two of neighbor's formed a
school, which was presided over by young
lady who was imported from distant set
Element. Here John received the benefit Of
nine months mental training, all the 'book
learning" he ever received at school, and
this was divided into three instalments Of
three months each winter for three years.
BY this time he had grown large enough to
WELD saw, jack. plane and square, and, de-
sirous of learning the higher branches Of the
trade, he determined to become
A CARPENTER.
Accordingly he went to New Orleans,
where he took q regular apprenticeship un-
der skillful mechanic and faithfully served
his term. During his term of Sc rvice he got
a short leave of absence to visit his family,
who had made their permanent home in
Charleston, Indiana. His father was then
building large two story frame house. By
some accident he lost his footing on the
scaffold at the roof and fell to the solid
ground below, a distance of twenty feet,
and was instantly killed, and John was an
eye witness to the shocking event. He re-
manned five weeks, to arrange the affairs of
the family and then returned to New Or
leans, taking with him two younger broth
ers, whom, partly by extra work and partly
by the kindness Of his master, he provided
with board and clothing, besides schooling
them as we'll as he was able When his ap-
premiership had ended he found himself
indebted to his "boss,' and put in extra
hours to square up his accounts. He then
returned to Indiana and helped to build the
stairs in the old state house, or the capitol,
of that State. After while, not finding his
trade brisk in the north, he returned to
New Orleans. Some time after, the news
came Of the breaking out of the
BLACK HAWK WAR.
As his family and friends were all in the
territory likely to be affected by the con-
Aict, he came back. lie reached Louisville,
Ky, and the went to Vincennes. Here
Capt. Yocum had organized company, and
young Mitchell FASTENED to join it, but ar
rived too late, as the company had been filled
and were then on their march to the front
He followed to Terre Haute. bought horse
and came on with the company, volunteer
member, to Danville, Ill. Here, two Of the
company having died, John was mustered in
and glad to get there They then