Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-07-31

al '
Ohio County Circuit Court, and man
who perbaps. had more personal friends
and aeouaintances than any other cit
izen of Ohio county, died at his residence
No. At South Front street, about hall
mast one o'clock yesterday afternoon In
the fifty-eighth year of his age.
His demise Will be deplcred from one
end of the county to the other, for Ma
Tor MitcheWs name was household
word from the Ohio river TO the Penn
sylvanla line, and from the borders OF
Brooke TO those CT Marshall. Every Oile
knew him. and most oi those wno knew
him esteemed him for his many com
mendable and companlonable qualities.
Major Mitchell came from pioneer
family and was a descendent OF
good old revolutionary and Dor
der stock. His grandfather was
Alexander Mitchell, who came 10
this region very soon after its tirst set
Element by the whites, and who alter
nate]v fought Indians and aided II lhe
early development OF the surrounding
country. He was native OF Pennsyl-
van.a. Ike many oCheIs OF the first set
lers of Wheeling. For considerable
time he was in government employ as
an Indian scout. He married q Mss
Kelley. and five sons ard daughter
WAS the result of this union. One Of
Nhese sons was Isaac w. Mitchell, VINO
became a prominent citizen OF this por-
ton Of the State, and was for eighteen
years sheriff O. this county, by purchase
under the old Virginia law. He was
also an extensive farmer and large
producer OF wool. He married Miss sal
lie White. daughter of John White, and
fhdr children were Alexander, Zachari-
alb j.. Andrew W, Samuel and john w,
the latter the subject of this sketch.
John W. Mitchell was born December
81. 1888, in the small two story brick
house sill standing at the southwest cor
ner CT Chap.iae and Eleventh streets.
He received his education at Mt. Olive,
n. j., and at a school maintained by
the Episcopal Church at Alexandria,
Va. Returning to Wheeling he read
law with the la-e Zachariah Jacob, his
uncle, and was admitted TO the bar.
In 1860 he was First Lieutenant of the
Shriyer Grays. a local crack military
company, 10 which many OF the young
men of the best families Of this city be-
longed, and al the outbreak OF the war
Lieutenant Mitchell went south with the
majority of his company and entered
The Confederate army He became
Lieutenant in tie Twenty-secOnd Vir-
ginia regiment. attached 10 the Stone
wall brigade, and fought through the
war mainly in the campaigns Of Vir-
ginia. When he was mustered out he
bore the rank OF Major, obtained by d.s-
tinguished and gallant conduct on the
field.
Major Mitchell returned TO Wheeling
in 1865, and was soon appointed de-
putty sheriff under Sheriff Tingle, con-
tinung in Office for about two years
under Sheriff c. P. Brown. In De
cember, 1888, he was appointed Clerk
of the Circuit Court, to fill the vacancy
CccasiOned by the absence OF Clerk Sam
uel 3. McC).loch, and was twice re-
elected. His term would have expired
the coming spring.
Major Mitchell was married in 1865
to Miss H. Grace Woods, daughter of
Andrew p Woods. -Four sons and one
daughter were the result of this union.
but enc son. Albert Mitchell, surviving.
Major Mitchell had been in indiffer-
ent health for some time, and about a
month ago returned from 4 visit TO Cam
bridgeboro Springs, Pa, where he had
gone in the hope Of receiving benefit.
He was a. his Office on the 16ih inst,
when he complained TO some friends Of
not being as wen as usual He remain
el at his home the next day. but on
the 18th ae in started for his office. On
Market street h slipped on an iron Gel
lar door and fell heavily. He returned
10 his home. and has since been con
fined to his room although not all the
time in bed For several days past he
has been losing ground. and yesterday
morn.g his condition was such that It
was evident but few hours more Of
life remained. He died about half-past
one O'Clock, as stated above
There was great sorrow about the
City Hall and Court House. Yesterday.
when the sad fact became pubic Ap-
pIOpriate action will be taken by the
courts and by the bar Of the county.
THE VACANCY FILLED.
Yesterday afternoon John Walton.
Deputy Clerk, was appointed Circuit