The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1896-01-28
Death Of william Mitchell.

VI DfOdV Churity tlu hhguAfiy pure
christian manhood. William Mitchell
ives no common man. His was nc
common life. For more than fifty
years he gave the best energies of his
strong, vigorous manhood to the bust.
ness Interests of Mt. Sterling.
Born in this county, Jan. l6, 1919
he came when little more than o
boy, to the then obscure village Of Mt
Sterling and began his business life az
a clerk in one of its few stores. His
close and intelligent attention to the
business interests of his employer soon
won Tor him deserved confidence
and it was not long till partnership
was offered him. He continued in
the mercantile line till 1854 when he
was rendered the position of cashier
in the branch of the Farmers
Bank located here. From that time
till the closing of the bank in August,
1898, he was identified with its inter-
ests aud was recognized as its moving
spirit. He was wonderfully eff
cient and watchful officer, and even
through the stormy period of the civil
war kept the business OF the bank go
ing. No man enjoyed more the con-
fidence and esteem of the people than
was given him during the forty years
of his connection with the banking in
terests of Mt. Sterling. His name
was the SYNONYM of honesty and be-
nevolence during all these wears. His
aid was extended to countless num-
Der OF struggling young men, and
there are few business men in this
section who began their business
career here who have not been, in a
substantial way, indebted to him for
aid rendered them in times of need.
He was man of singularly pure
life. The Master from Gallilee said !:
"Thou shalt love the Lord, thy God,
ETC., and thy neighbor as myself"
and he came very near fulfilling
both these commands.
None who came to him for charity
were ever turned empty away, but
with a gladsomeness that showed he
realized that it is more blessed TO give
than to receive, he open-hsndedly
gave of his goods. This eheerfulness
in giving cannot be better illustrated
than by little incident that came
under the writer's observation. AS he
went into the bank one day he met a
poor wretch just emerging. A mu-
tual friend standing by was rallying
Mr.. Mitchell about his treatment of
the beggar. He said when the poor
fellow told his tale of woe, Mr.. M.
lightly pitched him dollar across the
counter, expressing the hope that it
would relieve his present want, and
when the poor man, surprised at the
unexpected generosity, began to ex-
press his thanks, the donor cheerfully
replied: "Call again sir, call again"
A member of the Christian Church,
he was not only the most regular at
tendant on its services, but as well The
most liberal giver in the congregation.
For forty five years he was an officer
in the church and he recognized no
duty, no matter how unpleasant it
might be, hardship. He was for a |
life time the recognized and loved
leader in all good works in his church,
How much he gave to charity will
never be known; he neither knew
nor cared himself. 1t was enough tor
him to know there was need to sup
ply and he had the means at hand to
relieve it, In all the years OF his bust
ness life among this people there was
not single public enterprise that his
money did not go into. He always
gave to whatever looked to the
of his town.
His very undoing, financially, came
from the over-confdence he reposed
in others. He trusted others too much
and allowed them to involve him, and
by reason of the position he held,
bring ruin not only to himself but
many innocent ones as well. But his
whole lite for 70 years previous.
gives the lie 10 the charge that ne did
this with any fraudulent intent. His
life was wrapped up in the sue
cess of the bank, and when it failed
with so many others in those troublous
times of 1913, he Went down with il
He died virtually ola broken heart.
He died crushed and heart-broken
man, but God will not let all the good
he did for so many years go for
naught.