Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1903-03-05
j. ]. MITCHELL dead.
PASSES AWAY AT HIS HOME IN
ST. LOUIS FRIDAY, FEB
RUARY 9TH.
DECEASED WAS WE'LL KNOWN HERE
Was Director of the Chicago & Alton
Railroad Company-A Brother
of Captain L. c. Mitchell,
Of This City.
DECEASED WAS WE'LL KNOWN HERE

| J0hn j. Mitchell, OF St. Louis, a
brother Of Capt. L. O. Mitchell, OF
this city, died In st. Louis on Friday,
February 81. MIR. Mitchell was well
known in Mexico, Mo-, having made
Imany acquaintance here while in
charge of the building OF the Chicago
s. Alton railroad to Kansas City.
The Globe Democrat says:
Mr.. Mitchell having been In rapidly
failing health for the past two years,
| it had been for six months or more
feared that death would come at any
moment. He had almost reached his
9lst birthday and for years had been
constantly attended by a nurse or
servant.
CAREER BEGAN IN ALTON.
l&John j. Mitchell and bis brother,
William, located in Alton more than
fifty years ago, conducting a distilling
and milling business, in which they
we're quite successful. Later they
also engaged in the steamboat traffic,
and ran a line OF fast steamers between
Alton and st. Louis. The City Of
Alton, one OF their boats, was the
fastest steamer ever operated between
the two cities.
The Mitchells we're instrumental In
having the Chicago & Alton railroad
built, and for many years the parent
line was operated between Chicago
and Alton only, the trains connecting
with fast steamers at Alton for 81.
Louis. John j. Mitchell continued to
be director In the Chicago & Alton
railroad until 10 was sold to the Har-
riman syndicate few years ago.
During the early part Of the Civil
War John ]. Mitchell rendered valua-
BILE assistance to the government In
saving the arsenal at St. Louis. 1T
was at time when the arsenal was In
Imminent danger OF being captured by
the Confederates that Gen. Bernstein
and a regiment Of the Missouri militia
hurridly removed the arms from the
old arsenal to the steamer City OF AL
ton by night and the boat made fast
run TO Alton.
AT daybreak the residents of Alton
awoke to find the city filled with SOL
diers, who had arrived with the arms
and ammunition. The citizens were
pressed into service to remove the sup
plies from the steamer to places of
safety. Subsequently the stores were
removed to Rock Island, ILL.,, where
the arsenal is still maintained by the
government.
REMOVED TO ST. LOUIS.
About 30 years ago the Mitchells
left Alton, John J. Mitchell coming
to st. Louis and William going to Chi
cago, where he still lives. The Chica-
go s. Alton railroad was then extended
to st. Louis.
The Mitchells owned about 1000
acres of land about IL miles from st.
Louis, where they founded the town
of Mitchell on the line of the Chicago
s. Alton railway. John ]. Mitchell
also founded the town Of Venice, ILL.,,
where he intended TO build up a great |
city, but his hopes In that direction
were never realized.
Since coming to this city, Mr.. Mitch |
ell had lived a retired life with his |
family on Locust street. He was re-
garded by bis neighbors as somewhat
eccentric, but was much esteemed In
the community. For many years he
had spent nearly all of his time in and
about his home, and was seldom seen
In the business section Of the city. |
With him at his Locust street home
lived three daughters, Misses W., G..
A. and Addison Mitchell. A son-in-
law, Herbert W. Phelps, lives at 1858
Westminster place, In Mexico a BROTH
er, Capt. L. G. Mitchell, and In Boston
a daughter, Mrs. Fairbanks. John ].
OF Chicago, is nephew.
Some years ago, instead of making a
will, Mr.. Mitchell divided bis property |
among bis heirs, retaining managing
control, however, during his lifetime.
Until Ill health drove him into retire
ment Mr.. Mitchell was a financial
power In the west His estate is val
ued at many millions, but little OF 1t,
as stated, win pass into probate court