The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1905-12-09
Death Came as a Great Surprise Although II was
Known that he Had Been in Poor and
Failing Health for Months.
CANE TO OREGON YEARS AGO AND LEAD USEFUL LIFE
Every Effort Made Proong Powerful Dg-None Of His
Family He DdHow the News Was Received
Washing on-Senste Action Regard His Death
ind Probably Until Monday.

vania, June 22nd, 1885. During his in.
fancy he was taken by his parents TO
Butler County where he was reared on
farm. He secured the rudiment Of an
education al a district school, and
when aged seventeen he began teaching
TO secure means TO pay his tuition at
Butler Academy from which he later
graduated. After graduating from the
academy he studied hw in the Office
Of Former Attorney General OF Penn
sylvania, Hon Samuel Purviance. He
practicei law in Pennsylvania until
April 1890, when be went to California,
locating first at San Louis 0bispo and
later at San Francisco. In July of that
year he came TO this city. The energy
that has characterized his entire career
caused his election on the Republicas
ticket as town counsel OF Portland in
, 1851. The next year he was elected to
the state senate in 1855 by one vote.
In 1862 he formed a law partnership
with the hate U. s. Senator j. n.
Dolph, enduring until 1873 when Mr..
Mitchell was elected to the United
4 States Senate. A democratic legislature
/ in 1907 failed 10 return him to the sen.
ate. He engaged in the practice Of
law in Portland when he was reelected
TO the United States Senate at a special
session of the legislature. that body
having failed 10 choose a Senator eth
er in 1881 to 1883. He failed to be re-
turned in 1897, and followed his pro.
tession, in partnership with Judge A.
II. Tanner, until 1901. when the Legis.
lature again choose him as one of the
states representatives in the United
States Senate, which Office he retains.
Few public men have been asailed and
withstood so much vigorous opposition
retaining in remarkable degree, his
wonderful sway Of men as did the aged
Senator II was only when his regret
table connection in conspiracy to de-
fraud the Gpverntnens of its public
domain was made manifest by his con-
yiction in the Federal Court, that he
lost the political influence which he had
held for the greaterpart of half a cen
tury.
From his 10th birthday, June p last,
the day on which his guilt was deereed,
Senator Mitchell has rapidly declined.
Not in recent years a hearty man, a
severe cold q year ago followed by the
breaking of limb during the latter
part Of last summer, the mental strain
and humiliation rapidly sapped his Vi
tality until he was in poor condition
physically to throw off, as might a
younger man, the blood poison that fire.
quently characterizes a sufferer from
diabetes.
Senator Mitchelrs wife is in Paris,
France, where she has spent large
part of her time since the marriage OF
their daughter, Margaret to the Duke Of
Rochefoucauld. Mr. Mitchell also has
son, John II. Mitchell, Jr., the children
of his first wife, and Lieutenant Hiram
Mitchell, U. S. A., and a daughter re-
siding at Canton, Ohio. 4
None of Mr.. Mitchelrs family were
present when the end came. His son
John II. Jr., who was here during Mr..