Evening star., 1950-01-03
George D. Mitchell,
Pathfinder Magazine
Founder, Dies at 83

OSoh 81 - 4NA4VSA4CA4t oC, 1oAllOCl
of Pathfinder Magazine, died yes
terday in Georgetown Hospital
after months illness.
Mr.. Mitchell set up the maga-
zine in 1894 in Offices at 306 Sew
enth street NE. The first issue,
entirely hand-written by him. was
published January s, 1894, and
consisted Of six pages. About 50,-
900 copies were printed for distri-
oution. At the end of the first year
the weekly newsmagazine was run
to IL pages and selling for 3 cents
a copy and 81 year subscription.
Today. Pathfinder has a circula-
tion of more than 100000.
Mr.. Mitchell said he chose the
aame Pathfinder because he want
ed to "blaze a trail through the
jungle of events and tell the story
of history while history was being
made"
Made World Bicycle Trip.
He often said the literary pub
locations of that time dealt with
fiction in greater part, and he
wanted to concentrate on the
facts.
One factor leading to the found
ing of the magazine was a trip
Mr.. Mitchell made in 1893 when
he bicycled around the world. Be-
ginning in Ireland, he visited
England, France, the Alps, Greece,
Palestine and the Far East. travel
ing $4,000 miles in all, one-fifth
of it on bicycle.
Eastman-Kodak cameras were
just coming out at the time, and
Mr.. Mitchell carried one with him
on his trip, swapping thousands of
pictures in his travels.
Born in Tioga County, Pa, Mr..
Mitchell was the son of the late
John Inscho Mitchell of Pennsyl-
vania, who served as a Repre-
sentative from 1877 to 1881 and
as Senator from 1881 to 1887.
Senator Mitchell served later as
judge of the Supreme Court of
Pennsylvania. He died in 1907.
Came Here in 1886.
Mr.. Mitchell came to Washing
ton about 1886 and worked as
stenographer in the Senate for
seven years. While in that posi-
ton, he bought with his own
money the first typewriter ever
used in making Senate committee
reports.
In 1899 Mr.. Mitchell moved his
editorial Offices to Twenty-fourth
and Douglas streets NE, founding
a plant where Pathfinder was
written and published.
The site of this plant, which still
stands, has a history of its own.
Part of the Clark Mills estate, it
was also formerly the site of the
Mills Foundry, where the famous
State of Freedom, now on the
Capitol dome, was cast.
Through the years, Mr.. Mitchell
was always the guiding spirit of
his magazine, associates said to-
day. He worked long hours in his
plant and wrote his own editorials
until his retirement in 1886, when
he sold the magazine.
. Was Amateur Musician.
Mr.. Mitchell also, was an ANA
teur musician, frequently playing
the piano. violin, cello and bass
in musical circles here.
He also painted water color
and oil landscapes, many of which
are owned by the Washington.
Landscape Club.
Mr.. Mitchell lived at ,2S41 TIL
den street NV. with his daugh-
tire, Mrs. Henry A. Berliner. His
wife. Mrs. Wilhemina Mitchell,
died in 1947.
!. Besides his daughter, he is sur
vived by a stepsister, Mrs. Sam
uel Clyde of Swarthmore, Pa:
three grandchildren and two
great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at
l pm tomorrow at Gawler's fu-
neral chapel, 1756 Pennsylvania
avenue NV. Burial will be in
Oakwood Cemetery, Falls Church,
Va.