Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 705 - 706 

EBENEZER E. MITCHELL made his way to the young State of Kansas in 1871, locating first in Franklin County. Thence he removed to this county five years later, and since 1876 has been closely identified with its business and agricultural interests. Upon first coming here he homesteaded the northeast quarter of section 29, in Viola Township, which he still occupies, and where he has built up one of the most desirable homesteads in that locality. While struggling with the primitive soil and bringing about the improvements which he has reason to view with satisfaction, he also watched with the deepest interest the growth and development of Southern Kansas, and in the establishment of one of its most valuable farms, has contributed his quota to its progress and prosperity.

            Logan County, Ohio, was the early tramping ground of our subject, and where his birth took place on the 23d of August, 1841. His parents, John and Mary Ann (Graham) Mitchell, were natives respectively of Pennsylvania and New York, and settled in the Buckeye State before their marriage. Their union was celebrated in the town of Reynoldsburg, that State, and they continued residents of that locality until the death of the father which occurred in 1861.

            Our subject, a youth of twenty years at the time of his father's death, left Ohio in 1865 for DeKalb County, Ill., and settled near the town of Sandwich, to which place he was accompanied by his mother and her family, and where she still resides. The seven children of the parental household are recorded as follows: Sarah Ann died when about twenty-three years old; Oliver is a resident of Franklin County, this State; Nancy G., Mrs. John Burt, continues a resident of Ohio; Ebenezer E., of our sketch, was the fourth in order of birth; Hiram and Caroline died when about twenty-one and fifteen years of age respectively; William B. is a resident of Waterman, Ill.

            Young Mitchell spent his early life after the manner common to farmers' boys, studying at the district school and making himself useful about the farm. Later, and after the removal to Illinois, he entered Monmouth College in Warren County, where he pursued a full course of study and developed into a teacher. This profession he followed successfully in Illinois, and taught three terms after coming to this State. Just before this latter removal he was married, March 28, 1871, to Miss Sarah E., daughter of Joseph and Mariah P. More, who was born in New York State, and died at her home in Viola Township, this county, in October, 1880. This sad bereavement left three children motherless, namely: Wallace M., Elzie Ray and Ebenezer I., the latter of whom is now deceased.

            After the death of his wife Mr. Mitchell returned to Illinois, and made his home with his brother while he occupied himself as a clerk in a general store at Waterman. In the fall of 1881 he contracted a second marriage, with Miss Sarah Henry, who was born in Washington County, N. Y., Sept. 15, 1848. Mr. Mitchell now resumed farming in Illinois until his removal to Kansas. He has very little to do with public affairs, but is interested in upholding the principles of the Republican party. He was Township Clerk at one time, and after the establishment of the post-office at Peotone, in Viola Township, in 1877, was appointed Postmaster, which office he held until the incoming of the Democratic administration. In connection with the office he also carried on a small grocery. Religiously, he is a United Presbyterian and has been an Elder in this church for some years. He has a good orchard on his farm, which latter is devoted to the raising of grain and stock.

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