MITCHELL

 

Compiled by: Andrew L. Moore

336 Sarver Road, Sarver  PA  16055

Email: PAmoores@juno.com

Dated: 25 December 2008

 

 

 

 

 

MITCHELL

 

MITCHELL.  English, Scots and Irish: From the Middle English, Old French given name of Michel, the regular vernacular form of Michael.  Variations:  Mitchel, Mitchell (Devon and Cornwall).  Excerpted from A Dictionary of Surnames by Patrick Hanks and Flavia Hodges, Oxford University Press, Oxford NY  1988.

 

Gavin/Gawain/Guain/Gawen/Guyan Mitchell

 

The probable first generation of my Mitchell ancestry is Gavin Mitchell (born circa 1720, died circa 1779) and Isabelle Campbell (born circa 1725, died circa 1791).  This supposition is held by fellow Mitchell researchers Char Mazurik (email address as of 4/2001: mazurik@netins.net), Elizabeth Smith (email address as of 4/2001: lizsmith@setel.com) and Michael L. Brown (email address as of 6/2002: mikeanddonna@scbbs-bo.com).  Before publishing my Mitchell chapter on the Internet in 9/2000, I had performed my own research in central Pennsylvania in 1998 and 1999 and concluded that this Gavin Mitchell may have been the father of my direct ancestor Alexander (1765-1856) - but since I was not entirely certain, I opted to not include all the information I had discovered for fear of leading others down an incorrect path.  Since posting my "Gavin-less" Mitchell chapter on the Internet in September 2000, I have been contacted by several researchers who believe that Gavin was the father of Alexander Mitchell.  With this in mind, I present below information I uncovered and information I have since received from these other researchers regarding this potentially correct generation of Gavin and Isabelle (Campbell?) Mitchell.  There is no conclusive proof that Gavin is the father of Alexander - but it certainly seems plausible when the supporting research is taken in its entirety.   But, having said that, there is still sufficient doubt surrounding this claim. 

 

I will endeavor to provide all the facts I have and let the reader decide the answer to the question: Is the 1770's Cumberland Co PA couple of Gavin and Isabella Mitchell the parents of Alexander Mitchell who died in Hendricks Co IN in 1856?

 

Update: I was contacted by Stephen Hopfe (email address: Sihopfe@cs.com) in 8/2003 who informed me that Ezekiel Mitchell (one of the assumed sons of Gavin Mitchell and who married Susanne McCollough) had a son named Gavin.  This appears to add additional circumstantial evidence to the theory that Gavin was indeed the father of my Alexander, Ezekiel and others.

 

Although I hesitate to mention it, there is speculation on who Gavin's father was.  According to one source who also admits this is very speculative, Gavin Mitchell's father was named Gavin also - and he married a Margaret Campbell, a daughter of the 8^th Duke of Argyle.  They had at least three children: 1) Gavin (1720-1779), 2) Mosey M, and 3) John.  Again, this information is very speculative and readers are encouraged to treat it as such.

 

Another theory on the ancestry of Gavin comes from Mitchell researcher Michael L. Brown who believes that Gavin is the son of an Alexander Mitchell (son of James) who came from Ireland in 1719.

 

A Short Summary on Gavin Mitchell

By Char Mazurik

 

Gavin Mitchell and Isabella (last name possibly Campbell) came to America on board an immigrant ship from County Cork, near Dublin, Ireland.  This trip was made during the 1770's when their children, Hannah, Robert and Alexander were small.  They settled in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, where Gavin was a farmer and landowner in Newton Township.  He owned at least 100 acres here that was later bequeathed between two of his sons, half to each, Alex and Ezekiel.  Other heirs as named in their wills were another son, James, and daughters Susanna, Margaret, Agnes, Jean, and Ruth.  It is believed that Gavin and Isabella lived out their life in this area of southeastern Pennsylvania, he and Isabella were most likely laid to their eternal rest here.  Gavin passed on about 1779 and Isabella passing on ca. 1791.  Their daughter Hannah's husband, Jonias/Josias Brown, would take care of their estate as administrative executor of both their wills.  Gavin's father is also believed to have been named Gavin, He may have been married to a Margaret Campbell, who was the daughter of the 8th Duke of Argyle.  After their parent's death, it seems that Hannah, now Mrs. Jonias/Josias Brown, and her brother, Robert and his wife, Anna Espy, sold their holdings in Hopewell Township of Cumberland Co.  Pennsylvania and migrated 200 miles west to the frontier in the Ohio County, Virginia area.  Today this is Wheeling, West Virginia.    Hannah and Jonias/Josias purchased 400 acres on Peters Run Creek (north of what is now Valley Grove, Ohio Co WVA).  They were charter members of the Forks of Wheeling Presbyterian Church there and they are buried in Peter's Run Cemetery, near where their farm was located.  Robert and Anna are believed to have raised their family in this area also.  Alexander left Pennsylvania about the same time, 1792, but he went farther south into Kentucky, to the Fleming and Montgomery County area.  These counties would subsequently be broken up to form Bath, Fleming, Montgomery and Nicholas Counties, in Kentucky.  Jonias/Josias Brown and Robert Mitchell served in the Revolutionary War in the Pennsylvania Militia under Captain William Morehead.

 

Early Gawain & Isabel Mitchell References

Cumberland Co PA

 

 

Isabel was so slow to settle the her husband's estate that in 1788 her son cited her.  Isabel died between 19 Jun 1789 when her will was written and 12 Sep 1791 when her will was probated.

 

 

Gavin Mitchell's Will

Cumberland Co PA Will Book D, Page 110

Written 18 Apr 1778, Probated 12 Sep 1782

 

The Last Will and Testament of Gavin Mitchell, deceased.  No. 81.

 

In the name of God, Amen.  I Gaven Mitchell of Cumberland County, Newton Township being sick and weak in body but of perfect mind and memory do make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner and form as follows:  First, I give and bequeath to my well beloved wife Isabella Mitchell all my real and personal estate during her lifetime and while in widowhood to be at her disposal for purposes hereafter to be mention whom I likewise make and ordain as the sole Executrix of this my last will and testament.  Likewise I leave to my two sons viz Alexander and Ezekiel Mitchel the whole of my real estate or land each to have and equal share thereof.  At the death or marriage of their mother and if one of these should die before he hath any lawful heir then his half to be divided equally between the other brother and his five sisters now at home and if both should die before them have lawful heirs then both their parts to fall equally to these five sisters.  Likewise I leave these five to each one a horse and saddle out of the moveables(?) and that these shall continue at home in the family as usual until they are provided for, viz Susanna, Margaret, Agnes, Jean and Ruth.  I leave to my son James Mitchel five pounds and to my son Robert Mitchel I leave one pound and to my son-in-law Josias Brown I leave fifteen pounds the above sum to be in Pennsylvania currency and I do hereby utterly disallow revoke and disannul all and every other former testaments, wills and Executors by me in anywise before named.  Ratifying and confirming this and none other to be my last will and testament in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 18 day of April in the year of our Lord 1778.

                                                                        Gaven Mitchell

Witness: Joseph Parks, James Hathorn.

---------------

Be it remembered that on the 12^th day of September 1782 the testament and last will of Gaven Mitchell deceased was legally proved of which the foregoing records is a true copy……….

 

 

Isabel was so slow to settle her husband's estate that in 1788 her son cited her. 

 

Isabel died between 19 Jun 1789 when her will was written and 12 Sep 1791 when her will was probated.

 

 

 

Alexander Mitchell / Ezekiel Mitchell Deed

Cumberland Co PA Deed Volume 1/Book P, Page 62

Dated 15 Oct 1791

 

"Alexander Mitchel and Mary his wife of Newton Township, Cumberland Co PA" deed to "Ezekiel Mitchel of said township, county and state" "for and in consideration of said Ezekiel Mitchel paying the whole and every part of the said Alexander Mitchell's half of the price of the land bequeathed to them the said Alexander and Ezekiel Mitchell by their father in his latter will, remaining unpaid at their said father's death, thereby freeing and releasing the said Alexander Mitchel and his heirs and assigns from paying the said debt." The tract consisted of 100 acres of land, with allowances of 6 percent.

 

This would be Alexander, the son of Alexander.

 

Alexander Mitchell Deed

Cumberland Co PA Deed Volume 2/Book A, Page 27

Dated 23 Sep 1757

 

Alexander Mitchell (but no wife name) of Lurgan Township, Cumberland Co PA deeds to Thomas Boyd of Cumberland Township, York CO PA land on the south side bordered by lands of Guyan Mitchell, on north by lands of John Car, east by those of Joseph Ramage, and on west by lands of Samuel Cochran.  Witness: Andrew Boyd, William Davis. 

 

This is certainly too early to be Alexander, son of Gavin.  This has to be Gavin's brother or father.

 

 

The children of Gavin and Isabelle (Campbell?) Mitchell were:

 

1.       Hannah, born circa 1747, who married Josias Brown circa 1767 Cumberland Co PA, died 14 Dec 1835 Ohio Co WVA, buried Peters Run Cemetery, Ohio Co WVA.  Josias, possibly the son of Samuel and Hannah Brown of Hopewell Twp, Cumberland Co PA, was born circa 1744 (probably Ireland), died 27 Mar 1821 Ohio Co WVA, aged 77 years, and is buried in the same cemetery.  He served in the Revolutionary War from Cumberland Co PA.  Josias: a) was taxed in Hopewell Twp, Cumberland Co PA from 1779 to 1785, b) was a witness in 1791 to his father-in-law's (Gavin Mitchell) will, and c) purchased 100 acres in Cumberland Co PA in 1789, which he sold in 1791 making a handsome profit.  Josias and Hannah migrated to the frontier in Ohio Co, VA (now Ohio Co in the panhandle of WVA) sometime between 1791 and 1794. They purchased 400 acres of land on Peters Creek, north of what is now Valley Grove, WV. They were charter members of Forks of the Wheeling Presbyterian Church, however, they are buried in Peters Run Cemetery near the location of their farm.  Their children and the estimated birth years are: William (born 1773 Cumberland Co PA), Alexander (born 1 Jan 1775 Cumberland Co PA), Margaret (born ???? Cumberland Co PA), Ann (born circa 1779 Cumberland Co PA), Jane (born Aug 1781 Cumberland Co PA), Hannah (born 1 Nov 1782), Catherine (born ????) and Elijah (born ????).

2.       Robert, born circa 1750 County Cork Ireland, married Ann Espy in Cumberland Co PA, died early 1805 Ohio Co WVA.  Robert served in the PA militia during the Revolutionary War under Captain William Morehead.  Robert and Ann migrated to Ohio Co WVA circa 1790, probably with Robert's sister Hannah and her husband Josias Brown.  The following children are named in Robert's Letterkenny Twp, Cumberland Co PA deed dated 8 Oct 1800: Christiana, Isabella, Jencey, Ann, Gavin, John, George, Robert, Hannah, Matthew (all named Mitchell).  Robert's will, probated in Ohio Co WVA on 8 Mar 1805 (Will Book 1, page 69), mentions the following: a) that he (Robert) was formerly of Franklin Co PA, b) had daughters Christianna McFarlin, Jean Blear, Isabel Mitchell, Ann Mitchell, Hannah Mitchell, c) had sons John, Gaven, Robert, George and Matthew Mitchell, d) will witnessed by Josias Brown, Robert Belland and Andrew Roberson.  According to early Ohio Co WVA records, a George Mitchell married Martha Fulton on 5 Jul 1797 (Book 1, page 78).

3.       Alexander, born 1765 County Cork Ireland, married Mary (probably Rhae and probably in PA), died 15 May 1856, Hendricks Co IN, buried Abner's Creek Cemetery, NW of Danville, Hendricks Co IN.  Mary was born circa 1773 in Ireland and died 4 May 1847 in Hendricks Co IN.  She is buried next to her husband.

4.       Ezekiel, born after 1745, married Susanna McCollough, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Huston) McCollough.  Susanna was born circa 1772 in PA.  I was contacted by Stephen Hopfe (email address: Sihopfe@cs.com) in 8/2003 who informed me that Ezekiel and Susanne had the following 7 children:  Isabelle (born circa 1789 PA), Sarah (born circa 1791), Elizabeth (born circa 1792), Gavin (born circa 1792, married Rebecca Collier in 1812 and married Jane Allen 1840, died 1866 Tipton Co IN), John H (born circa 1796), Mary (born circa 1800).  Steven's direct descendant, Isabella, married a John Henderson in Fayette Co IN in 1809.

5.       James.  I was contacted by a Kathy Gregory (email address: gregory@rh.net) in 2/2003 that this James may be the James she is researching.  Her James was born in Cumberland Co PA and married a Hetty Gibson.  They had a son named William who was also born in Cumberland Co PA and he married an Ann/Anna Johns in 1803.  This union produced a named James Gibson Mitchell, born 5 Dec 1805, who married a Sophie Stearns Williams in Meigs Co., OH on 1 June 1830.

6.       Susanne, born after 1745.

7.       Margaret, born after 1745.

8.       Agnes, born after 1745.

9.       Jean, born after 1745.

10.   Ruth, born after 1745.

11.   Elizabeth, married James Fleming.

12.   Nancy, married David Ireland, son of John and Martha (Pruivance) Ireland.

13.   Elijah, born about 1755.  Is mentioned as being one of the first settlers of Preble Co OH in 1807.

14.   Janet, born after 1745.

 

Alexander Mitchell

 

            Alexander Mitchell, according the above family history, was born circa 1762/1765 in County Cork, Ireland and immigrated to Pennsylvania (probably Newton Township, Cumberland Co) as a child on the same boat as his wife Mary.  According to a distant relative in Hendricks County IN and Fleming Co KY, Mary’s maiden name was possibly RHEA, REA or RAY.  Mary was born circa 1773. No record of their marriage, in either Pennsylvania or Kentucky, has yet been located.  It is possible that the “Alexander Mitchel” found in the 1790 Cumberland Co PA census is the immigrant Alexander Mitchell.  Further research might bear this out.  According to the Cumberland Co (PA) Historical Society, the only early Alexander Mitchell marriage they have is an Alexander Mitchell and Jenny [Mary Jane??] Moorhead who were married in “1769” (date estimated by the preacher).  As Alexander was born in 1760/1762, this union does not seem be ours.  The 1850 Hendricks Co census [the first to record birthplace] records Alexander’s birthplace as “IRELAND”.

 

            The family's first appearance in census records is in the 1790 Federal Census in Newton Township, Cumberland County, PA.  It records a family of three little boys under 16 and a mother and father.  The family’s second appearance is in the 1810 Montgomery Co KY census where Alexander and Mary had 8 children living with them.  Alexander and his family were found in the 1820 and 1830 Fleming Co KY census.  This agrees with information derived from the descendants of Samuel Mitchell, the oldest son of Alexander and Mary.  Samuel, born in 1788 in PA, lived and died in Fleming Co KY.  He and his wife are buried near Myers KY [near the Nicholas Co KY line] in the Old Mitchell Cemetery overlooking the Licking River. 

 

 

Alexander Mitchell / Ezekiel Mitchell Deed

Cumberland Co PA Deed Volume 1/Book P, Page 62

Dated 15 Oct 1791

 

In the above deed, "Alexander Mitchel and Mary his wife of Newton Township, Cumberland Co PA" deed to "Ezekiel Mitchel of said township, county and state" "for and in consideration of said Ezekiel Mitchel paying the whole and every part of the said Alexander Mitchell's half of the price of the land bequeathed to them the said Alexander and Ezekiel Mitchell by their father (who is Gavin Mitchell) in his latter will, remaining unpaid at their said father's death, thereby freeing and releasing the said Alexander Mitchel and his heirs and assigns from paying the said debt." The tract consisted of 100 acres of land, with allowances of 6 percent.

 

 

            In the fall of 1832, with the expectation of free federal land to the north, Alexander and Mary left Fleming Co KY with their three sons William, Hiram and Solomon, crossed the Ohio River and migrated to Center Twp, Hendricks Co IN.  Between September 21 and 28, 1832, these three sons had entered five land claims totaling over 480 acres of land in Center Township.  President Andrew Jackson issued patents on these five tracts two years later in 1834.  According to Hendricks Co IN census records, Alexander lived next to his son Hiram in 1840.  In 1846, Alexander was one of the charter members of the Masonic Lodge of Danville, Hendricks Co IN.  Alexander’s wife Mary died in 1847.  By 1850 he had moved in with his daughter, Nancy (Mitchell) Gregg and her family.  Alexander died on 15 May 1856 at the age of 94 in Center Township, Hendricks Co, IN and is buried next to his wife Mary in the Abners Creek Cemetery. Mary died on 4 May 1847 at the age of 74.  Neither Alexander nor Mary’s obituary has been found in the local Hendricks County newspapers.

 

 

Eaton (Preble Co OH) Weekly Register

The following is a reference to some Mitchells in the 16 Jun 1870 Eaton (Preble Co OH) Weekly Register.  Conclusive relation unknown.

 

A pioneer of Preble County named Samuel Mitchell said that in June 1805, Peter Fleming Sr., Richard Maxwell, Benjamin Bryam, Alexander Mitchell and William Province (Purviance) started from Kentucky to explore the Northwest Territory. Alexander Mitchell came to where Eaton, Ohio, now is and tarried all night, and then passed on to Adams County, Ohio, here his father resided. In March, 1807, Elijah Mitchell, Andrew Morrison, James Purviance, Parson Purviance, and Elam Purviance were the first settlers of Jefferson Township, Preble County, Ohio.

 

 

The History of Hendricks County [IN] 1914-1976

Edited by John R. McDowell

Published by the Hendricks County Historical Society

Danville IN, Oct 1976

 

            “Among the early settlers coming to Indiana were Hiram and Lucretia Bailey  [daughter of William and Margaret Bailey] Mitchell and their children and Hiram’s parents Alexander and Mary Mitchell. 

            With wagons pulled by oxen and horses, the family crossed the Ohio River on a ferry loaded with their household goods, livestock and food supplies.

            Hiram Mitchell’s parents, Alexander and Mary Mitchell, came to America on a ship with Irish immigrants from County Cork, near Dublin, when they were small children.  The immigrants settled in Pennsylvania for a number of years.

            Alexander and Mary Mitchell married and migrated to [Montgomery Co] Kentucky where they raised a large family.  Eventually, their son Hiram took out a grant of land in 1839 under President Andrew Jackson, and they migrated to central Indiana, settling in Hendricks County.

            At that time, much of Hendricks County was still a wilderness, abounding with game.  A few Indians were still in the county when the Mitchell's built log cabins, cleared the land and began farming, living on what they raised, wild game, homemade maple sugar, fruit, nuts and vegetables.  They had a cow that provided milk and butter and had a bell on her neck so she could be found in the forest.

            Lucretia Mitchell became famous throughout Hendricks County as a midwife, helping Dr. White and other frontier doctors deliver babies.  She also wove cloth and made men’s suits and caps.  Hiram and Lucretia raised eight children [really ten, but William died at age 30 in 1857 and the other, Zachariah, a twin of Solomon, died in 1852 at age 5].  One was Hiram Mitchell II, who married Elizabeth Clark.  They were known as Uncle Hiram and Aunt Betty.  They raised six sons and lived for many years on a portion of the original grant of land in Center Township.  Their granddaughter Marie Mitchell Lowe, lives on a 20-acre portion of the original family farm.

            Hiram and Lucretia Mitchell and their children attended church at Abner’s Creek, after the time of the circuit rider preaching in private homes.  In the Abner’s Creek Cemetery are found tombstones marked: Alexander Mitchell 1762-1856 (94 years); Mary Mitchell, born 1773, died 1847 (74 years old) and Hiram Mitchell born 1805, died 1889 (84 years old).”

 

The preceding was taken from The History of Hendricks County [IN] 1914-1976, edited by John R. McDowell.  Published by the Hendricks County Historical Society, Danville IN, Oct 1976.  Printed by White Arts Inc, Indianapolis, IN.  Remarks in [ ] added by ALM.

 

 

“Descendants of Alexander and Mary Mitchell”

 

Alexander Mitchell.   Born in Ireland near Cork year born 1763.  Died 1857.  Wife Mary died 1841.  Mary his wife, born in Ireland, married in Penna.  They emigrated to Kentucky, raised 10 or 12 children, then emigrated to Indiana in the year 1826 with 3 sons and 1 daughter.  One of the sons, Hiram Mitchell, born 1804 was my grandfather.  He married Lucretia Bailey.  She was born year 1809.  To them was born 10 children: William, Albert, Lorenza, Hiram, John, Alex, Solomon, Zachariah, Mary, and Margaret.  They entered land 5 miles N. East of Danville the year 1832 under Andrew Jackson’s administration.

 

Hiram Mitchell and Elizabeth, my father and mother.   Hiram Mitchell (Jr) born 1836.  Elizabeth Mitchell born 1840, maiden name Clark.  To them was born six sons: Orian Jr [or Orrin?], Abner, Minton E, John W, Harry, Jesse F.  I Harry Mitchell and wife Finnie Mitchell, deceased, was born 3 children, Glen, Lottie, Wyatt.  I make this press a present to George Mitchell, Wyatt Mitchell’s son.  He is to keep this as long as he lives or turn it over to his brother Stewart Mitchell to be retained by Mitchell family.  This press is solid walnut made in the year 1839 for Hiram and Lucretia Mitchell same year home was built.  Signed Harry Mitchell, grandfather of George Mitchell this 25 January 1940.

 

The preceding was written on cardboard and nailed to the back of the walnut press, by Harry Mitchell, son of Hiram Mitchell, Jr, who was born circa 1875 and married Golden “Finnie Jackson 16 Apr 1895 in Hendricks Co IN.

 

 

Alexander and Mary’s seven children:

 

1.    Samuel James, born 1788 in either PA or VA (depending on census information used), married Nancy Florough/Flora (sister of John Flora) 18 Apr 1811 in Bath Co KY.  Samuel died circa 1872 in Fleming Co KY.  They are both buried near Myers KY in the Old Mitchell Cemetery overlooking the Main Licking River (near Parks' Ferry, Nicholas Co KY).  Their graves are marked by fieldstones with their initials and dates of birth and death carved on them.  Several of their descendants are buried in the same graveyard.  Samuel was one of the children that stayed behind when Alexander and Mary migrated to IN in 1832.  Samuel and Nancy appear in the 1860 Nicholas Co KY federal census: Samuel Mitchell-72-born VA; Nancy Mitchell-73-born VA; Artatamos Mitchell-15-born KY.

2.    James, born circa 1790, married Anna/Anah/Onahinstead Green/Greene on 15 Oct 1811 in Bath Co KY.  Anna is the daughter of Zachary Green.  In 1840 James is listed on Slate Creek in Bath Co KY and has an Owingsville KY postoffice address.  Their marriage record lists "James Mitchell and William Ray (maybe Rhea?), Bondsman; Alexander Mitchell gives consent".

3.    Jenna, born circa 1792, married Goldsberry Green/Greene on 7 Sep 1811 on Bath Co KY.

4.    William, born 11 Jun 1798 in KY (most likely Montgomery Co), married: 1st) Isabella Pointer/Painteron 10 Jun 1819 in Fleming Co KY and 2nd) Martha Ann King on 26 Dec 1845 in Hendricks Co IN.  William fathered 10 children with his first wife and 11 with his second.  He died 6 Dec 1875 in Hendricks Co IN.  He is buried in the Abner’s Creek Cemetery NW of Danville IN.  William, Hiram and Solomon accompanied their parents to Hendricks Co IN in 1832.

5.    Nancy, born circa 1800 in KY, married John Gregg on 5 Jan 1829 in Fleming Co KY.  Nancy and her family were found in the 1850 Hendricks Co IN census - so they must have moved from Fleming Co KY with or shortly after her parents and her brothers William, Hiram and Solomon moved to Hendricks Co IN.  Her father, Alexander, was found living with her and her family in the 1850 Hendricks Co IN census. 

6.    Hiram, born on 15 Nov 1804 in KY, married Lucretia Bailey on 5 Nov 1826 in Bath Co KY and died on 12 Jan 1889 in Hendricks Co IN.  Both Hiram and Lucretia are buried in the Abner’s Creek Cemetery NE of Danville IN.  Hiram accompanied his brothers William and Solomon and their parents when they all migrated to Hendricks Co IN in 1832. I will expand on this direct descendant of ours later.

7.    Solomon, born 1 Dec 1806 in KY and died 16 Apr 1875 in Hendricks Co IN.  He is also buried in Abner’s Creek Cemetery.  He migrated to Hendricks Co IN in 1832 with his parents and his brothers William and Hiram.  A Hendricks Co IN descendant of Alexander named Stuart Mitchell has Solomon’s old leather bound dictionary that contains the inscription: “Solomon Mitchell’s book, bought in Flemingsburg (KY) Acton Store, March 30, 1829, price $1.871/2”.  This dictionary was given to Stuart by his grandparents Hiram Jr and Elizabeth Clark Mitchell.  Hiram Jr is a son of Hiram Sr.

 

 

Hiram Mitchell, Sr.

 

            Hiram Mitchell, the fourth son of Alexander and Mary (Rhea?) Mitchell was born 15 Nov 1804 in KY.  He married Lucretia Bailey, daughter of William and Margaret (Greene) Bailey, on 5 Nov 1826 in Bath Co KY.  Hiram died on 12 Jan 1889 in Hendricks Co IN.  Lucretia’s mother, Margaret, was the daughter of Zachariah Greene of Bath Co KY.  Lucretia was born on 9 May 1810 in KY and died on 21 Jul 1892 in Hendricks Co IN.  Both Hiram and Lucretia are buried in the Abner’s Creek Cemetery NE of Danville IN.  Hiram accompanied his parents and brothers William and Solomon when they all migrated to Hendricks Co IN in late 1832 - probably after harvesting their fields in Kentucky for the last time.  According to Lucretia (Bailey) Mitchell’s obituary, Hiram and Lucretia migrated from KY to Hendricks Co IN in the fall of 1832 to claim free land.  This is confirmed by Hendricks County IN courthouse records that indicate Hiram traveled to the land office in Crawfordsville IN (NE corner of the County) and submitted claims on 21 Sept 1832 for two tracts of land in Center Twp, one 80 acres and the other 40 acres.  On 9 Sept 1834, President Andrew Jackson issued deeds for these two tracts.  Listed below are the details of all the Mitchell land grants to Hiram and his two brothers:

 

 

Mitchell Land Grants in Center Township, Hendricks Co, IN

 

 

 

Listed below are all the other land grants made to individuals with the surname Mitchell - which may or may not be related to our particular group:

 

Other Mitchell Land Grants in Hendricks Co, IN

 

 

 

Fletcher M. Mitchell, son of James M. Mitchell and grandson of William Mitchell Sr, entered the following historical abstract about his ancestry in the “History of Hendricks County, IN 1885”: Fletcher M. Mitchell resides on Section 31, Center.  His farm was formerly owned by his Uncle, Solomon Mitchell, a pioneer of Center township, who willed it to our subject.  The homestead contains 102 acres of valuable land, and in addition to this Mr. Mitchell owns thirty acres in Washington Township.  The Mitchell family has many representatives in Hendricks County.  They are the descendants of two brothers, William and Hiram, who, with their brother Solomon, settled in Center Township in the fall of 1832.  Solomon Mitchell was born in Bath County, KY in December 1806 and died in the spring of 1875 in Center Township, Hendricks Co, IN.  He was a bachelor, and an industrious wealthy citizen.  He at one time owned between 400 and 500 acres of land in this township.  Hiram is still a resident of Center. “

 

The following information was gleaned from “The People’s Guide - Directory of Hendricks County, IN”, printed in 1874:

 

 

            Hiram Mitchell’s obituary was located in the Thursday January 17, 1889 edition of The (Danville, IN) Republican-Front Page, Col. 2:

 

“Uncle Hiram Mitchell, an aged citizen of the eastern part of the county, died last Friday night at 1 o’clock, in the 86th year of his age.  He was an old settler, having entered the land on which he spent his last days, in 1831.  The venerable wife survives him and is 80 year old.  He also leaves several children.  The remains were buried at Abner's Creek Cemetery.”

 

 

Lucretia (Bailey) Mitchell’s obituary was located in the July 28, 1892 edition of The (Danville, IN) Republican-Page 7, Col. 3:

 

“----- A PIONEER GONE ------    Lucretia Mitchell was born in Kentucky May 10, 1810.  In the year 1826, she was  married to Hiram Mitchell.  Early in the fall of 1832, they moved to Hendricks County, stopping on the land a few miles northeast of Danville, making a camp.  Her husband afterwards entered that land, on which she lived until her death. Thursday July 21, 1892.  Her husband died January 12, 1889.  Twelve children were born to them, eight of whom are still living.  The youngest, Solomon, is 45 and the oldest living is 65.  That the changes in the country since then, may the better be appreciated, it may be mentioned that the lands all around the quarter section her husband entered were vacant (belonging to the US) at that time and he had the pick and choice of a large amount.  There was no scramble at that time as to who should get to the land office first, for there was land for all who wanted it and more.  The deceased performed much hard work incident to the life of one of the earliest pioneers.  She had many friends and no enemies.”

 

            Hiram and Lucretia (Bailey) Mitchell had ten children, the first four of which were born in Kentucky and made the journey north across the Ohio to Indiana in 1832:

 

1.       William, born 13 Aug 1827, most likely in Bath Co KY, married Nancy Myers on 9 Mar 1856 in Hendricks Co IN and died on 8 Nov 1857.

2.       Mary, born 13 Oct 1828, most likely in Bath Co KY, married Adam Cayler on 1 Apr 1844 in Hendricks Co IN and died on 10 Jan 1901.  In the deed mentioned below

3.       Albert Gallatin, born 28 Jul 1830, Bath Co KY, married Ann Elizabeth Bryant 24 Dec 1857 Davis IA, d 13 Aug 1899.  According to the deed below, he was an unmarried widower located in Grant Co KS in 1893 and had at least one child named Charles W.  Charles’ wife Mary is also mentioned in the deed below.  In 2002, I corresponded with a descendant of this Mitchell - a Barbara Buxton (email 11/2002: barbibux@msn.com ).

4.       Lorenzo Dow, born 15 Feb 1832 in KY several months before the family migrated to IN, married Sarah A. Morris on 26 Nov 1857 in Hendricks Co IN.  He remarried a Mary Frances Myers and died 2 Apr 1914 - possibly in Boone Co IN.  According to the deed below, he was in Boone Co IN in 1893.

5.       Margaret, born 13 Aug 1834 in Hendricks Co IN, married Hiram (probably made her dad proud) Abner Wiley on 27 Dec 1849 in Hendricks Co IN.  According to the deed below, this couple was living in Allen Co KS in late 1892.

6.       Hiram Jr, born 13 Aug 1836 in Hendricks Co IN, married Elizabeth “Bettie” Clark on 6 Dec 1857 in Hendricks Co IN and died 20 Apr 1923 also in Hendricks Co IN.  Elizabeth was born 8 Jun 1840 in Indiana.

7.       John Wesley, born 17 Mar 1839 in Hendricks Co IN, married Lucy E. Worrell 24 May 1867 in his brother Alexander’s home near Centerville, Appanoose Co, IA and died 6 May 1922 in Arlington KS.  John W and Alexander migrated together from Hendricks Co IN to Centerville, Appanoose Co IA and then onto Arlington, Reno Co KS.  John was a carpenter by trade.  My father, William Byron Moore, has a cherry drop leaf table that John made in Indiana - and that was brought to Kansas via Iowa, probably by covered wagon.  This table was found on their back porch after John’s wife died.  My Dad used to build model airplanes on this table when he was a boy.  His mother later had the table refinished and gave it him.

 

Several short articles were located on John:

 

1) June 16, 1916 The Arlington (KS) Enterprise: “Uncle John (W.) Mitchell who has been sick for some weeks past is still very sick and this morning, Thursday, he is reported as not being very well.”

2) May 5, 1922 Arlington (KS) Enterprise: “Uncle John Mitchell Ill; Has been confined to his bed for the past two weeks.  Uncle John Mitchell, one of the early settlers of this community and a resident of this city for a number of years past, is reported as being very ill at his home south of the Methodist church.  Mr. Mitchell caught a slight cold about three weeks ago since and it hung on, and for about two weeks he has been confined to his bed.  At this writing (Wednesday evening), he is reported as being no better, but is becoming weaker and losing flesh.  Mr. Mitchell is in his eighties and during his life has been in good health the greater portion of the time during the past winter he was able to walk up town and back almost every day”.

 

John’s obituary was recorded in the May 12, 1922 edition of the Arlington (KS) Enterprise:

 

John Wesley Mitchell, Departed from this life at his home last Saturday.  John Wesley Mitchell was born March 17, 1839.  His childhood and early manhood were spent in the state of Indiana.  On May 24, 1867 (in his brother Alexander’s home in Appanoose Co IA) he married Lucy E. Worrell.  At an early day they came to Kansas and made their home in the vicinity of Arlington.  Many years ago our brother was converted to the Christian hope and joined the number of Christ’s followers.  For about thirty years he has been a ruling elder in the Presbyterian Church of Arlington.  Our brother departed from this life on May 6, 1922 and the advanced age of eighty-three years, three months and nineteen days.  He was known to our entire community.  All found him a true friend, a wise counselor and a sympathetic helper.  In the church, he was interested in all things relative to the extension of the Master’s kingdom, and he adhered most positively to the principal fundamental.  The departed leaves a loving wife, two brothers, Alexander Mitchell of Arlington and Hiram Mitchell of Danville, Indiana; many nephews and nieces and more distant relatives.  These will cherish blessed memories of him whom they have known and well may they honor the faith that fitted him for useful living and a peaceful departure.  He will be greatly missed by all of us, but none can fail to be comforted with the assurance that he has gone to be with Christ, which is far better.  The funeral service was held on Monday afternoon at three o’clock at the Presbyterian Church.  The Pastor of the church spoke these words from Proverbs 16:31: ‘The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness.’  The remains were laid away in the Arlington cemetery.  The deceased was an honored member of Cable Lodge No. 299 A.F.A.M. having been a member for many years, and after the service at the church, the remainder of the service was in charge of the Masonic order.  Card of Thanks.  We wish to take this means of thanking our many friends for their kind assistance and sympathy during the illness and death of our dear husband and uncle, also for the beautiful flowers.  Lucy E. Mitchell and Relatives.“

 

8.       Alexander, born 10 Mar 1841 in Hendricks Co IN, married Mary J.L. Harrod on 18 Nov 1866 in Hendricks Co IN.  They migrated with Alexander’s brother John to Centerville, Appanoose Co IA in 1866/67 and then onto Arlington, Reno Co KS in 1885.  Alexander died 23 Apr 1931 in Arlington KS and is buried in the Arlington Cemetery.  I will expand on this direct ancestor below.

9.       Solomon, twin of Zachariah, born 7 Jan 1847 in Hendricks Co IN, married Eliza A. Jackson on 13 Sept 1868 in Hendricks Co IN.

10.   Zachariah, twin of Solomon, born 7 Jan 1847 in Hendricks Co IN and died 5 years later on 12 Apr 1852 in Hendricks Co IN.  He is buried in the Abner’s Creek Cemetery outside Danville IN.

 

            Both Hiram and Lucretia died intestate.  As a result, their surviving children had to hire lawyers to petition the Court to divide up the remaining land to the children.  The deed that settles the estate is filled with a great deal of biographical information on our early Mitchell family.  It documents all of Hiram and Lucretia’s surviving children, their spouses and where they were living in 1893.  Remarks in [ ] added by ALM.  To document:

 

 

Hendricks County, IN, Deed Book 74, Pages 429-433

Recorded: 4 Feb 1893

 

SOLOMON MITCHELL [Jr]  et al   to HIRAM MITCHELL [Jr]

 

            This indenture witnesseth, that Solomon Mitchell and Eliza Mitchell his wife, of Hendricks County, State of Indiana, Alexander Mitchell and Mary [Harrod] Mitchell, his wife of Reno County, State of Kansas, Lorenzo D. Mitchell and Sarah E. Mitchell, his wife, of Boone County, State of Indiana, John W. Mitchell and Lucy E. Mitchell, his wife, of Reno County, State of Kansas, Margaret Wiley and Abner Wiley, her husband, of Allen County, State of Kansas, Albert G. Mitchell a widower and unmarried, of Grant County, State of Kansas and Charles W. Mitchell [son of Albert G] and Mary Mitchell, his wife, of Grant County, State of Kansas, do hereby convey and quit-claim to Hiram Mitchell of Hendricks County, State of Indiana, for the consideration and purpose hereinafter mentioned, the following described real estate situated and being in Hendricks County, State of Indiana to-wit:

            THIRTYONE ACRES on the entire NORTH SIDE of the SOUTHWEST QUARTER  of the SOUTHEAST QUARTER of SECTION 30 in TOWNSHIP 16 NORTH and RANGE 1 EAST,  the south line of said THIRTYONE ACRES to be parallel with the north line of said southwest quarter of said southeast quarter.

            One HIRAM MITCHELL died on the 12th day of January A.D. 1889, Intestate, owning in fee simple, said SOUTHEAST QUARTER of said SECTION 30 in TOWNSHIP 16 NORTH and RANGE 1 EAST and left surviving him as his only heirs his widow LUCRETIA MITCHELL, now deceased, and their eight children, namely: said Solomon Mitchell, Alexander Mitchell, Lorenzo D.  Mitchell, John W. Mitchell, Margaret Wiley, Albert G. Mitchell, of the Grantors herein, said HIRAM MITCHELL Grantee herein and Mary Caylor, the last named child and not being a party herein.

            That after the death of said HIRAM MITCHELL deceased, as aforesaid, and before the death of said LUCRETIA MITCHELL, as aforesaid, the said Lorenzo D. Mitchell conveyed by deed to said Solomon Mitchell the undivided one twelfth (1/12) interest in the quarter section of land hereinbefore mentioned and described, said one twelfth (1/12) being all the right and interest in said quarter section of land which said Lorenzo D. Mitchell, then owned as an (page 74/429 ends; page 74/430 begins) heir of said HIRAM MITCHELL deceased.

            That after the death of said HIRAM MITCHELL, deceased and before the death of said LUCRETIA MITCHELL, his widow, all asforesaid, the said John W. Mitchell conveyed by deed to said Solomon Mitchell, the undivided one twelfth (1/12) interest in the quarter section of land hereinbefore mentioned and described said one twelfth (1/12) being all the right and interest in said quarter section of land which said John W. Mitchell then owned as an heir of said HIRAM MITCHELL, deceased.

            That after the death of said HIRAM MITCHELL, deceased and before the death of said LUCRETIA MITCHELL, his widow, all aforesaid, the said Mary Caylor, her husband, Adam Caylor, joining with her, executed to said Solomon Mitchell a general warranty deed purporting to be for the undivided one eighth (1/8) interest in the quarter section of land hereinbefore mentioned and described, said one eighth (1/8) relating  to all the right and interest in said quarter section of land which said Mary Clayor then owned as an heir of said HIRAM MITCHELL, deceased and to the prospective right and interest therein which she anticipated as a survivor and heir of said LUCRETIA MITCHELL, her mother, deceased.

            That after the death of said HIRAM MITCHELL, deceased and before the death of said LUCRETIA MITCHELL, his widow all aforesaid, the said Albert G. Mitchell executed to his son Charles W. Mitchell Grantor herein, a deed of conveyance purporting to be for the undivided one twelfth (1/12) interest in the quarter section of land hereinbefore mentioned and described said one twelfth (1/12) being all the right and interest in said quarter section of land which said Albert G. Mitchell then owned as an heir of said HIRAM MITCHELL deceased.

            That on the 21st day of July, 1892, said LUCRETIA MITCHELL widow of said HIRAM MITCHELL, deceased, as aforesaid, died Intestate, and owning in fee simple, the undivided one third (1/3) interest in the quarter section of land hereinbefore mentioned and described, said one third (1/3) being the right and interest in said quarter section of land which said LUCRETIA MITCHELL then owned as widow of said HIRAM MITCHELL, deceased, and left surviving (page 74/430 ends; page 74/431 begins) her, as her only heirs, the aforesaid eight children of the said HIRAM MITCHELL, deceased and of herself.

            The said HIRAM MITCHELL [Jr], grantee herein, nursed and cared for said LUCRETIA MITCHELL after the death of her said husband HIRAM MITCHELL, deceased, and this deed of conveyance is executed to said HIRAM MITCHELL, grantee herein, to make partition of said quarter section of land and designate and describe the part thereof which by the agreement of the parties herein, he is to have as his full and complete portion and share thereof and in payment and in satisfaction of all claims and charges against the estate of said LUCRETIA MITCHELL, deceased, for said nursing and care.

            And said HIRAM MITCHELL [Jr], grantee herein, accepts this deed of conveyance for his full portion, share, right and interest in said quarter section of land, and by such acceptance, renounces and relinquishes all his right title and interest in and to the part of said quarter section of land, exclusive and outside of the THIRTYONE  (31) acres herein and hereby conveyed to him, in favor of the grantors herein according to their respective rights and interests therein under the law.

            In testimony whereof the said Solomon Mitchell and Eliza Mitchell his wife, Alexander Mitchell and Mary Mitchell his wife, Lorenzo D. Mitchell and Sarah E. Mitchell his wife, John W. Mitchell and Lucy E. Mitchell his wife, Margaret Wiley and Abner Wiley her husband, Albert G. Mitchell a widower and unmarried and Charles W. Mitchell and Mary Mitchell his wife have hereunto set their hands and seals on this November 22nd A.D. 1892.

                                                     

                                                                        Solomon Mitchell           | seal |

                                                                        Eliza Mitchell                 | seal |

                                                                        Alexander Mitchell         | seal |

                                                                        Mary Mitchell                 | seal |

                                                                        Margaret Wiley              | seal |

                                                                        Abner Wiley                  | seal |

                                                                        John W. Mitchell            | seal |

                                                                        Lucy E. Mitchell             | seal |

                                                                        Albert G. Mitchell           | seal |

                                                                        Charles W. Mitchell        | seal |

                                                                        Lorenzo D. Mitchell        | seal |

                                                                        Sarah E. Mitchell           | seal |

 

 

State of Indiana, Hendricks County,

            Before me, Charles Foley, a Notary Public within and for said County on this November 22nd A.D. 1892, personally came Solomon Mitchell and Eliza Mitchell his wife and ALEXANDER MITCHELL, husband of Grantor MARY MITCHELL, all personally well known to me to be Grantors of the annexed Deed of conveyance, and acknowledged the execution of said annexed Deed of conveyance. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my Notary Seal on this November 22nd A.D. 1892.       Charles Foley, Notary Public

 

State of Indiana, Boone County,

            Before me, Isaac H. Palmer, a Notary Public within and for said County on this February 2nd A.D. 1893, personally came Lorenzo D. Mitchell and Sarah E. Mitchell his wife, personally well known to me to be Grantors of the annexed Deed of conveyance, and acknowledged the execution of said annexed Deed of conveyance. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my Notary Seal on this February 2nd A.D. 1893. 

                                                                                 Isaac H. Palmer, Notary Public

 

State of Kansas, Reno County,

            Before me, F. B. Babbitt, a Notary Public within and for said County on this 9th day of December A.D. 1892, personally came MARY MITCHELL, wife of Grantor ALEXANDER MITCHELL, John W. Mitchell and  Lucy E. Mitchell his wife, all personally well known to me to be Grantors of the annexed Deed of conveyance, and acknowledged the execution of said annexed Deed of conveyance. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my Notary Seal on this 9th day of December A.D. 1892.     F.B. Babbitt, Notary Public

                                                                        My commission expires Sept. 22, 1893

 

State of Kansas, Allen County,

            Before me, R.B. McCutchan, a Notary Public within and for said County on this December 5th A.D. 1892, personally came Margaret Wiley and Abner Wiley, her husband, personally well known to me to be Grantors of the annexed Deed of conveyance, and acknowledged the execution of said annexed Deed of conveyance. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my [page 74/432 ends; page 74/433 begins] hand and affixed my Notary Seal on this December 5th A.D. 1892.     R.B. McCutchan, Notary Public

                                                                       My commission expires August 8, 1896

 

State of Indiana, Grant County,

            Before me, F.W. Marshall, a Notary Public within and for said County on this 4th day of January A.D. 1893, personally came Albert G. Mitchell, a widower and unmarried and Charles W. Mitchell and Mary Mitchell his wife, all personally well known to me to be Grantors of the annexed Deed of conveyance, and acknowledged the execution of said annexed Deed of conveyance. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my Notary Seal on this January 4th A.D. 1893.            F.W. Marshall, Notary Public

                                                                        My commission expires October, 1896

 

Entered for record February 4th A.D. 1893 at 2 P.M.

 

 

 

 

Alexander Mitchell

 

            Alexander Mitchell, son of Hiram and Lucretia (Bailey) Mitchell, was born on 10 Mar 1841 in Hendricks Co IN.  He was most likely named after his grandfather.  Alexander married Mary Harrod, daughter of John R. and Susie (Kenney) Harrod on 18 Nov 1866 in Danville, Hendricks Co IN.  They moved to Appanoose Co IA in 1866/1867.  Alexander’s brother John was married in Alexander’s home in Appanoose Co IA in 1867.  By the end of 1884, Alexander and Mary had sold all of their land in Appanoose Co IA and had moved again to Langdon Township, Reno Co KS.  He was a carpenter and farmer like his brother John Wesley.  He died on 23 Apr 1931 in Hutchinson, Reno Co KS.  He is buried in the Arlington KS cemetery next to his wife who preceded him.  Mary Harrod was born on 14 May 1846 in Bath Co KY.  She died on 12 Jun 1916 in Arlington, Reno Co KS and is buried in the Arlington Cemetery.  See the Harrod chapter for further information on this Harrod ancestor.

 

            Alexander Mitchell’s obituary was located in the Friday May 1, 1931 edition of the Arlington (KS) Enterprise-Front Page, Col. 2:

 

            “ALEXANDER MITCHELL DIES, Located in Langdon Township in 1885.  Mr. Alexander Mitchell, a former resident of Arlington, died at the home of his daughter Mrs. Leffa Hayes, at Hutchinson, Thursday April 23 (1931).

            Mr. Mitchell came to Arlington from Iowa, in 1885, and purchased a farm home, five miles west and one mile south of Arlington, in Langdon Township, where he lived for a number of years. He and his wife, upon retiring from the farm, moved to Arlington, where they resided until the death of Mrs. Mitchell, after which he went to Hutchinson to live with his daughter.  He was 90 years of age at the time of his death.

            A funeral service was conducted from the Johnson undertaking parlor at Hutchinson, at 1 o'clock, Saturday April 25.  The body was brought to Arlington for internment, and a short service was held at the grave at 3 o'clock.  He is survived by his daughter, Mrs. Leffa Hayes, six grandchildren, and a number of other relatives and friends.”

 

            Mary (Harrod) Mitchell’s obituary was located in the Friday June 16, 1916 edition of the Arlington (KS) Enterprise, Page 3, Col. 2:

 

            “MRS ALEXANDER MITCHELL DEAD    Old Resident of Arlington Passes Away at Her Home Monday.

            This week we are again called upon to publish the obituary of an esteemed citizen.  Aunt Mary Mitchell, as she is known by her many admiring friends.  A short time since she was taken quite sick, but she thought that it was only ordinary sickness and that she would be perfectly well in a short time, but it was soon very evident that she could not recover and on Monday afternoon at one o'clock she departed this life.

            Mary Herod was born May 14, 1846 in Bath County, Kentucky.  Departed this life after an illness of about 2 weeks, Monday June 12, 1916, aged at the time of her death, 70 years and 29 days.  She was united in marriage to Mr. Alexander Mitchell at Danville, Indiana, November 18th, 1866.  During that same year, they moved to Centerville, Iowa at which place they resided until the spring of 1885 when they moved to this county and located on a farm five miles west of this city in Langdon, they remained on the home farm until about six years ago when they moved to the city where they resided at the time of her departure.

            To this union were born five children, two sons and three daughters, namely, Carl, who departed this life June 19th, 1900, Lora who died December 9th, 1909.  Dorr and Eva who died in infancy.  Leffa the only surviving one of the children.

            In early life she accepted Jesus Christ as her Savior and united with the Christian Church of which she remained a faithful member until the time of her death.

            She is survived by her husband Alexander Mitchell, and one daughter Mrs. Leffa Hayes, six grandchildren, all of this city, and one sister, Mrs. Elizabeth Jones of Danville, Indiana, who were all here in attendance at the funeral with the exception of the sister who is in Indiana.

            The funeral service was conducted from the home in this city Tuesday afternoon at 2:00 o'clock by the Rev. C.H. Croft, pastor of the Methodist Church, and the body was laid to rest in the Arlington cemetery.

            The family in their bereavement have the deepest sympathy of their many friends at this time of seeming darkness.

            --------------

            CARD OF THANKS

            --------------

            We take this means of expressing our heartfelt thanks to our friends who have been so very kind to us in word and action during our recent bereavement in the death of our wife and mother.           Alexander Mitchell, Mrs. Leffa Hayes”

 

 

 

The following is a record of the land transactions occurring on Alexander and Mary Mitchell’s SW ¼ of land in Reno Co, KS.

 

      Mitchell Southwest Quarter, Section 13, Township 25, Range 9, Reno Co, KS

 

 

(*) As recorded in the Record Books at the Register of Deeds, Reno County Courthouse, Hutchinson, KS.  These are large books are stored on roller supports and bound in leather. One page generally is devoted to each quarter section. There is no name index to their system. One has to know the description of the land.

 

The Leffa Hayes Court Challenge    

 

According to stories that my father William B. Moore remembered hearing his mother and father recount, Leffa attempted in court (Hutchinson, Reno Co KS) to overturn her father’s (Alexander Mitchell) will and assume control of Barbara Mitchell Moore’s share (inherited from Carl Mitchell, son of Alexander and her father) of the Mitchell homestead section after Alexander had died.

 

Here are the particulars, as best as my father William B. Moore and I can determine, based on trial documents retrieved from Barbara Mitchell’s safety deposit box a year or so after her death.

 

 

On 25 November 1914 Alexander and Mary Mitchell deeded (in the form of a “statement” recorded in Reno Co KS Deed Book 125, Page 80) their entire W ½ of Section 13, as follows:

 

1.       The NW ¼ outright to their only surviving child, Leffa Hayes.  This was the tract of land that Alexander and his brother John Wesley, homesteaded.

2.       The SW ¼ to Leffa Hayes, In Trust, for ultimate passing on to their two granddaughters (Marie Spence Shive the N ½  of the SW ¼, and to Barbara Mitchell the S ½ of the SW ¼) when they each became of legal age.  The Trust directed Leffa to act as Trustee and to use all the rents and proceeds from renting of this particular SW ¼ to support and education of Marie Spence, then a minor, and any additional amounts to be held in trust until she reached 21.  After reaching 21, all rents and proceeds from the renting of this land would pass directly to Marie (bypassing the trusteeship of Leffa Hayes).  After reaching the age of 30, Marie was to be given title to this (her N ½ of the SW ¼) land.

 

The above deed was enacted seventeen years before Alexander's death (which occurred on April 23, 1931). Leffa and her family were living next door to Alexander & Mary (Mary died in 1916) in Arlington at the time of the making the above deed and she [Leffa] would have had a close relationship.  But he was obviously in full command of his senses and, he thought, taking a prudent action in giving ½ of his land to Leffa and the other ½ to his two grandchildren.

 

However, some time before his death when he was living with Leffa in Hutchinson, and when he possibly was not functioning well mentally, Leffa apparently refused to act as Trustee, under the terms of the trust, when the oldest granddaughter, Marie Spence Shive, became of age and petitioned to get her share under the terms of the trust.

 

During a 31 Aug 1921 court proceeding, Leffa M. Hayes produced a new will of Alexander’s in which he was going to bequeath to Leffa all of his property with the exception of one dollar to each of the four grandchildren.  Alexander, in this “new” will, further states that “it is my desire that said Leffa M. Hayes be not under any obligations to perform the request made by me and my wife Mary Mitchell who is now deceased, on the 25 of November 1914 as is shown by” the deed and statement above.  J. G. Somers, the presiding Supreme Court judge, states in his “Syllabus of the Court”: “This will, of course, has not been probated.  Alexander Mitchell is still living.  It (the “new” will) could not have the effect of setting aside and express trust previously created.  The evidence relating to its (the “new” will) execution tends to show that its execution was brought about by Leffa M. Hayes in an effort to obtain the property for herself instead of carrying out the terms of the trust.  We (the Supreme Court of Kansas) find no error in the (Reno Co District Court) record and the judgement of the court below is affirmed”.

 

Barbara Mitchell Moore, daughter of Carl Mitchell (Alexander's son and Leffa's older [by 11 years] brother), joined Marie as Plaintiff in the resulting litigation, which ultimately, under an appeal from Leffa, went before the Kansas State Supreme Court.  The two granddaughters prevailed at both the District and State Supreme Court level.

 

Subsequently, soon after that, Barbara Mitchell bought from Marie Spence Shive the N ½ of the SW ¼  of Section 13 for $25 an acre to consolidate it in her name.

 

[Mom and Dad's (Claude and Barbara Moore’s) presence in one of the Hutchinson court sessions was almost thwarted by a heavy snow storm, apparently of blizzard intensity. Dad could always describe the experience of driving Mother and I in a 1927 Chevrolet sedan the fourteen miles north, and the same distance east to Hutchinson, over the then dirt roads. Two years later, or in about 1932, we all drove in this same car to Salt Lake City to visit the Prossers (Mattie Bracken, Mother's aunt) via Satanta KS, Denver, and Berthod Pass before it was paved, and Craig CO. I remember the car overheating just west of Golden and we were scared because we were not 'really in the mountains' yet. Dad had apparently not down shifted soon enough. When the car cooled off, he proceeded in a lower gear and all was well. He must have related the story enough times to make it seem as if I really remembered it.  I would have been about six years old.]

 

 

The following are a summary of the Court Opinions and Rulings and how they relate to how Barbara and Marie almost lost their rights to this land. The essence of the documents are:

 

In the District Court of Reno County, Kansas

02/28/1930        Opinion and Decision     Shive vs Hayes

01/10/1931        Syllabus of the Court      Shive vs Hayes

02/25/1931        Findings of Fact Hayes vs Shive and Moore vs Hayes

 

In the Supreme Court of Kansas

Counter Abstract and Brief of the Appellee           Shive vs Hayes

Counter Abstract and Brief of the Appellees          Hayes vs Shive and Moore vs Hayes

 

 

In some correspondence with Jodi Hayes Estep, the daughter of Harrod Mitchell Hayes who a son of Leffa Mitchell and Walter P. Hayes, Jodi mentioned that she “does not recall any conversations regarding the lawsuit and can only imagine the pain on both sides of the family over that (the lawsuit)”.  Jodi described Leffa (or Nano as they all called her) as “very kind and generous with what she had-with not a mean bone in her body so it surprises me that she was driven to litigation over what she perceived was her due”.  Jodi continues “to my knowledge she (Leffa) never received financial or physical support from anyone in the family in caring for her father Alexander or raising her two sons.  She went to Hutchinson where she took in roomers and boarders (and) also did dressmaking and alteration – she never asked for or received help”.

 

 

The children of  Alexander and Mary J.L. (Harrod) Mitchell are:

           

1.       Carl, born 9 Sep 1871 in Centerville, Appanoose Co IA, married Lucy Mary Bracken on 4 Jul 1895 (Independence Day) in Hutchinson, Reno Co KS and died 19 Jun 1900 in Hutchinson KS.  He is buried in Arlington Cemetery, Arlington KS.  I will expand on this direct ancestor below.

2.       Lora, born 11 Nov 1873 in Centerville, Appanoose Co IA, married Charles Spence and died 9 Dec 1909 in Arlington KS.  She is buried in the Arlington Cemetery.  Lora and Charles had one child, a daughter named Marie.  She married a Mr. Shive.

3.       Dorr, born and died in infancy in Centerville, Appanoose Co IA.  Grave never located.

4.       Eva, born and died in infancy in Centerville, Appanoose Co IA.  Grave never located.

5.       Leffa, born 5 Oct 1882 in Centerville, Appanoose Co IA, married Walter P. Hayes, who later abandoned his wife and two young children and moved to Texas, assuming the name of Carlyle.  Leffa then married a Thomas Glen Hoover.  She died on 9 Feb 1959 in Hutchinson, Reno Co KS.  She is buried in the Fairlawn Cemetery, Hutchinson KS.  Leffa and Walter had two children: Harrod Mitchell Hayes (born 23 Aug 1899, married Ann Hambaugh, died 10 May 1979) and Carl William Hayes (born 9 Sep 1901, married Elsie Nuss, died 28 Apr 1967). 

 

 

 

 

Carl Mitchell

 

Carl was born on 9 Sep 1871 in Centerville, Appanoose Co IA.  Against her father’s wishes, Lucy Mary Bracken married Carl on 4 Jul 1895 (Independence Day, the day following Lucy’s 21^st birthday) in Hutchinson, Reno Co KS.  Carl died on 19 Jun 1900 in Hutchinson KS.  He is buried in Arlington Cemetery, Arlington KS. 

 

According to the book “Arlington (KS) – The First One Hundred Years”, Carl was a member of the 1889 Arlington Cornet Band.

The marriage of Carl and Lucy was announced in the 6 July 1895 edition of The Hutchinson News (Page 6, Column 3): “Married.  On the afternoon of July 4 at the residence of R.S. Holliday on Fourth Ave east, by Judge Fontron, Mr. Carl Mitchell of Arlington and Miss Lucy Bracken of Salt Lake City.  The newly married couple will live in Arlington for about a month and will then move to Salt Lake City, which will be there future home.”

 

William B. Moore, grandson of Carl and Lucy Mitchell, had the following thoughts on why Carl and Lucy were: a) married in another person’s home and b) why they intended to move to Salt Lake City:

 

1. Parental estrangement

·         Lucy may not have been spending much time at home as she approached age 21.

·         Her father was adamantly opposed to the marriage to Carl because of his known poor health.

·         So Lucy may have been spending a lot of time with her favorite sister, Mattie Bracken Prosser, in Salt Lake. [I believe she taught some school there for a while]

·         My guess is that Granville was at this time still living in Hutchinson, although he later moved to SLC in his failing years.

·         You will remember that Mattie raised the younger sisters, more as a mother, after their real  mother died.

·         Lucy had to return to Hutchinson to marry Carl [on her 21st birthday] but could not do so in Granville's and her home.

 

2. Intending to live in Salt Lake City

·         Probably real intentions of two young people but unrealistic because of his health, and he had no know skills except farming [with his father] and playing the cornet.

·         They moved in with Alexander and never left.

·         Shortly after Carl's death, Lucy apparently found work in Arlington, either teaching or later in the General Store, which she later purchased an ownership in.

·         She lived in town during the week, leaving Barbara with her grandparents, and returning for the weekend.

·         When Barbara was of school age or sometime shortly after, they both started living in town, renting the house initially that is on the NW corner of where she and Dad later bought and where you have been.

 

Lucy Bracken was a strong lady, maybe even more so than my mother. So was Mattie.

 

----------------------------------------

 

Contributing to Carl Mitchell’s death was a strange case of varicose veins of the stomach.  This disease was highlighted in an article in the August 1897 Volume of the Journal of the American Medical Association Permission to reproduce the article granted by the AMA in 10/98: “Rights granted herein are nonexclusive.  JAMA, Volume XXIX, July-December 1897, pages 278 and 279, Copyright 1897. American Medical Association”.

 

 

Extracted from the Journal of the American Medical Association

Volume XXIX

July - December 1897

 

AN UNUSUAL CASE OF VARICOSE VEINS

BY B. J. WETHERBY, M.D.

WILKESBARRE, PA.

 

            I wish to report what has been to me an unusual and interesting ease of varicose veins. The patient, Carl Mitchell of Arlington, Kansas, has been under my observation more or less constantly, on account of an intimate friendship, and near residence, during the past ten years, until I removed from the State, six months ago.  He is now about twenty-six years of age, married, and by occupation a farmer.  Until three years ago he was in perfect health, with the exception of a very obstinate acne vulgaris of the face, shoulders and breast, which still persists, although in a much modified form.  His parents are both living and in good health. He has two sisters, living and healthy. He has never had gonorrhea or syphilis. Three years ago he was rather suddenly seized with pain in Scarpa's triangle, over the femoral vein of the left side, which was followed by the development of a sausage-shaped tumor about six inches long, in the same region. There was no history of traumatism, exposure or undue fatigue. The pain was aggravated

when he attempted to walk or assumed the upright position.  There was fever, anorexia, furred tongue, constipation and all the symptoms of acute inflammation. The leg on the affected side became edematous, and albumin occurred in the urine. A diagnosis of phlebitis of the femoral vein was made, and the patient confined to bed. The abdomen became very tender and the constipation more obstinate. In about ten days a tumor developed over the femoral vein in the triangle on the right side, followed by edema of the right foot and leg.  The acute symptoms lasted about five weeks. Convalescence was very slow, extending over period of several mouths.

 

            Following the subsidence of the acute symptoms the superficial epigastric and superficial circumflex iliac veins on both sides began to enlarge, which they continued to do until all the superficial veins of the abdomen were of sizes varying from that of the little finger to that of a goose quill. They can be traced with the eye to the level of the fourth rib.  I succeeded in getting a rather poor photograph, which is here presented.

 

            My theory was that a phlebitis began in the left femoral vein, traveled up the external and common iliac of the left side to the bifurcation of the inferior vena cava, then traveled down the right common and external iliac veins to the right femoral. The inflammation almost or entirely obliterated the veins involved causing almost if not the entire return circulation from the lower limbs to be carried on by the superficial epigastrics and superficial circumflex iliacs through their anastomoses with the mammary and intercostals. I presented the case before the Kansas City Academy of Medicine and nearly all the members agreed with this theory. Dr. Cordier and Dr. Binnie of Kansas City examined the case in private and endorsed my views. No one with whom I have talked regarding the case has ever seen a similar one, hence my desire to report it.

 

At present he is feeling fairly well and doing work on his farm. Both legs are somewhat edematous, and at times his abdomen contains considerable fluid.

 

An occasional hydragogue cathartic and a constant use of laxatives keeps the edema from giving much trouble. He has an ulcer on each leg which is alternatively healing and discharging. There are no varicose veins in the legs.  I have advised elastic stockings extending to the groins, to be worn on both legs, and a change to a lighter occupation.

 

-----------------------------------------

 

Carl’s obituary was located in the Thursday June 28, 1900 edition of the Hutchinson (KS) Gazette:

 

            “Carl Mitchell Dead - The Gazette is pained very much to announce the death of Carl Mitchell of Langdon who was the populist and democratic candidate for register of deeds last fall.  As a testimony of his popularity it is only necessary to say that he ran very much ahead of his ticket and received a much larger vote than any other man opposing the republicans.  Mr. Mitchell has long been a suffer, and his affliction baffled all the physicians.  It seemed to be a giving way of veins and blood vessels especially in his extremities.  Most of the time for six years he has had several ulcers upon his feet and limbs.  His case has been written up and illustrated in many of the large medical journals of the United States.  Once before he came near dying from the bursting of a blood vessel in his stomach.  He had been feeling better than for a long time and the ulcer had nearly healed.  But one day last week as we understand he attempted to lift a sack of flour, and the exertion caused a rupture of a blood vessel in the stomach from which he shortly bled to death.

            Mr. Mitchell was a constant but a patient sufferer.  He was an energetic man, determined to make a living whatever the difficulties.  He fought a brave fight and many are the friends who honor his life, and deplore his death.”

 

A second obituary was located in the Saturday June 23, 1900 edition of the Saturday (Hutchinson, KS) Bee:

 

            “Over the County.  From Arlington - Died on Tuesday the 19th at his home twentyfour miles southwest of Arlington of hemorrhage of the stomach, Carl Mitchell.  He leaves a widow and one child (Barbara Mitchell) and many friends to mourn as many others have done before.  Funeral services were conducted at home by Rev. Buson, after which the remains were followed by a large delegation of relatives and friends and laid to rest in the Arlington cemetery.”

 

----------------------

 

In the book “Arlington (KS) – The First One Hundred Years”, Lucy is pictured inside the Ungles & Mitchell Store (pages 52, 57).

 

Other local newspaper references to Lucy Bracken Mitchell include:

 

Lucy Mitchell was mentioned in the Friday April 24, 1931 Arlington (KS) Enterprise:

            “NOTICE   Dog tax due and must be paid by May 1.  Lucy Mitchell, City Clerk. “

 

Lucy Mitchell’s failing health was noted in an article in the Friday February 24, 1928 edition of the Arlington (KS) Enterprise:

 

            “MRS. MITCHELL BROUGHT HOME - Mrs. Lucy Mitchell, who has been confined to her bed for the past three months, and who was in the hospital at Hutchinson for the past four weeks, is again at home, having been brought home Sunday afternoon.  While at the hospital she underwent an operation for goitre, and two were removed.  She is still on the sick list but is able to sit up for a short time, and is slowly improving in health.  Although quite thin in flesh, she is looking much better than for some months past.

 

Her obituary was located in the Friday October 23, 1936 edition of the Arlington (KS) Enterprise-Front Page, Col. 6:

 

            “MRS. LUCY B. MITCHELL - Lucy Mary Bracken, daughter of Granville and Mary Bracken, was born July 3, 1874, in Rice County, Kansas.  her early life was spent in Hutchinson and Kingman, Kansas.  She taught school several years in Garden City, Kansas and Salt Lake City, Utah.

            On July 4, 1895, she was united in marriage to Carl Mitchell of Arlington, Kansas.  to this union was born one child, Barbara.  Five years later in 1900, she was left a widow by the death of her husband.  A short time later she enter the employ of the Moore and Ungles Mercantile Company.  She afterward purchased the interest of Mr. Moore (no relation to our Moores) and continued an active partner of the business for 27 years.

            In 1932, due to the loss of her store by fire and also to ill health, she retired from business activities.

            She will be greatly missed by the community as she was always very active in its affairs, having served 15 years at one time as a board member of School District No. 99 and, also Clerk of the City of Arlington (KS) for 6 years.  She gave a great deal of her time to the work of the City Library and to all the Church organizations. 

            At an early age she became a member of the Christian Church, later transferring her membership to the Methodist Episcopal Church of which she was a devoted member until the time of her death.

            For several years she has suffered ill health and for the past 7 months has been confined to her bed, where she was a patient sufferer.  She passed away peacefully at the home of her daughter on October 15, 1936, age 62 years, 3 months and 12 days.  She had planned her entire funeral service , which was conducted according to her wishes.

            Mrs. Mitchell will be long remembered as a friend to everyone.  Her one thought was of some act of kindness to others.

            She leaves to mourn her going, her only child, Barbara, now Mrs. Claude Moore, three grandchildren, Billy, Lou Ann, and Claude Neal; two sisters, Mrs. W.D. Prosser of Salt Lake City, Utah and Mrs. J.R. Cushman of Pingree, Idaho, a number of other relatives, and a host of friends. 

            Funeral services were conducted from the Methodist Church Sunday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock by the Rev. E.L. Nicholson, assisted by the Rev. M.J. Alexander.  Internment was in the Arlington cemetery.”

 

Mrs. Anna L. (Sorency) Moore had kept a copy of the Funeral Card from Lucy’s service in her scrapbook:

 

Services for

Mrs. Lucy B. Mitchell

 

Born

Rice County, Kansas

July 3, 1874

 

Passed Away

Arlington, Kansas

October 15, 1936

 

Services held at

Arlington Methodist Church

Sunday, October 18, 1936

2:30pm

 

Clergyman

Rev. E.L. Nicholson

 

Music by

Mr. J.A. Pennington

Mrs. Pearl Hobbs

Mrs. V.R. Hayes

Mr. Edward Paepke

 

Mrs. Taylor Kirby, Pianist

 

Last Resting Place

Arlington Cemetery

 

Bearers

J.S. Trembley

A.B. Elliot

John Clark

Sam Paepke

Lon Sartain

Joe Fehr

 

 

Please see the BRACKEN chapter for more information Lucy Bracken Mitchell’s ancestors.

 

 

 

 

The only child born to Carl and Lucy Mary (Bracken) Mitchell was:

 

1.       Barbara Morma, born 5 Jun 1896 in Arlington KS, married Claude Sorency Moore, son of William and Annie (Sorency) Moore, on 25 Dec 1921 (Christmas) in Arlington KS and died on 8 Feb 1993 in Hutchinson KS.  She is buried next to her husband in the Arlington Cemetery.

 

 

 

Barbara M. Mitchell

 

Barbara Morma Mitchell was born on 5 Jun 1896 in Arlington KS.  She married Claude Sorency Moore, son of William and Annie (Sorency) Moore, on 25 Dec 1921 (Christmas) in Arlington KS and died on 8 Feb 1993 in Hutchinson KS.  She is buried next to her husband in the Arlington Cemetery. 

 

In the book “Arlington (KS) – The First One Hundred Years”, Barbara is pictured in a dress made with Kelley (Hutchinson KS) Milling Company flour bags (page 35). She is also pictured with her mother Lucy inside the Ungles & Mitchell Store (page 57).

 

Please see the MOORE chapter for more information on the descendants of this union.

 

Barbara’s obituary is located on page 2 of the Tuesday, February 9, 1993 edition of the Hutchinson (KS) News:

 

Barbara M. Moore, 96, of 3711 Asbury Place, died Feb. 8, 1993, at the Oliver and Helen Hester Assisted Living Center at Wesley Towers, Hutchinson.  She was born June 5, 1896, near Arlington, the daughter of Carl and Lucy Bracken Mitchell.  She was a graduate of Arlington High School.  A Hutchinson resident since 1977, moving from Arlington, she was a homemaker.  She was a member of the Arlington United Methodist Church and the Order of the Eastern Star, both at Arlington.  On Dec. 25, 1921, she married Claude S. Moore at Arlington.  He died Aug. 27, 1978.  Survivors include: two sons, William B. Moore, Denver, and Claude N. Moore, Phoenix; a daughter, LuAnn Logan, Houston; eight grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.  Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the Arlington United Methodist Church, Arlington.  Burial will be in the Arlington Cemetery.  Memorials may be sent to the church in care of Elliott Mortuary, Hutchinson.

 

 

 

In the 1980’s, Barbara wrote an extensive family history narrative on the ancestry of both the Moore and Mitchell lines:

 

 

OUR FAMILY HERITAGE

RECORDED BY BARBARA MORMA (MITCHELL) MOORE

Corrections/Amplifications added in [ ]

 

 

 

 

As mentioned in the above narrative, Barbara was a piano teacher.  One of her advertisements was located in the June 16, 1916 issue of The Arlington (KS) Enterprise:

 

“Miss Barbara M. Mitchell, teacher of Pianoforte and Harmony. Phone 96.”

 

 

 

The following is a chronology that my father, William B. Moore, compiled regarding lives of Carl Mitchell, his wife Lucy Bracken, their daughter Barbara and her husband Claude Moore.

 

1871

·         Carl Mitchell was born on 9 Sep 1871 in Centerville, Appanoose Co IA.

 

1874

·         Lucy Bracken born July 4th in Little River, KS.

 

1892

·         By age 18 Lucy must have been living in Hutchinson KS with her father Grandville Bracken and her sisters.

·         There is no record of a high school education, but living in a relatively large city she probably did attend high school.

·         By now or in the next year or so she would have met Carl Mitchell, her future spouse, of rural Arlington KS.

·         In the post-high school - not yet an adult phase she must have started spending more time with her older sister Mattie Bracken Prosser, married and living in Salt Lake City where she and her husband were school teachers and later administrators.  I think I have seen some reference to her teaching in SLC???

1895

·         Lucy and Carl are married on July 5th, the day after her 21st birthday, in the home of a mutual friend [Holloway] in Hutchinson KS and over Granville’s apparently strong disapproval.

·         We read in the wedding announcement that the couple intended to move to SLC after a month in Arlington.  They apparently spent that month at the farm home of Alexander & Mary, Carl’s parents.  They never left this farm as a couple, probably due to his fragile health and resultant inability to independently earn a living.  We know he helped on the farm [a doctor had recommended lighter work] and participated in community activities [we have his cornet which he played in the Arlington Community Band].

 

1896

·         Barbara Mitchell is born 6 June at the Alexander and Mary Mitchell farm in Arlington KS.

 

1900

·         Carl dies from internal bleeding caused by his undiagnosed restricted and damaged arteries.  The census of this year shows Alexander and Mary Mitchell, and Carl, Lucy and Barbara all living together. 

 

1910

·         By this year Lucy is boarding with the Eaton family in Arlington while Barbara her daughter was still living with her grandparents Alexander and Mary Mitchell.  So presumably, at age 13/14, Barbara is still living on the farm and had just finished grade school. [I had always assumed she had moved to ‘town’ earlier ? ?]

·         My guess is that this is the year in which her mother rented the house on the NW corner of our Arlington/Algona Street home location [SW corner].

·         The Eaton’s, where Lucy would have been boarding, lived on the SW corner.

 

1910 / 1911 / 1912

·         There was not a high school in Arlington until about 1913 or 1914.

·         Barbara must have moved into town [Arlington] during the summer of 1910, immediately after finishing grade school.

·         That fall she must have been taken by her mother, Lucy, to Hutchinson, where she was enrolled in high school, and where she boarded with friends while she attended school.

·         If she said the name of the host family I have forgotten it. Possibly the same ones, Holloway’s, at whose home Lucy was married?

·         I have heard Mother (Barbara Mitchell Moore) say that she came home to Arlington most weekends on the train.

·         She would have been about the same age as Lindsay Moore (granddaughter of William B. Moore’s). This reminds me that Lindsay looks very much like Mother in the old pictures of her as a teenager].

·         Immediately upon the completion of the new Arlington KS high school, Mother returned to Arlington to attend her junior and her senior and graduating year.  This is the same school and building from which LuAnn, Bud (siblings of William B. Moore) and I graduated. It was torn down in the 1960's when Reno County schools were consolidated.

 

1912 / 1913

·         In about the same year that Barbara was returning to Arlington to finish high school, her future husband, Claude Sorency Moore, would have been finishing four years of boarding in the nearby town of Nickerson where he attended a high school that also offered the opportunity to earn a teaching certificate.  This was apparently the only other high school in the county except the city school in Hutchinson, which probably was not set up for the Teaching Certificate possibility.

·         I know of only one other Arlington youth, a boy also, out of what must have been many, who made the effort and the sacrifice of living away from home to attend the Nickerson (KS) school.  The school must have provided boarding facilities.  It would have served an area about 30 or 35 miles square, i.e., all of rural Reno County.

·         How did Claude get back and forth?  By buggy or train via Hutchinson?

·         How often did he get to come home?  Probably not often.

·         Claude graduated at about age eighteen and was teaching alone in a single room school west of Arlington [1.5 miles from his family's farm home] at age nineteen [there are pictures].

·         I have heard him say some of the students were older and bigger than he.

 

1920     [and the Ungles' relationship]

·         The store where Lucy worked was owned by a Mr. Ungles and a Wallace Moore [no relation].  I guess this is where 'we' (the Mitchells and Moores) met the Ungles family. They had three boys, Ben, Jim, and Tom who were like brothers to Barbara.  Ben was killed in WW I.  Jim was a doctor in that war, serving also in Europe. Tom, a pharmacist, suffered from severe asthma and was exempted from service. Tom and Nora's only son is one week older than I.  I usually call him on his birthday. He attended Ft. Hayes State College, has never married, has always lived in Satanta, and has never enjoyed good health – possessing his father's asthmatic condition.  In the mid-twenties, Dr. Jim and Tom and their wives moved to Satanta, KS.  Dr Jim delivered most of the babies born in that area and in that era. Jim ran a drug store and pharmacy.  We visited them once a year.  They prospered. Jim especially bought lots of land in the depression years when no one else had any money and land was cheap.  That is when Claude and Barbara Moore acquired the western Kansas land.

·         Sometime in the early 20's, Wallace Moore moved to Oregon, selling his interest to Lucy. This store, on the SE corner of Arlington and Main, was a two story building with the Masonic Hall on the second floor.  It burned in the late 20's or early 30's and was rebuilt as a grocery store with the Masons again on the second floor.  I worked at the same store - another story - as did Bud.  Lucy never returned to the business after the fire.

 

1936

·         Lucy Bracken Mitchell died at our home on 15 Oct 1936 after initially recovering from a goiter operation. The death occurred on a Saturday morning while I was practicing baseball two blocks north of the house on the city diamond.  When I walked in the house I knew something was really wrong.  My mother was lying down ! . . . .on the living room sofa.  Dad was trying to comfort her.  I had never before in my eleven years seen her lying down, anywhere, anytime, for any reason. If she was ever sick we never knew it. Lucy was buried Arlington Cemetery, Arlington KS

 

The Arlington House

·         The house we lived in has a history involving both the Eatons and Mitchells.  It was built in the early 20's by the Eatons for their only son.  He apparently was not the same solid citizen as his parents, or at least was not as predictable. I do not remember much at all said about him ever. But my impression was that he was not the delight of his parent's life.  When the son chose not to live in the house and presumably not in Arlington [I have no idea what happened to him - never saw him in my life]  Lucy bought the house.

·         She and Barbara lived there until Barbara married. Then Mom and Dad bought the house from Lucy.  Lucy continued to live there. And sometime in the early 30's Dad's mother (Annie Sorency Moore) moved in from their farm after the upstairs was finished off as a place for her.

·         Barbara Mitchell and Claude Moore were married in the living room of this house on a Christmas Sunday afternoon [LuAnn Moore, a daughter of Barbara and Claude) was married there also] after each had attended their Sunday morning responsibilities at church. Mother played the piano for services and Dad taught a Sunday School class.  They had been dating for literally several years, but made no announcement of the wedding plans. They even went to Wichita for the marriage license, for whatever other reasons, so that presumably no one in Hutchinson or Arlington would know of their plans. The wedding was attended only by a very, very few close friends and the two grandmothers.  They flagged the late afternoon passenger train from the west [otherwise it did not stop in Arlington], went to the Bisonte Hotel in Hutchinson for the night and then on to the Muehlbach Hotel in Kansas City for a few days.

 

The Eaton Relationship

·         Mother spent a lot of time watching after and helping Mrs. Eaton in the latter's late years. One can appreciate why.  Lucy had lived with the Eaton's for some eight to ten years and on the same corner even after moving her daughter in from the farm. Barbara probably thought of their home as her second home.

·         Mr. Eaton owned the bank in Arlington. He probably loaned Lucy the money to buy her share of the Ungles-Mitchell store.

·         In the mid 30's robbing small banks was very much in vogue. Mr. Eaton was alerted one Saturday morning, while shaving, that someone was breaking into the bank.  He ran the one block with lather still on his face, according to Mother's telling of the story, to find the bad guys just leaving. They bopped him on the head and escaped in a car.  For the next half a day, these guys were chased all over Reno County's country roads. I believe the story I remember hearing is that they raced in a cloud of dust through Arlington again at least once in the course of the chase. I don't know if they were ever caught.  Mr. Eaton recovered from the bleeding wound on the head.

·         When Mrs. Eaton [ah yes, her given name was Fannie, but we always called her Mrs. Eaton] was in her seventies, I accompanied her on long walks. It was usually east of town across the Ninecscah River bridge, north by the Arlington cemetery, where she might stop to look at her husband's grave, on north then west to Highway 14 and south back into town - about three miles.

·         When Mrs. Eaton moved from the larger corner house to one next door to the south, Dad helped organize the moving of the furniture, etc. At her death Dad bought the house and rented it out for a while. [I think he did this to protect the value of the neighborhood. The house next door to us to the south had always been a source of concern to our parents. It was a rental a house and seemed attract a variety of people over the years, with no one doing much to the place.]

                                                                       

Barbara - 1915 / 1919

·         After our Mother finished high school she must have worked some in her Mother's store.  We have pictures of her decorative floats for special day parades, with