ISAAC N MITCHELL
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Portrait and Biographical Record of Tazewell & Mason
Counties, Illinois, 1894 ISAAC N. MITCHELL, Secretary of the Havana Building & Loan Association,
and senior member of the firm of Mitchell & Son, was born in Morgan County,
Ill., February 13, 1829. The family is of Scotch descent, and has long been
represented in this county. His father, Isaac Mitchell, was a native of
Virginia, and in 1828 settled in Morgan County, Ill., where he followed the
occupation of a farmer. He was a man of influence in his community, and
advocated the principles of the Whig party. His death occurred in 1864. His
wife, who bore the maiden name of Frances Stribbling, was born in Virginia, of
Welsh Ancestry, and died in 1836.
History of Menard and Mason Counties, Illinois, 1879, by Miller and Ruggles
ISAAC N. MITCHELL, insurance and real estate, Havana; was born in Monran Co.,
Ill., Feb. 13, 1829; is a son of Isaac and Frances (Stribling) Mitchell, the
former a native of Virginia, and the latter of Kentucky; his parents removed
from Kentucky to Morgan Co., III. in 1828; here they resided till 1846; then
removed to Field's Prairie in this county. Isaac N. followed farming until about
21 years of age, combining with it wolf-hunting, usually devoting Saturdays to
that amusement; when he left the farm, he entered the employ of B. & J. M.
Beesley, of Bath ; from 1850 to 1861, followed the mercantile trade. He
subsequent served one term as Constable, and, for two years, followed
steamboating on the Illinois River. In 1867, he was elected Treasurer of Mason
Co., and, two years later, elected County Clerk, serving in that capacity four
years. He was elected Mayor of the city of Havana in 1875; was also a member of
the School Board, and with his associates (Messrs. Wheeler and Foster), erected
the present fine school edifice. In 1856, he was married to Miss Ann L.,
daughter of P. W. Campbell; four children by this union, two of whom are
living: Franklin I. and Gay Edgar; Charles W. died May 1, 1872;
Thomas N. died in infancy. Mr. Mitchell is a member of the following Masonic
bodies: Havana Lodge, No. 88; Havana Chapter, No. 86; Damascus Commandery, No.
42.
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On Morgan County our subject spent the
days of boyhood receiving a common-school education in the home locality. With
his father he came to Mason County at the age of seventeen years, and for four
years thereafter engaged in farming. When twenty-one years old he accepted a
clerk-ship in the general mercantile store of J. M. Beesley at Bath, where he
remained for two years. In 1857 he formed a partnership with Morrow Bros., under
the firm name of Mitchell & Morrow Bros., in which connection he carried on
the mercantile trade for two years. He was then for a time employed as clerk on
a steamboat plying between LaSalle and St. Louis.
Upon the Democratic
ticket in 1867, Mr. Mitchell was elected to the office of County Treasurer, for
a term of three years, and in 1869 he was chosen County Clerk, which position he
filled for four years. Later he was for two years engaged in the drug business.
His connection with the real estate, loan and insurance business commenced in
1877, and in 1889 he took into partnership his son Frank J., since which time
the firm title has been Mitchell & Son.
When, in 1822, the Havana
Building & Loan Association was organized, our subject was one it its
charter members, and has since been a stockholder. He has also served as its
Secretary from the date of organization to the present time, In February, 1893,
he was appointed Master of Chancery, and is now the incumbent of that office.
His political affiliations are with the democratic party, and upon that ticket
he has been chosen to serve in a number of influential positions. In 1874 he was
elected Mayor of Havana, being the second one to occupy that position after the
organization of the city.
Socially, Mr. Mitchell is a member of Havana
Lodge No. 88, F. & A. M., Chapter No. 86, R. A. M., Damascus Commandery no.
42, K. T., and Havana Grove Lodge No. 40, A. O. U. D. He was one of the Board of
Directors in 1875, when the public school building of Havana. A fine brick
structure accommodating five hundred children, was erected at a cost of $25,000.
In addition to his other enterprises, he is also interested in farming. In 1856
he was united in marriage with Miss Ann L. Campbell, a native of Tennessee, and
a daughter of P. W. and Lucy W. Campbell. Of this marriage two sons survive,
Frank J., who is in partnership with his father, and I. E., who is employed in
the office.
Havana Township
Page 770
Maintained by Mason County Coordinator
Donna
Mayer