Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1889, volume 6).djvu/732

694 in the factory, and attracting the attention of his employers by devising the first rubber belt that was ever used in this country. This was followed by a model of the first cylinder printing-machine that was ever made, from which has grown the present industry of wall-paper printing, and calico printing, which previous to that invention was done on blocks. The machine made 1,000 rolls of paper a day, printed in two colors. His other in- ventions include a method of producing satin- faced paper, a method of vulcanizing rubber (1841), an automatic battery, a revolving cannon, bomb-shells with sharpened edges to bore through the armor of ships, a coffee-hulling machine, which he introduced into Brazil, and self-acting drawbridges for railroads. At the time of his death he was at work on an electric elevated rail- road, an electric-cable railroad, and a pneumatic elevated railroad. His revolving cannon was in- troduced in several countries of Europe. By means of machinery, operated by steam, this gun is loaded and fired forty times a minute, with only one man in attendance, the loading, firing, and swabbing going on at the same time. He took out 200 patents in this country and 70 in England.

MENARD, Pierre, lieutenant-governor of Illi- nois, b. in Quebec, Canada, in 1707; d. in Kaskas- kia, 111., in 1845. He removed to Kaskaskia about 1788, and became a trader in furs and pelts with the Indians, with all of whom he sustained friendly relations. He was a U. S. district judge for many years, a member of the territorial legislature, and presiding officer of the council. On the admission of Illinois to the Union in 1818, he was chosen its first lieutenant-governor. The state constitution of that year provided that the governor and lieu- tenant-governor should be for thirty years a citizen of the United States, but Col. Menard having been naturalized only two years before, an article was added to the constitution providing that any citizen of the United States that had resided in Illinois two years preceding the election should be eligible to the office of lieutenant-governor. During his occupation of that post a series of laws were adopted which have to a great extent become the foundation of all subsequent legislation. His offi- cial life ended with his term in 1822, and he sub- sequently devoted himself to his private affairs and to charity. A statue, the gift of Charles P. Chouteau, of St. Louis, was erected to his memory at Springfield, 111., in January, 1888. — His daughter, Berenice, b. in 1801 ; d. in Kansas City, Mo., 20 Nov., 1888, was the first white woman that ever lived in Kansas City, and married in 1819 Francis P. Chouteau. She was a devout Roman Catholic, and built the first church erected in Kansas City.

MILLS, Roger Quarles, congressman, b. in Todd county, Ky., 30 March, 1832. He received a common-school education, removed to Palestine, Tex., in 1849, and studied law, supporting himself by serving as an assistant in the post-office and in the offices of the court clerks. In 1850 he was elected engrossing clerk of the Texas house of rep- resentatives, and in 1852 he was admitted to the bar, while still a minor, by special act of the legis- lature. He settled in the practice of his profession at Corsicana, Tex., in 1859 was elected to the legis- lature. In 1872 he was chosen to congress, from the state at large, as a Democrat, and since that time he has been continuously re-elected. In 1876 he opposed the creation of the electoral commis- sion, and in 1887 canvassed the state of Texas against the adoption of a prohibition amendment to its constitution, which was defeated. In 1888 Mr. Mills introduced into the house of representa- tives the bill that is known by his name, reducing the duties on imports, and extending the free list. The bill passed the house on 21 July, 1888. Dur- ing the presidential canvass of that year he spoke in favor of the re-election of Grover Cleveland. MILLS, Sebastian Bach, pianist, b. at Ciren- cester, England, 13 March, 1839. He bagan to ap- pear in concerts at an early age, and in 1856 went to Germany for study. He came to the United States in 1859 and settled as a teacher of the piano in New York, where he still (1889) resides. He has appeared in concerts in the United States and in Europe, and is one of the best known of American pianists. Among his numerous compositions are three " Tarantelles " (1863, 1865. and 1888); "Mur- muring Fountain" (1865); "Polonaise" (1866); " Fairy Fingers " and " Recollections of Home " (1867); "Saltarello" (1874); and two " Etudes de Concert " (1880).

MITCHELL, Edward, clergyman, b. in Cole- raine, Ireland, 3 Aug., 1769 ; d. in Ridgefield, Conn., 8 Aug., 1834. He came to this country in 1791 and settled in New York, where in 1796 he was one of the founders of the Society of United Chris- tian Friends professing a belief in universal salva- tion, of which organization he continued as pastor until his death. Mr. Mitchell attracted large au- diences, and exercised a wide-spread and perma- nent influence. He is described as a benevolent, cultivated, and genial gentleman, and as a preach- er of remarkable eloquence, earnestness, and power. — His son, William, jurist, b. in New York city. 24 Feb., 1801 ; d. in Morristown, N. J., 6 Oct., 1886, was graduated at Columbia in 1820, standing first in his class, and after studying law was admitted to the bar in 1823, and became counsellor in chancery in 1827. In 1849 he was elected a justice of the supreme court of New York, which post he held until 1858. Under the provisions of the law then existing, he became a judge of the court of appeals in 1856, and in 1857 presiding justice of the su- preme court. On retiring from the supreme court, Judge Mitchell did not retire from the bench, but by the action of the courts, and of the bar, and of suitors, in referring to him cases for hearing and de- cision, as a referee, he held his court regularly from day to day, and his calendar, like that of other courts, was always full. His reported opinions are marked by breadth and force of reasoning and large learning, which gave them permanent value. The degree of LL. D. was conferred upon him by Columbia in 1863, and he was one of the vice-presi- dents of the Association of the bar of New York. Judge Mitchell published an edition of " Black- stone's Commentaries " with reference to American cases (New York, 1841). See sketch by Benjamin D. Silliinan (printed privatelv, New York, 1887).

MITCHELL, John Grant, soldier, b.in Piqua, Ohio, 6 Nov., 1838. He was graduated at Kenyon college in 1859, was chosen 1st lieutenant in the 3d Ohio volunteers in 1861, and became colonel of the 113th Ohio, in March, 1863. He was commissioned brigadier-general of volunteers on 12 Jan., 1865, and brevetted major-general of volunteers, to date from 13 March, for special gallantry in the battle of Bentonville. N. C. 17 March, 1865. Gen. Mit- chell resigned on 3 July. 1865, and entered on the practice of law in Columbus, Ohio.

MITCHELL, Lucy Myers, archaeologist, b. in Oroomiah, Persia, in 1845 ; d. in Berlin, Germany, 10 March, 1888. She was the daughter of Rev. Austin II. Wright, a missionary to the Nestorians. She was educated at Mount Holvoke seminary, Mass., married Samuel S. Mitchell, of New Jersey, in 1867, and passed most of her subsequent life