Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 5.djvu/560

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VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

Southern gentleman. The name of Mitchell appears frequently in the early colonial rec- ords of Virginia, and is found in Prince George county as early as 1717, when Henry Mitchell, Jr.. received a grant of three hun- dred and twenty-seven acres, and Thomas Mitchell two hundred and fifteen acres. The records show that there were thirteen of this name in the revolution from Virginia. As early as 1682 Thomas Mitchell received sixteen hundred and eighty acres in New- Kent county. He was a church warden of St. Peter's parish in New Kent in 1687, and soon after the records of that parish show that Stephen and Stephen Mitchell, Jr., were residents there. The name appears in Acco- mac county in 1662, and in Rappahannock county in 1676. George Mitchell was a prominent merchant in Fredericksburg in 1771, and he appears in the records there for some years succeeding.

George Russell Mitchell, a native of Prince George county, Virginia, was a planter there, and gave much attention to bee culture, maintaining many colonies of this busy little insect. He was a soldier of the war of 1812, and for this service his widow received a pension. A member of the Piaptist church, politically a Democrat, he was a very generous man and very highly esteemed in the community where he lived. He married a widow who had children, and his own children were: Elly, Edmona and Andrew Russell.

Andrew Russell Mitchell was born 1837, and died 1906. He attended the common schools for a brief period, was busily occu- pied upon the paternal farm until the be- ginning of the war between the states, when he enlisted at the first call for troops. He became a member of the Twenty-second Virginia Battalion, which served in Hook- er's brigade, and was promoted successively from private to corporal and sergeant. He seemed to be absolutely devoid of fear, and was frequently called upon for most danger- ous undertakings. Whenever a volunteer was called for in this connection he was always the first to offer his services. Most of his time in the army was spent as a scout, because of his ability to think quickly and work his way out of difficulties. He par- ticipated in the battles of the Wilderness, Seven Pines, Manassas, Fredericksburg, Spottsylvania Court House, Antietam and Gettysburg. Shortly previous to Lee's sur-

1 ender he was wounded and captured. When peace came he returned to his native county and resumed farming. He attained a high position in the regard of his fellow citizens, served many years as justice of the peace, and in other public capacities. He was a Bap- tist in religion, and adhered to the prevailing political opinion of his time. He married, Au- gust 16, 1865, Mary Jane Goodrich, born 1837, daughter of George W. and Deniza (White) Goodrich, of Surry county, Virginia, granddaughter of William Goodrich, who came from England, settled in Surry county, and married Avery Holloway. Both he and his son, George W., were American soldiers in the war of 1812. Children of Andrew R. Mitchell: i. Lelia Wilson, born April 9, i858; married. September 24, 1890, Ollie G. Derring, born i860, died 191 1. 2. Timothy Ayer, of further mention. 3. Macklin S., born 1872; married Carrie Magee, and has children : Coney W., born July, 1894, died 1908: Alma, born July, 1896; Louise, born October, 1899.

Timothy Ayer Mitchell was born January 18, 1870, in Prince George county, Virginia. He attended the common schools there, and assisted in the labors of the paternal farm, whose outdoor life gave him a strong phj'si- cal make-up. As soon as he attained his majority he became deputy treasurer and collector of his native county. In the fol- lowing year he settled at Newport News as deputy sheriff, under Sheriff E. W. Milstead, and for two years served as jailer. In June, 1894, he was made a patrolman on the police force of Newport News, and in this depart- ment worked his way upward through the various branches, until July i, 1910, when he became chief of the department. Under his jurisdiction the police force of the city has made steady advancement, and is now one of the most efficient and well disciplined in the state. Under the modern system a motorcycle traffic officer is kept busily occu- pied, and a motor patrol wagon is kept in operation. Mr. Mitchell was the organizer of the Police Relief Association, and also of a detective department, and the system has been entirely reorganized after a study and observation of other systems in vogue in modern cities. Mr. Mitchell finds his recre- ation chiefly in the care of his farm in War- wick county, Virginia, where he produces various kinds of grain and live stock, and maintains several colonies of bees. He is