The biographical sketches of the inhabitants of the township of Pleasant Valley would hardly be complete without some account of Col. James Mitchell and family, who were among our earliest settlers and came to Illinois from Cumberland County, Pa., before the Black Hawk War, and settled upon a farm in our township. During the war he and his family were driven from their home by the Indians, and took refuge in the fort at Galena. His house and stable, hay and grain-stacks were burned by the Indians, and his live stock driven away. After the war he came back to his farm and built another house, which is still standing, now owned by the heirs of D. Kuhns, deceased. It still bears the name of “the old Mitchell place.”

In 1846 Col. Mitchell removed with his family to Elizabeth, in this county, and thence to Freeport, where he resided to the time of his death. Alexander Stinson Mitchell, nephew of Col. Mitchell, came from Pennsylvania in 1823, resided about a year in Clinton County, Ill., thence came to Galena and worked in the lead mines, especially at Gratiot’s Grove, for about five years. He afterward went to New Orleans, where he remained about five years longer, then went to Texas and enlisted as a volunteer under Gen. Sam Houston to fight for the independence of Texas, was in the battle of San Jacinto, among other engagements, and afterward joined the famous Santa Fe expedition to capture Santa Fe from Mexico. Of this undertaking Newman in his history says, “There were 300 or more men under Gen. McLeod; they finally surrendered to Mexican authorities and were inhumanly treated; stripped of everything, and made to march 2,000 miles, barefooted, to the city of Mexico. Thirty-five died on the way; four were shot, and the rest liberated.”

After the war Mr. Mitchell returned to Texas and received a tract of land in reward for his services, which he never occupied, but came North in 1846 and took up a farm in this township, where he lived until 1884, when in company with his nephew, Paul Edwards and family, and his sister, Mrs. E. Edwards, he removed to Melville, Dak., where he still resides at a hale old age, beloved and respected by all who know him.

Contributed by Carol Parrish - From Portraits and Biographical Jo Daviess County Pg 718

NOTES: From Sonya Tigner Perkett Perkett93@gmail.com
This biography mentions Alexander Stinson Mitchell as being his nephew when, in fact, Alexander is James’ brother