ISAAC N. MITCHELL
Page 680
ISAAC N. MITCHELL
Page 680
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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. 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. |