Mitchell was born on March 3, 1816, in Claremont, New Hampshire to William and Dorothy (née Blake) Mitchell. His father died when he was 16, putting strain on the family. He became a farm laborer while receiving a limited education in country schools.[1] In 1836, he began working at a paper mill, and in 1837 began traveling to sell books and paper from the company he worked for.[2]
Careeredit
Mitchell moved to St. Charles, Missouri in 1839, and briefly worked on a farm there. In 1840 he moved to Iowa and began working at Keosauqua, soon relocating to Fairfield. In 1844, he moved to Polk County and built a log cabin near Camp Creek to service travelers, which was the first house built in the county outside of Fort Des Moines. He also began cultivating crops and raised an orchard. He is often regarded as the first white settler of Polk County. In 1846, he claimed 1,080 acres of land in what is now Beaver Township.[1]
The same year, he was elected the first sheriff of Polk County. In 1848, he ran for the 6th district of the Iowa House of Representatives, but was defeated in the general election by Manly Gifford. In 1857, he was elected to the Iowa House of Representatives from the 19th district, which constituted Polk County, and was a member of the Claims Committee. In 1859, he was elected to the board of supervisors of Polk County, serving as a commissioner for six years.[1][3]
In 1867 he founded the town of Mitchellville, and explicitly forbade saloons in the town. In 1873 he was elected to the Iowa Senate from the 28th district, which constituted Polk County as well. He helped to establish the ‘Girls’ Industrial School’ at Mitchellville, and served on its board of trustees. He was an abolitionist throughout his life, being a friend of John Brown, and maintained a station on the Underground Railroad.[1][4]
Personal lifeedit
Mitchell married twice, first to Almira Swift of Thetford, Vermont on August 14, 1841, then to Anna Caroline Mattern on June 17, 1861,[a] after Swift's death in 1860. He had five children with his first wife and three children with his second. He was often called “Uncle Tommy” by those who knew him.[4] He died on July 15, 1894, at his residence in Mitchellville, at the age of 78. He was a Universalist by faith.[1] Thomas Mitchell County Park in Polk County bears his name.[5]
^ abcdef"State Representative". Iowa Legislature. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
^"Biography of Thomas Mitchell – Iowa Genealogy". Iowa Genealogy. June 9, 2019. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
^"Samuel J. Kirkwood, Thomas Mitchell, Thomas S. Wright" (PDF). Iowa Legislature. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
^ ab"Mitchell, Thomas.tif" (PDF). Iowa Legislature. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
^"Historic Visits - MyCountyParks.com". www.mycountyparks.com. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
April 11, 2024
thomas, mitchell, iowa, politician, thomas, mitchell, march, 1816, july, 1894, american, politician, farmer, republican, anti, monopolist, represented, 19th, district, iowa, house, representatives, from, 1858, 1860, 28th, district, iowa, senate, from, 1874, 18. Thomas Mitchell March 3 1816 July 15 1894 was an American politician and farmer A Republican and Anti Monopolist he represented the 19th district in the Iowa House of Representatives from 1858 to 1860 and the 28th district in the Iowa Senate from 1874 to 1878 He is the founder of Mitchellville Iowa and is considered the first white settler of Polk County Iowa 1 Thomas MitchellMember of the Iowa House of Representatives from the 19th districtIn office January 11 1858 January 8 1860Preceded byAndrew J KirkpatrickSucceeded byMichael PriceMember of the Iowa Senate from the 28th districtIn office January 12 1874 January 13 1878Preceded byFrank T CampbellSucceeded byJohn David NicholsPersonal detailsBorn 1816 03 03 March 3 1816 Claremont New Hampshire U S DiedJuly 15 1894 1894 07 15 aged 78 Mitchellville Iowa U S Political partyRepublican Anti Monopoly 1874 76 Spouse s Almira Swift Anna MatternChildren8OccupationFarmer tavern host Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Personal life 4 Notes 5 ReferencesEarly life editMitchell was born on March 3 1816 in Claremont New Hampshire to William and Dorothy nee Blake Mitchell His father died when he was 16 putting strain on the family He became a farm laborer while receiving a limited education in country schools 1 In 1836 he began working at a paper mill and in 1837 began traveling to sell books and paper from the company he worked for 2 Career editMitchell moved to St Charles Missouri in 1839 and briefly worked on a farm there In 1840 he moved to Iowa and began working at Keosauqua soon relocating to Fairfield In 1844 he moved to Polk County and built a log cabin near Camp Creek to service travelers which was the first house built in the county outside of Fort Des Moines He also began cultivating crops and raised an orchard He is often regarded as the first white settler of Polk County In 1846 he claimed 1 080 acres of land in what is now Beaver Township 1 The same year he was elected the first sheriff of Polk County In 1848 he ran for the 6th district of the Iowa House of Representatives but was defeated in the general election by Manly Gifford In 1857 he was elected to the Iowa House of Representatives from the 19th district which constituted Polk County and was a member of the Claims Committee In 1859 he was elected to the board of supervisors of Polk County serving as a commissioner for six years 1 3 In 1867 he founded the town of Mitchellville and explicitly forbade saloons in the town In 1873 he was elected to the Iowa Senate from the 28th district which constituted Polk County as well He helped to establish the Girls Industrial School at Mitchellville and served on its board of trustees He was an abolitionist throughout his life being a friend of John Brown and maintained a station on the Underground Railroad 1 4 Personal life editMitchell married twice first to Almira Swift of Thetford Vermont on August 14 1841 then to Anna Caroline Mattern on June 17 1861 a after Swift s death in 1860 He had five children with his first wife and three children with his second He was often called Uncle Tommy by those who knew him 4 He died on July 15 1894 at his residence in Mitchellville at the age of 78 He was a Universalist by faith 1 Thomas Mitchell County Park in Polk County bears his name 5 Notes edit Some sources say 1871References edit a b c d e f State Representative Iowa Legislature Retrieved March 22 2024 Biography of Thomas Mitchell Iowa Genealogy Iowa Genealogy June 9 2019 Retrieved March 22 2024 Samuel J Kirkwood Thomas Mitchell Thomas S Wright PDF Iowa Legislature Retrieved March 22 2024 a b Mitchell Thomas tif PDF Iowa Legislature Retrieved March 22 2024 Historic Visits MyCountyParks com www mycountyparks com Retrieved March 22 2024 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Thomas Mitchell Iowa politician amp oldid 1218172835, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
