BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES, BELMONT COUNTY, OHIO

"History of the Upper Ohio Valley" Vol. II, 1890.

Presented by Linda Fluharty from hard copies provided
by Mary Staley & Phyllis Slater.


Pages 657-658.

COL. JOSEPH R. MITCHELL

Col. Joseph R. Mitchell, cashier of the First National bank of St. Clairsville,
was born in York county, Penn., in 1830, the son of David and Martha (Dinsmore)
Mitchell. The father was a native of York county, Penn., where he followed the
trade of blacksmithing and also was engaged in farming. He was the son of
Joseph Mitchell, a native of Ireland, whose wife was of Scotch descent. During
the war of 1812 David Mitchell started with other volunteers to the relief of
Baltimore, but his services were rendered unnecessary before his arrival there.
Col. Mitchell was reared and educated at his Pennsylvania home, attending an
academy there, and in 1849 he came to Ohio, and taught school three years near
Cincinnati. He then removed to Morristown, where he taught school about two
years, and engaged in business, also serving subsequent to 1853, as postmaster
at that town, under the administration of President Pierce. In 1856 he removed
to St. Clairsville, and was appointed by S. W. Gaston, then clerk of the courts,
as his deputy, and this position he filled during the entire term of his
principal. In the spring of 1860 he removed to Bridgeport and engaged in the
drug business, but the peril of his country soon called him to different scenes.
In July, 1862, he recruited Company B, of the Ninety-eighth Ohio regiment, which,
as captain, he led to the front. During the next year, his bravery and mer-
itorious conduct led to his promotion successively to major and then to
lieutenant colonel. He was always at his post of duty, excepting three weeks
of illness in a hospital and participated in many severe engagements, among
which may be mentioned, Perrysville, Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, Resaca, Rome,
and the battles of Sherman's march to the sea. After receiving an honorable
discharge in Washington, in 1865, he returned home, and in the ensuing fall
was elected clerk of the courts of Belmont county. This office he filled with
an efficiency that has seldom been equalled, and after his first term he was
twice re-elected to the clerkship. Including the period of his service as
deputy he was engaged in the duties of this office twelve years. A year
after finally retiring from the office he accepted the position of cashier
of the First National bank of St. Clairsville, in which post he has won the
favor of the public and contributed in no slight degree to the upbuilding of
the extensive business of that institution. Col. Mitchell was married Septem-
ber 21, 1870, to Cecilia A. Grove, daughter of John A. Grove, of this county,
and by this union has five children: Carrie, Mary, Rodney, Blanche and
Cecilia. He and wife are members of the Presbyterian church.