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 549-550.

MATTHEW C. MITCHELL, ex-mayor of Martin's Ferry, was born near
Mt. Pleasant, Belmont county, July 22, 1840. Of that county
Thomas Mitchell, his grandfather, was one of the early settlers,
purchasing at an early day a large tract of land at Scotch Ridge,
from the government, and farming there until his death, about
1850. John P. Mitchell, a son of the latter, was born in 1802,
and was reared upon the farm, where he lived and engaged in
agriculture until 1873, when he died. By his wife, Mary M.
Theaker, to whom he was married in 1839, and who is still
living, he had five children, two of whom are living, besides
the subject of this sketch. The la,tter, after attending the
common schools, entered successively Haysville and Oberlin
colleges, and after completing his studies there he accepted a
position in the United States patent office, under the commis-
sioner, Thomas L. Theaker, his mother's brother. He remained
there until 1869, and then returned home to take charge of the
home farm. In 1876 he removed to Martin's Ferry, and embarked in
the grocery business in which he was successfully engaged until
1876. Having taken an active part in municipal affairs, and being
a public-spirited and popular citizen, he was elected in 1878 to
the offices of justice of the peace and mayor. The former office
he held six years. The mayor's office he has occupied ever since,
excepting two years in which he was compelled to give his attention
to his private affairs. During this period he acted as assistant
manager of the stove foundry, of which he was one of the directors.
At the end of that time he was again elected mayor. Mr. Mitchell
is a leader in the republican party, and was one of the delegates
to its last state convention. In 1889, he served as chairman of the
senatorial convention of Belmont and Harrison counties. At the
centennial exposition at Columbus he represented Belmont county as
commissioner. He is prominent in several fraternal organizations,
being a Knight Templar in the Masonic order, and a member of the
Knights of Pythias and the Odd Fellows. He and wife are members of
the Presbyterian church. Mr. Mitchell was married September 20,
1877, to Mary E. Kennon, granddaughter of Judge William Kennon,
and daughter of Ellis Kennon. By this union he has five children:
E. Kennon, Ellen S., Mary T., Sarah B., and Ruth M. He tendered
his resignation as mayor, to take effect March 31, 1890, to accept
the position of postmaster to which he was appointed by the
president, March 7, 1890.