Butte County
Biographies
JAMES EVANS MITCHELL
JAMES EVANS MITCHELL.--A native son of California and a descendent of one
of the pioneer Argonauts of the state, J. E. Mitchell was born in Yuba County,
July 9, 1871, a son of George and Elizabeth (Evans) Mitchell. His maternal
grandfather, James Evans, came to California from Indiana in 1850, and settled
near the Oregon House in Yuba County, having determined to try his fortunes in
the gold-mining districts of the state. He was a well-known pioneer and was
liked by all who knew him.
When James Evans Mitchell was but four
years of age his parents moved to Gridley, Butte County, where the father died
soon after. Here James E. grew up and after finishing his education worked on
his stepfather’s ranch, his mother having married again, this time being united
with C. H. Myers. When he had reached the age of eighteen, he and his brother,
Edward F., started farming for themselves, leasing the
nine-hundred-sixty-acre ranch owned by their stepfather. They soon were
enjoying a fair degree of success, due to their unceasing efforts and to their
knowledge of their chosen occupation. They operated this portion of the Myers
Ranch until two years after their mother’s death, which occurred in 1909. At
this time the Myers estate was settled and the brothers came to the vicinity of
Chico and leased eleven hundred fifty acres from O. C. Pratt, Jr. This property
is located some seven miles southwest from Chico. For two years, in connection
with this ranch, they operated a thousand acres of the Phelan Ranch, thus
farming twenty-one hundred fifty acres in all. Besides this work they did a
large amount of contract work, such as grading and checking land. The
partnership of the Mitchell Brothers continued, with mutual benefit, until
1916, when J. E. Mitchell took over the business. He is now farming
the eleven hundred fifty acres of the Pratt Ranch, and is meeting with the
success that is inevitable with his wide knowledge of soil and conditions, and
by bringing to bear his indomitable energy and enterprise that are
characteristic of all his operations. He specializes in grain-farming; his crop
for 1917 yielded him about ten thousand sacks of wheat and barley.
Mr. Mitchell’s marriage, in 1916, united
him with Mrs. Maggie (Mackey) Johnston of Gridley. She has two children by her
first marriage, who brighten their homes; they are
Clair and Ileen Johnston. Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell have
a large circle of friends in their community and enjoy life, and take an active
part in social and civic affairs of their district.
Transcribed by Marie Hassard
13 May 2008.
Source:
"History of Butte County, Cal.," by George C. Mansfield, Pages
899-900, Historic Record
Co, Los Angeles, CA, 1918.
© 2008 Marie Hassard.
Golden Nugget Library's Butte County Biographies