Placer
County
Biographies
GEORGE E. MITCHELL
George E. Mitchell is a citizen in whom the residents of Placer County have seen fit
to place their trust, and he is now serving in the office of assessor, and in
the discharge of his duty he is capable, prompt and notably reliable. He was born in this county, near Newcastle,
on the 9th of April, 1863, and is a son of John Henry Mitchell, a
prominent early settler of Placer County, where he arrived in 1854. He was a native of Kentucky and was of
English lineage. In the state of his
birth he spent his boyhood days and acquired his education. Attracted by the discovery of gold in
California he came by way of the Isthmus of Panama to California, and was
engaged in placer mining in Placer County.
His efforts in this direction brought to him success. He made as high as twenty and thirty dollars
a day, and after mining for a time he became connected with mercantile
interests, opening a store at Stewart’s Flat, near Newcastle, conducting the
enterprise from 1858 until 1865. In the
latter year he directed his attention to farming, securing two hundred and
forty acres of land, which is still in possession of the family. His political allegiance was given the
Democracy, and in the early days he served as a constable and also as the
recorder of the mining district. Later
he was for three terms the assessor of the county, and the trust reposed in him
was never betrayed in the slightest degree.
Of the Improved Order of Red Men he was an active member. He married Miss Alice Graham and their union
was blessed with four sons, two of whom, Homer C. and George E., are living,
and Thomas H. and John S. are deceased.
The father, John Henry Mitchell, passed away April 30, 1894.
The boyhood days of George Mitchell
were quietly passed on his father’s farm and through his youth he applied
himself to the mastery of the branches of learning which formed the public
school curriculum. For three years he
engaged in teaching and later was appointed a deputy assessor. Subsequently he filled the office of deputy
sheriff and in 1898 he was elected on the Democratic ticket as assessor of
Placer County, receiving a majority of one hundred in a county which has a
normal Republican majority of four hundred.
His election was certainly a tribute to his personal worth, indicating
the kindly feeling of his fellow men and their confidence in his ability.
In 1887 was celebrated the marriage
of Mr. Mitchell and Miss Lizzie McCarthy, who was born in Colfax, Placer
County. They now have an interesting
daughter, Genevieve. Mr. Mitchell
belongs to the Knights of Pythias fraternity and the Native Sons of the Golden
West, while his wife hold membership in the society of the Native Daughters of
the Golden West. Their many admirable
qualities have made them highly appreciated by hosts of friends in the county
in which they have both spent their entire lives.
Transcribed by
Gerald Iaquinta.
Source:
“A Volume of Memoirs and Genealogy of Representative Citizens of Northern
California”, Pages 179-180. Chicago Standard Genealogical Publishing Co. 1901.
© 2010
Gerald Iaquinta.