Sacramento County
Biographies
WILLIAM
MITCHELL
WILLIAM
MITCHELL, a prominent pioneer, was born September 12, 1829, in Rochester, New
York; he was left an orphan at the age of four years, and at the age of eight
years he began life as a newsboy. During
the Mexican war he was occupying a position in the custom house at New Orleans,
where he enlisted in a company called the Louisiana Mounted Volunteers, of
which the captain was George Carr, son of the collector of the port. They were attached to General Scott’s army at
Vera Cruz and served for eighteen months.
Mr. Mitchell attained the rank of brevet Captain of Company C. After he was mustered out of the service he
was again employed in the New Orleans custom-house, remaining there until the
close of President Polk’s administration.
In 1849 he came to California on the old famous steamer McKim, Captain Fulton, being nine months on the
voyage. This was the first steamer that
ever came up the river as far as Sacramento.
He went to the Fremont diggings in Mariposa County, having for his
business partner Edward Shaw, son of Dr. Shaw, an eminent physician in New
Orleans. He, however, soon became ill
and returned home. During the winter and
spring of 1849—’50, he was on the Yuba River.
He next returned to New Orleans, by way of the Isthmus, securing a
position on the police force and remained there until 1853. In April, that year, having been married to
Miss Mary St. John, he with his wife came to California, determined to make
this country his home. Purchasing land
on what is called the Laguna, in the southern part of this county, he engaged
in stock-raising there and farming until 1887, when he removed with his family
to this city, locating on J street, above Twenty-second, where he has built and
occupies a beautiful residence.
Transcribed by Karen Pratt.
Davis, Hon. Win. J., An Illustrated History of Sacramento County, California. Page 574. Lewis Publishing Company. 1890.
© 2006
Karen Pratt.