Richard A. MITCHELL

". . is a farmer and miller of Ouachita Township, Polk County, Ark., but first saw the light of day in Chester District, S. C., January 24, 1827, being the third of seven children born to William and Anna (THOMAS) MITCHELL, the former born in Chester District, S. C., in 1804, and the latter in Buncombe County, N. C., in 1794, their marriage taking place in the father's birthplace. When the subject of this short sketch was about two years of age his parents removed to Troup County, Ga., eight years later to Harris County, then to Heard County, and when Richard A. was still a youth, they removed to Talladega County, Ala., where Mr. Mitchell died in the seventies, his widow afterward coming to Polk County, and dying soon after, both having been members of the Missionary Baptist Church a great many years, the former a well-to-do farmer. He served in the Seminole War of 1836. Richard A. Mitchell was reared on a farm, with a limited country education, and about 1851 was married to Martha, daughter of Washington and Mary JOHNSON, of Talladega County, Ala., but in 1857 removed to Calhoun County, Ark., where Mr. Johnson died, and his widow is still living. Mrs. Mitchell was born in Talladega County, Ala, and died in Saline County, Ark., in 1858, having borne four children, three sons living: Knu, John, and Pinckney. In 1860 Mr. Mitchell's second marriage was celebrated, his wife being Rebecca, a daughter of Thomas and Louisa HARRIS. She was born in Alabama, and has borne Mr. Mitchell six children, the following of whom are living: Richard, Robert, Demetris, Charley, Claude and Nora L. Mr. Mitchell resided in Talladega County, Ala., until 1857, when he came to Saline County, Ark., moving one year later, to Calhoun County, later to Montgomery County, and in 1869 to Polk County, where he settled on a partly improved farm. He now has 440 acres of valuable land, 160 acres of which are cleared. About 1880 he built a water, saw and grist-mill, on the Ouachita River, which he still owns and operates. During the war he was detailed to look after matters at home. He is one of the most enterprising farmers of Polk County, and has, at all times, shown an honorable, upright spirit. Mrs. Mitchell's mother, who was born in South Carolina, went with her parents to Alabama, where she married Mr. HARRIS, removing afterward to Mississippi, and then to Kentucky. After a five-years residence in this State they went to Missouri, and about 1856 to Calhoun County, Ark., and in 1868 to Polk County, where they took up their abode on a farm, on which Mr. Harris died, about 1873, and his widow in 1884, members of the Baptist and Methodist Churches, respectively."


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