In Memory of Timothy Elijah Mitchell by James T. Taylor

By J.T. Taylor. — James T. Taylor was the brother-in-law of Timothy Mitchell, having married Cynthia Wohlford, sister of Timothy's wife Ardelia Wohlford. Taylor was the publisher of the first newspaper published in Bland County, Virginia, the Southwest Virginia Times of Mechanicsburg. Taylor was an independent preacher and a member of the Christian Church. He officiated at the wedding of Timothy and Ardelia's son Esca Mitchell and his wife Minnie Miller. Timothy and Ardelia named their son James Taylor Mitchell after him, and Esca and Minnie named their son James T. W. “Trubie” Mitchell after him. (This information, along with the document below, were provided August 1988 by J.T.W. Mitchell.)

Timothy Elijah Mitchell the subject of this sketch was born in Bedford County, Virginia, December 17, 1832; was a son of D. [Decovid] and Elizabeth Mitchell; died in Bland County, February 20, 1916 in his 83rd year.

His wife, Ardelia Wohlford, daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth Wohlford, near Mechanicsburg, Virginia, whom he married March 4, 1858. To this union were born thirteen children as follows: Jerome B. Mitchell, C.A. Mitchell, Esca Mitchell, Shirlie K. Mitchell, Samuel H. Mitchell, Gilbert M. Mitchell, James Taylor Mitchell, Burmontie Mitchell, Birdie Mitchell, Daisy Mitchell, Irene E. Mitchell, Victoria Burton Mitchell, and Dora Mitchell.

Six of the above named parties are dead. To this family belonged 31 grandchildren and six great grandchildren. The wife of Mr. Mitchell was born March 12, 1844, and died November 9, 1913 in her 70th year.

A few years before the war our subject settled in Pulaski County engaged in such business as he could find; among other things he learned the art of Daguerrotyping and made quite a success. Many of his pictures are in existence which he made sixty years ago. He was a student of everything around him. He burned the midnight lamp; with him it was books, books, books! He studied law, medicine, science, teaching, religion, social and political problems. To say that he was self made is putting the subject mildly. He read all the literature from the beginning of time. He laid the foundation stones of success deep and broad, endeavoring to avoid every backward step. With industry, economy, and perseverance, he pressed forward; where duty called he was ready to respond; no work was too hard for him but with Spartan Courage he faced wind and weather, in order to support his wife and children hung about his neck. Few men were equal in pure manual labor.

Soon after his marriage the roaring guns of war sounded, and our subject responded, fighting under the stars and bars, till it went down to the dust. He would sit for hours and tell of his narrow escapes in battle and how he eluded the enemy and of the many noble men who fell in the Lost Cause.

When the war ended Mr. Mitchell left Mechanicsburg and settled near the mouth of the Indian Creek in Floyd County, Virginia, where he began the battle of life anew, digging a living out of the ground. There he built Mitchell's School House and taught the first free schools in the neighborhood.

In May 1876 he moved back to Mechanicsburg and took up farming and teaching, in all teaching twenty years or more. He was a fine disciplinarian, and his services were in demand. He tried to be up-to-date, and was equal to any teacher of his class. He moved slowly in the world, and seemed to be successful in everything. He was never in a hurry. He was eccentric and sometimes seemed to be oblivious to his surroundings., He rarely ever became offended at any one.

He was made of stern stuff, and seemed determined not to be jostled from his base. He passed through many sore trials and many times was misunderstood, but he moved on. He was kind and jovial, a good neighbor; visited the sick and distressed; and many times would do things that others overlooked. Just like other men he made many mistakes, which are generally faults of judgement. As a good father on earth forgives the little failures of his children, so the Great Father will cover his children with the palm of his hand. Man in his entirety must stand or fall before God.

His life was full of activities: He had been merchant, farmer, teacher, Mason, a member of the Christian Church, and a staunch Democrat. He seemed to enjoy some happy moods. He was trustful and often his face would seem to say God reigns and all is well. Many times he would join in and help sing the old song:

But far down in the evening of life he found himself so lonely, wife gone, children scattered, the shadows of old age darkened his path. He was a child again, reaching up for help! He turned his face from his old Crandon Home and among the solitudes of the Wilderness Road the old man rested. But he was not far from home: where God's children die the angels pitch their tents., God bless the children who ministered to the one who had done so much for them. The old man's work is done; the embers of life are burning low; children you have done all you can for your father, he will call on you no more, now he has gone to sleep; a solemn stillness reigns; but hush! I hear the rumbling wheels — it is the “Chariot of God,” they are coming; they halt at the home of Daisy and Father Mitchell mounts the fiery vehicle and goes to live with Elijah of old.

Funeral services were held in the Christian Church at Mechanicsburg by Rev. Ellis A. Large. Crowds of people followed the remains to its last resting place, beside the wife on Cemetery Hill.