California Biographies

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives 
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

Source:
History of the state of California and biographical record of the San Joaquin 
Valley, California. An historical story of the state's marvelous growth from 
its earliest settlement to the present time.
Prof. James Miller Guinn , A. M.
The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago 1905
Notes: Missing Page: 865-866,983-984,1175-1176


ADOLPHUS MITCHELL, a successful rancher of Tulare county, was born in Hawkins 
county, East Tennessee, May 28, 1829. His father, Lewis Mitchell, was a native of South 
Carolina, and the son of Solomon Mitchell, likewise a native of that state. Solomon Mitchell 
was a patriot and served in the Revolutionary war under General Pickens. After the close of 
hostilities he came as far west as Tennessee and located in Hawkins county as a farmer, making 
that section his home until his death. Lewis Mitchell followed the example of his father and 
in 1836 emigrated to the southwestern part of Missouri, locating in McDonald county, where 
he engaged in farming until his death in 1861. 

He became a prominent man in that locality, as he had been in his home in Tennessee, in that state 
having served as justice of the peace and postmaster for fourteen years. His wife, formerly 
Mary Duff, of West Virginia, also died in McDonald county, Mo. Of their family of five sons 
and one daughter only two sons are now living, the two youngest, Adolphus and Ozro, who live 
together in their western home. 

In the common schools of Missouri Adolphus Mitchell received his education, after which he 
engaged in working on his father's farm until 1855. On April 21 of that year, in company with 
his brother, he crossed the plains to California, arriving at the head waters of the Little Yuba 
river, Sierra county. August 5. For a time he worked for wages in that locality, in the same 
year going to Mariposa county, where he remained until 1857. In August of that year he 
came to Tulare county, where he first worked on the range as a cowboy, handling Spanish cat- 
tle. In 1860 he made his first purchase of land, buying eighty acres, which was the beginning of 
the property which to-day numbers twelve hundred and eighty acres, increased by both his own 
and the efforts of his brother. This property is eight miles southwest of Visalia, under irrigation 
from the Evans, Watson and Persian ditches, while they also own a foothill ranch of fifteen 
hundred acres about six miles north of Lemon cove. With his brother he is extensively engaged 
in the cultivation of wheat and the raising of horses and mules, in addition to which they run 
a dairy. 

In Newton county, Mo., Mr. Mitchell married Susan Bogle, who was born in Bedford county, 
Term., where she spent the first fifteen years of her life. They are the parents of three children, 
namely : Walter Franklin and Arthur Gaden, at home; and Addie Belle, the wife of Edward C. 
Jones, who is located two miles south of Dinuba. Politically Mr. Mitchell adheres to the principles 
advocated in the platform of the Democratic party. In all matters that have had for their 
object the advancement of Tulare county and California he has always given his hearty co- 
operation.