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


JOSEPH S. MITCHELL. An enterprising young ranchman of Merced county, located in 
the neighborhood of Le Grand, is Joseph S. Mitchell, who was born in Nebraska February 
1, 1865, a son of J. S. Mitchell, Sr. The latter was a native of Kentucky, who removed to Mis- 
souri in young manhood and there served in the Confederate army under General Price. After 
the close of the war he engaged in the work to which he was trained in his younger days, be- 
coming a successful farmer in the state of his adoption. Feeling, however, that opportunities 
for advancement lay in the remote west, he came to California in October, 1874, bringing his fam- 
ily and locating in the neighborhood of Snelling. He there engaged in the dairy business, remain- 
ing in this county until his death. He married, in Springfield, Ky., Juliet Montgomery, who was 
a sister of the late J. A. Montgomery of Snelling, Merced county. Their children were named, in 
order of birth, as follows : Mary. James, Anna, Robert, Joseph S., William and Ella. 

From his native state of Nebraska Joseph S. Mitchell accompanied his parents to California 
when nine years old, and w-as reared near Snelling, where he attended school in pursuit of an 
education. At the age of twenty years he became dependent upon his own resources, rent- 
ing as a first venture along agricultural lines one hundred and eighty acres of land, where 
he farmed for about eleven years. With his accumulated savings he purchased, in 1896, his 
present ranch, which consists of one hundred and twenty acres, since which time he has given 
his best efforts toward its development and proper cultivation. In conjunction with his cul- 
tivation of this land he also rents eight hundred acres, which is given over entirely to grain. Mr. 
Mitchell's home is presided over by his wife, who was formerly Jennie Turner, a native of 
this county and the daughter of J. T. Turner. They are the parents of five children, namely : 
Merle, Joe, James, Hugh and Isabel. In his political convictions Mr. Mitchell is a stanch Demo- 
crat and has been a member of the Democratic central committee for the past four years.