James Mitchell

James Mitchell was born about 1813 in North Carolina.  He married Martha Allen on November 23, 1841 in Wake County, North Carolina.  Martha is believed to be the daughter of Thomas Allen and Nancy Foster, born around 1820 in Granville County, North Carolina.  James and Martha had three children while living in North Carolina:

  James Thomas.,   Born September, 20, 1844
  John Columbus,   Born November 10, 1845
  Mariah S. Louisa,   Born about 1847

Sometime between 1846 and 1848, James and Martha moved with their three children to Gordon County, Georgia.  This family was listed in the Division 12, Gordon County, Georgia Census with James's occupation entered as Farmer.  While in Georgia, the following children were born:

Rebecca A.,   Born about 1849
 Mary J.,   Born about 1850
 George Russell,   Born about 1855

Between 1850 and 1854, James and his family had moved to Lamar County, Alabama, where James Patented land near Belk. 

                             

 1858 Patent

James and Martha's death dates are unknown.  Both may be buried in Bethabra Cemetery near Belk which is just north of where James owned land.

John Columbus Mitchell

 John Columbus Mitchell married Rachael Elizabeth Gilliam in 1865 in Lamar County, Alabama (Lamar County was a part of Fayette County at that time).  Rachael was the daughter of Peter Gilliam and Mary A. Loftis.  They lived around the Hightogy area of  Lamar County where their six children were born:

William Oscar,   Born June 1, 1868
 James Albert,   Born October 10, 1872
 Biddie Alice,   Born February 1875
 Hiram Luther,   Born August 1, 1877
  Margaret Pearl,   Born March 4, 1881
  John LaFayette,   Born May 1, 1883

 

  

 John Columbus and Rachael Mitchell

 

John Columbus Mitchell entered the Confederate Army in April, 1862 at the Fayette County, Alabama, courthouse and served as a private with Company K, 26th Alabama Infantry Regiment in the Shenandoah Valley area of Virginia with General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson's command, and served in the battles of Williamsburg, Seven Pines, Seven Days Battle around Richmond, South Mountain, Sharpsburg, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, and Gettysburg.  Company K was known as the "Looxapalila Guards" after the river that flows through Lamar County.

His unit was returned to Alabama or South Georgia for a short time in late 1863 or early 1864, but was detailed to the battle of Atlanta and Jonesboro, Georgia in the spring and summer of 1864.  His unit was with General John Bell Hoods command as the Army moved from Georgia to Tennessee, and was involved in the battle of Nashville, Tennessee in December, 1864.  Private John Columbus Mitchell absented himself from his unit from December, 1864, until he was captured and paroled at LaGrange, Tennessee, in May, 1865 after the war had ended.

It is thought that Private John Columbus Mitchell was a blacksmith in the Confederate Army and that he received an injury to one of his eyes from a hot metal chip while smiting.

 John Columbus died July 5, 1919 and Rachael Elizabeth died April 12, 1931.  Both are buried in Shiloh (Pinhook) Methodist Cemetery, Lamar County, Alabama.

 
Grave markers of John Columbus Mitchell (left) and Rachael Elizabeth Gilliam Mitchell
 (right), Shiloh (Pinhook) Methodist Church Cemetery, Lamar County, Alabama.

 

 William Oscar Mitchell

William Oscar Mitchell married Nancy Serena Thomas November 6, 1890 in a ceremony performed by Minister W. C. Woods.  Nancy Serena was born May 10th, 1871, the daughter of George Key Thomas and Rebecca Copeland.  William Oscar and Nancy Serena lived around the Hightogy area of central Lamar County, Alabama and had the following children:

Mellie Izora,   Born September 9, 1891
 Joseph Murray,   Born June 6, 1893
John Harvey,   Born July 31, 1895
Icie Floy,   Born December 8, 1900
  Lula Adine,   Born April 7, 1903
  Infant Son,   Born and Died April 8, 1906

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                William Oscar Mitchell                                  William Oscar and Nancy with children

 

William died January 23, 1945 and Nancy Serena died January 25, 1924 and both are buried in Shiloh (Pinhook) Methodist Church Cemetery, Lamar County, Alabama

 

 

John Harvey Mitchell


Listed in some military papers as "John William Mitchell".


             

 1.  Harvey & Myrtle lived here sometime before 1924                                                                             Area of Aerial Photo

 2.  In 1924 they were living in a log cabin here, where Mava Lois was born.

 3.  Living here in late 20's and 30's

 4.  Around 1943, after Toliver Wallace's death, they moved  into the house here.  Harvey had helped Toliver build this house for Toliver  to live in after his wife died in 1935.  Toliver had been living to the southeast around the South Carolina Church area.

Harvey Mitchell was drafted into the military in October 1917 and was discharged February 1918 for medical reasons.

 
WWI Draft Card Notice of Selection Order to Report Discharge

 

Harvey married Cassie Myrtle Wallace, daughter of Toliver Davis and Mary Jane (Jones) Wallace on February 8, 1919.  Daughter Mava Lois was born November 24, 1924.

Harvey and family are listed in the following censuses:

      - 1920 Alabama Lamar County Ridge Beat District 54 Page 8A
      - 1930 Alabama Lamar County Ridge Beat District 23 Page 1A

Mava Lois Mitchell Married Minter Dale Redus, Jr.

Harvey passed away April 9, 1967 and Myrtle July 15, 1993.  Both are buried at Shiloh (Pinhook) Methodist Church Cemetery, Lamar County, Alabama.

Harvey, Myrtle, and Mava Lois Mitchell, about 1932