TAMPICO AREA HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Source: Portrait & Biographical Album of Whiteside County, IL
Originally published 1885 Chapman Bros., Chicago, IL

Transcribed by: Becky Jones

Pages 257-258

Abram D. Mitchell, dealer in groceries, provisions and crockery, at Fulton, established his present business in January, 1866.  Average value of stock about $3,500.  The subject of this sketch was born in Adams Co., Ohio, Jan. 10, 1835, and is the son of David and Harriet (Murphy) Mitchell.  His parents are natives of Ohio. The family removed to Marshall Co., Ill., in 1836, making their home on a farm near Lacon. He remained in Illinois about four or five years and returned to Ohio. In 1843 he came to Whiteside County and located in Albany.

Abram D. was reared on a farm in the township of Garden Plain, Whiteside County, till 21 years of age. He then went to Northern Iowa and in 1858 to Colorado with a wagon train. In 1859 he went to Pike’s Peak and spent three years as a miner in the gold regions. In 1862 he went to Montana Territory and participated in the pioneer gold-mining of that region. He returned to Illinois in the fall of 1865, and located at Fulton. In January, 1866, he established his present business in company with John Hudson. Two years later he purchased his partner’s interest and has carried on the business alone since.

Mr. Mitchell was married in Garden Plain, Whiteside Co., Ill., Dec. 11, 1867, to Miss Mary E. Murphy, daughter of Jacob and Diana (Jewett) Murphy.  Mrs. Mitchell was born in Adams Co., Ohio.  They have four children, two boys and two girls, all born at Fulton:  Charles J., born Sept. 21, 1868; William H.,  born Oct. 16, 1873; Mary A., born July 9, 1875; Irene H., born Jan. 1, 1879.  The last named died Oct. 5, 1882.  Mr. Mitchell is a member of Fulton City Lodge, No. 189, A.F. & A.M. and has been connected with that lodge since 1866. He is also a member of Fulton Chapter No. 108.

Mr. Mitchell is a Republican in politics. As a business man he is widely and favorably known as a man of strict integrity, who by fair dealing and earnest attention to business has succeeded in building up an extensive trade from Fulton and surrounding country.