Rensselaer Republican, Volume 23, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 December 1890 — JUSTICE MITCHELL DEAD. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

JUSTICE MITCHELL DEAD.

AM Eminent Jurist of the Indiana §m~ preme Bench. Judge Joseph A. SL Mitchell died at his home at Goshen, Ind., at 7:30 a. m., Fri*» day, Dei, 12, of congestion of the stomach. The announcement of his death caused a Shock throughout the State. The Supreme Court adjourned immediately upon receipt of a telegram apprising them of thee vent A dispatch from Goshen says the whole city is plunged into the deepest gloom. Many messages of condolence were received by the family. Judge Joseph A S. Mitchell was a Bit tive of Franklin county, Pennsylvania. He was born December 21,1836. His father died in the son’s early infancy, and his life was one of toil. He graduated from the Blandenville academy at the age of twenty, and served one year as teacher in that institution. Then he Studied law for two years ,at Chambersburg, Pa., and receiving his diploma, came west and. settled at Goshen He began practicing his profession in the spring of 1860, but when the war broke out he was among the first of volunteer* to respond. He assisted in organising Company M, Second Indiana Cavalry. Three months later he was promoted Captain of his company, whichrmk ho retained until the disbandment <n January, 1865. He

participated in a number of hard fought engagements, notably Shiloh, Stone River and Chickamauga. In 1563 be was assigned to duty on Gen, McCook’s staff, and was acting inspector general of the First Cavalry division, in which capacity he continued until the close of the war. During Sherman’s famous “March to the Sea,” he was engaged in raiding the enemy’s lines of communication, and while leading a charge at Newman, Ga,, a minie hall from the rebel works would have pierced his heart, hut it struck a package of letters in his breast pocket. This package Is still preserved by his family as a priceless souvenir. During this engagement his command was cut off from the main body, and was compelled to make a detour of 150 miles, and was subjected to many perilous Incidents before it again rejoined the army After the close of his military service Captain Mitchell returned to Goshen and entered into a law partnership with John H. Baker, the firm name being Baker & Mitchell. This partnership existed long after Mr. Baker had been elected to Congress, and when political honors had also come upon the subject of this sketch. Captain Mitchell rapidly took front rank with his professional brethren. He was one of the delegation of three chosen by the State Bar Association to attend the convention of the National Bar Association at Saratoga in 1879. The other members of the delegation were Gen. Ben Harrison and Judge A. Dyer. Judge Mitchell was always a staunch Democrat in bis political belief, and firm in his convictions, but free from partisan bias as a jurist. In tbe Presidential campaign of 1872, and again in 1876, he was one of the State delegates to the Democratic National convention. Six years ago he was nominated by bis party as Supreme Court Judge from the Fifth district; and was triumphantly elected, and in the last election he was again chosen as his own successor. In November, 1865, Judge Mitchell was united in marrlSge to Miss HafyTETDefroes, daughter of Joseph H. Defrees, of Goshen. ,

THE LATE JUDGE MITCHELL.