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Elkhart Truth January 9, 1912, pg. 1 & 4 AGED WOMAN PIONEER DIES Mrs. Elizabeth Mitchell, Probably County's Oldest Resident, Succumbs. LIVED HERE 82 YEARS Deceased Was Of Pioneer Stock, Associated With The Early Days Of Country's History. Mrs. Elizabeth Mitchell, probably the oldest pioneer resident of Elkhart county, passed away at her home three miles east of the city on the Middlebury street road at 12:30 o'clock this morning, aged 85 years and 11 months. The deceased had been ailing for some time. Death was due to paralysis. Mrs. Mitchell was born February 9, 1826, in Franklin county, Ohio, five miles north of Columbus. She was the daughter of John and Elizabeth (Downing) Middleton, who were pioneers of Franklin county, Ohio. Mrs. Mitchell was only four years old when she was brought to Elkhart county by her parents in 1830, at which time the family home was established on the east edge of "Two Mile Plain," east of the present site of Elkhart, which at that time was an unbroken wilderness and the haunts of the red men. Was Of Pioneer Stock. Mrs. Mitchell enjoyed the distinction of being one of the few pioneers during the last few years of her life who could tell of the early trials of the settling and making of Elkhart county. Her early home was the first to be established in the north part of the county, and was the scene of many pioneer incidents, such as Indian gatherings, at which times the good mother of the little family would dread for fear of some harm to the father of the children; also the headquarters for prospecting and home-seeking parties; of the religious meetings in the days of the circuit rider, when the scattered settlers would gather from twenty to thirty miles to pay homage to their Creator; and many incidents during the Black Hawk war and subsequent removement of the Pottowattomie Indians from the county and northern Indiana and southern Michigan. In County 82 Years. At the time of her demise Mrs. Mitchell had lived in Elkhart county for 82 years and was widely and favorably known, and had the esteemed will of all with whom she had been associated. On March 16, 1848, she was married to Michael Mitchell, who died September 10, 1890, in his seventieth year, after a long illness of Bright's disease. His remains were followed to his last resting place by his entire family and hundreds of neighbors, friends and prominent people of the community. His remains were laid to rest in the family lot in the Rowe cemetery, which he assisted to found and maintain. His grave is marked by a very substantial monument erected by his son William, and bearing this inscription: "Dear father is gone. His trials are all over, his triumphs have begun." Mrs. Mitchell is survived by four children: three daughters, Mrs. Sarah Howes, Clarian, Mich., Mrs. Rhoda Eby, Concord township, and Mrs. Francis Light, where she passed away, and one son, William M. Mitchell, of this city. The funeral services will take place Thursday morning at 10 o'clock at the house, and at 11 o'clock at the Rowe church. The remains will be laid away along side of her husband's in the Rowe cemetery. As yet it has not been decided what minister will officiate.
William B.
