JAMES M. MITCHAM, a prominent and prosperous pioneer of Henderson county, Texas, is one of its native sons, having been born here January 31, 1852, at Wildcat Bluff, near which his father, W. F. Mitcham settled upon coming to Texas forty-five years ago. The latter was born on a farm in his native State, Alabama where he was born in 1823, and received a fairly good education.
When a young man he learned the carpenter trade, which he followed, together with farming, during his active life. Although successful in all his enterprises he did not accumulate much property, as he preferred to enjoy his money as he journeyed through life. His sterling worth and integrity were recognized by his fellow citizens, and in consequence he was elected County Commissioner, serving four years in that capacity, and was also Justice of the Peace of Precinct No. 8.
His father, Hezekiah Mitcham, was a Methodist minister, born in South Carolina in 1800. He removed to Alabama with his father, Richard Mitcham, when twelve years of age, and there received a fairly good English education. He was converted in early life, and later studied medicine and for some time engaged in time practice of his profession; but, becoming convinced that medicaments were all a humbug, he began expounding the gospel, and was the first Methodist minister in Henderson county, Texas. He married Mary Clark, and they were the parents of the following children:
James, deceased, a member of the first Commissioners' Court of Henderson county; W. F., while on the way to Texas fell violently in love with a Louisiana lady while the family were water-bound for four months, and when the party wended its way southward lie carried off the fair one to time nearest magistrate, had the necessary ceremony performed and joined his family with his newly-made wife;
G. J.; Sarah married Jacob Christ, deceased;
Elijah died while a prisoner of war at Chicago, Illinois;
Mary married S. T. Price, of Erath county;
T. S., deceased; Asbury T., deceased; Elizabeth, deceased;
and John.
Our subject's mother was Mary Ann Jackson, and she bore her husband the folliwing children: Mary Jane, deceased: Arrena, deceased; subject; Laura, married I.A. Ward; William Henry, deceased; Alice, deceased; Rosina Agnes, deceased; G.J.; and an infant, deceased. The mother died in 1872, and the father married Margaret Ann Jackson, a sister of his first wife, and the children of this union were as follows: Albert J, James and Arthur.
Our subject's educational advantages were not of the bet. The pole cabins, with mud-and-stick chimneys and with slab seats, constituted kindergarten, academy and college, and the terms were short and teachers poor, and the boy who made a record for himself dug it out. At the age of twenty years, Mr. Mitcham married and took up the responsibilities of life, beginning empty handed but with a light heart, and was full of confidence in himself. Fifteen months later his wife died and his energies were for a time paralyzed. Two years later he remarried, and in December of the same year, 1874, bought a tract of land containing sixty five acres, this being his first realty holding. By the exercise of energy and economy he has now accumulated 375 acres, 170 of which produces crops every year, at least forty bales of cotton a year, and he always produces a surplus of corn arid meat. He has 400 head of stock cattle, in which business he engaged ten years ago.
Mr. Mitcham married Miss Annie Hamilton in 1871, a daughter of William Hamilton, a teacher from Louisiana. One child was born of this union, but it died in infancy. The second marriage of Mr. Mitcham was to Miss Emma C., a daughter of Andrew Swanson, a very wealthy planter of Georgia. His wife was Cordelia Lester, a member of the family of that name well known in that State. Their children were: Sallie, deceased; Catharine, deceased; William; Alice married Wesley Moore; Mrs. Mitcham, Fannie and Virgil.
Mr. Swanson served four years in the Confederate army, participating in the campaign about Atlanta and other hard campaigns during his long service, dying in April, 1865. He left a large estate, an item of which was 200 bales of cotton, worth $500 a bale. The bulk of the inheritance was swallowed up by greedy and dishonest relatives, and it did the family of the deceased soldier very little good.
In 1869 Mrs. Swanson came to Texas, and Miss Emma met and married our subject at time age of sixteen years. The union resulted in several very bright and interesting children: Willie, deceased; Arthur, deceased; Preston, aged twelve; Lila, aged ten; and Mary, aged eight.
Mr. Mitcham is a member of the Masonic order, and is a Democrat and worthy member of the Methodist Church, in which he is a Steward.
SOURCE: A Memorial and Biographical History of Navarro, Henderson, Anderson, Limestone, Freestone and Leon Counties, Texas
When a young man he learned the carpenter trade, which he followed, together with farming, during his active life. Although successful in all his enterprises he did not accumulate much property, as he preferred to enjoy his money as he journeyed through life. His sterling worth and integrity were recognized by his fellow citizens, and in consequence he was elected County Commissioner, serving four years in that capacity, and was also Justice of the Peace of Precinct No. 8.
His father, Hezekiah Mitcham, was a Methodist minister, born in South Carolina in 1800. He removed to Alabama with his father, Richard Mitcham, when twelve years of age, and there received a fairly good English education. He was converted in early life, and later studied medicine and for some time engaged in time practice of his profession; but, becoming convinced that medicaments were all a humbug, he began expounding the gospel, and was the first Methodist minister in Henderson county, Texas. He married Mary Clark, and they were the parents of the following children:
James, deceased, a member of the first Commissioners' Court of Henderson county; W. F., while on the way to Texas fell violently in love with a Louisiana lady while the family were water-bound for four months, and when the party wended its way southward lie carried off the fair one to time nearest magistrate, had the necessary ceremony performed and joined his family with his newly-made wife;
G. J.; Sarah married Jacob Christ, deceased;
Elijah died while a prisoner of war at Chicago, Illinois;
Mary married S. T. Price, of Erath county;
T. S., deceased; Asbury T., deceased; Elizabeth, deceased;
and John.
Our subject's mother was Mary Ann Jackson, and she bore her husband the folliwing children: Mary Jane, deceased: Arrena, deceased; subject; Laura, married I.A. Ward; William Henry, deceased; Alice, deceased; Rosina Agnes, deceased; G.J.; and an infant, deceased. The mother died in 1872, and the father married Margaret Ann Jackson, a sister of his first wife, and the children of this union were as follows: Albert J, James and Arthur.
Our subject's educational advantages were not of the bet. The pole cabins, with mud-and-stick chimneys and with slab seats, constituted kindergarten, academy and college, and the terms were short and teachers poor, and the boy who made a record for himself dug it out. At the age of twenty years, Mr. Mitcham married and took up the responsibilities of life, beginning empty handed but with a light heart, and was full of confidence in himself. Fifteen months later his wife died and his energies were for a time paralyzed. Two years later he remarried, and in December of the same year, 1874, bought a tract of land containing sixty five acres, this being his first realty holding. By the exercise of energy and economy he has now accumulated 375 acres, 170 of which produces crops every year, at least forty bales of cotton a year, and he always produces a surplus of corn arid meat. He has 400 head of stock cattle, in which business he engaged ten years ago.
Mr. Mitcham married Miss Annie Hamilton in 1871, a daughter of William Hamilton, a teacher from Louisiana. One child was born of this union, but it died in infancy. The second marriage of Mr. Mitcham was to Miss Emma C., a daughter of Andrew Swanson, a very wealthy planter of Georgia. His wife was Cordelia Lester, a member of the family of that name well known in that State. Their children were: Sallie, deceased; Catharine, deceased; William; Alice married Wesley Moore; Mrs. Mitcham, Fannie and Virgil.
Mr. Swanson served four years in the Confederate army, participating in the campaign about Atlanta and other hard campaigns during his long service, dying in April, 1865. He left a large estate, an item of which was 200 bales of cotton, worth $500 a bale. The bulk of the inheritance was swallowed up by greedy and dishonest relatives, and it did the family of the deceased soldier very little good.
In 1869 Mrs. Swanson came to Texas, and Miss Emma met and married our subject at time age of sixteen years. The union resulted in several very bright and interesting children: Willie, deceased; Arthur, deceased; Preston, aged twelve; Lila, aged ten; and Mary, aged eight.
Mr. Mitcham is a member of the Masonic order, and is a Democrat and worthy member of the Methodist Church, in which he is a Steward.
SOURCE: A Memorial and Biographical History of Navarro, Henderson, Anderson, Limestone, Freestone and Leon Counties, Texas
JAMES M. MITCHAM, a prominent and prosperous pioneer of Henderson county, Texas, is one of its native sons, having been born here January 31, 1852, at Wildcat Bluff, near which his father, W. F. Mitcham settled upon coming to Texas forty-five years ago. The latter was born on a farm in his native State, Alabama where he was born in 1823, and received a fairly good education.
When a young man he learned the carpenter trade, which he followed, together with farming, during his active life. Although successful in all his enterprises he did not accumulate much property, as he preferred to enjoy his money as he journeyed through life. His sterling worth and integrity were recognized by his fellow citizens, and in consequence he was elected County Commissioner, serving four years in that capacity, and was also Justice of the Peace of Precinct No. 8.
His father, Hezekiah Mitcham, was a Methodist minister, born in South Carolina in 1800. He removed to Alabama with his father, Richard Mitcham, when twelve years of age, and there received a fairly good English education. He was converted in early life, and later studied medicine and for some time engaged in time practice of his profession; but, becoming convinced that medicaments were all a humbug, he began expounding the gospel, and was the first Methodist minister in Henderson county, Texas. He married Mary Clark, and they were the parents of the following children:
James, deceased, a member of the first Commissioners' Court of Henderson county; W. F., while on the way to Texas fell violently in love with a Louisiana lady while the family were water-bound for four months, and when the party wended its way southward lie carried off the fair one to time nearest magistrate, had the necessary ceremony performed and joined his family with his newly-made wife;
G. J.; Sarah married Jacob Christ, deceased;
Elijah died while a prisoner of war at Chicago, Illinois;
Mary married S. T. Price, of Erath county;
T. S., deceased; Asbury T., deceased; Elizabeth, deceased;
and John.
Our subject's mother was Mary Ann Jackson, and she bore her husband the folliwing children: Mary Jane, deceased: Arrena, deceased; subject; Laura, married I.A. Ward; William Henry, deceased; Alice, deceased; Rosina Agnes, deceased; G.J.; and an infant, deceased. The mother died in 1872, and the father married Margaret Ann Jackson, a sister of his first wife, and the children of this union were as follows: Albert J, James and Arthur.
Our subject's educational advantages were not of the bet. The pole cabins, with mud-and-stick chimneys and with slab seats, constituted kindergarten, academy and college, and the terms were short and teachers poor, and the boy who made a record for himself dug it out. At the age of twenty years, Mr. Mitcham married and took up the responsibilities of life, beginning empty handed but with a light heart, and was full of confidence in himself. Fifteen months later his wife died and his energies were for a time paralyzed. Two years later he remarried, and in December of the same year, 1874, bought a tract of land containing sixty five acres, this being his first realty holding. By the exercise of energy and economy he has now accumulated 375 acres, 170 of which produces crops every year, at least forty bales of cotton a year, and he always produces a surplus of corn arid meat. He has 400 head of stock cattle, in which business he engaged ten years ago.
Mr. Mitcham married Miss Annie Hamilton in 1871, a daughter of William Hamilton, a teacher from Louisiana. One child was born of this union, but it died in infancy. The second marriage of Mr. Mitcham was to Miss Emma C., a daughter of Andrew Swanson, a very wealthy planter of Georgia. His wife was Cordelia Lester, a member of the family of that name well known in that State. Their children were: Sallie, deceased; Catharine, deceased; William; Alice married Wesley Moore; Mrs. Mitcham, Fannie and Virgil.
Mr. Swanson served four years in the Confederate army, participating in the campaign about Atlanta and other hard campaigns during his long service, dying in April, 1865. He left a large estate, an item of which was 200 bales of cotton, worth $500 a bale. The bulk of the inheritance was swallowed up by greedy and dishonest relatives, and it did the family of the deceased soldier very little good.
In 1869 Mrs. Swanson came to Texas, and Miss Emma met and married our subject at time age of sixteen years. The union resulted in several very bright and interesting children: Willie, deceased; Arthur, deceased; Preston, aged twelve; Lila, aged ten; and Mary, aged eight.
Mr. Mitcham is a member of the Masonic order, and is a Democrat and worthy member of the Methodist Church, in which he is a Steward.
SOURCE: A Memorial and Biographical History of Navarro, Henderson, Anderson, Limestone, Freestone and Leon Counties, Texas
When a young man he learned the carpenter trade, which he followed, together with farming, during his active life. Although successful in all his enterprises he did not accumulate much property, as he preferred to enjoy his money as he journeyed through life. His sterling worth and integrity were recognized by his fellow citizens, and in consequence he was elected County Commissioner, serving four years in that capacity, and was also Justice of the Peace of Precinct No. 8.
His father, Hezekiah Mitcham, was a Methodist minister, born in South Carolina in 1800. He removed to Alabama with his father, Richard Mitcham, when twelve years of age, and there received a fairly good English education. He was converted in early life, and later studied medicine and for some time engaged in time practice of his profession; but, becoming convinced that medicaments were all a humbug, he began expounding the gospel, and was the first Methodist minister in Henderson county, Texas. He married Mary Clark, and they were the parents of the following children:
James, deceased, a member of the first Commissioners' Court of Henderson county; W. F., while on the way to Texas fell violently in love with a Louisiana lady while the family were water-bound for four months, and when the party wended its way southward lie carried off the fair one to time nearest magistrate, had the necessary ceremony performed and joined his family with his newly-made wife;
G. J.; Sarah married Jacob Christ, deceased;
Elijah died while a prisoner of war at Chicago, Illinois;
Mary married S. T. Price, of Erath county;
T. S., deceased; Asbury T., deceased; Elizabeth, deceased;
and John.
Our subject's mother was Mary Ann Jackson, and she bore her husband the folliwing children: Mary Jane, deceased: Arrena, deceased; subject; Laura, married I.A. Ward; William Henry, deceased; Alice, deceased; Rosina Agnes, deceased; G.J.; and an infant, deceased. The mother died in 1872, and the father married Margaret Ann Jackson, a sister of his first wife, and the children of this union were as follows: Albert J, James and Arthur.
Our subject's educational advantages were not of the bet. The pole cabins, with mud-and-stick chimneys and with slab seats, constituted kindergarten, academy and college, and the terms were short and teachers poor, and the boy who made a record for himself dug it out. At the age of twenty years, Mr. Mitcham married and took up the responsibilities of life, beginning empty handed but with a light heart, and was full of confidence in himself. Fifteen months later his wife died and his energies were for a time paralyzed. Two years later he remarried, and in December of the same year, 1874, bought a tract of land containing sixty five acres, this being his first realty holding. By the exercise of energy and economy he has now accumulated 375 acres, 170 of which produces crops every year, at least forty bales of cotton a year, and he always produces a surplus of corn arid meat. He has 400 head of stock cattle, in which business he engaged ten years ago.
Mr. Mitcham married Miss Annie Hamilton in 1871, a daughter of William Hamilton, a teacher from Louisiana. One child was born of this union, but it died in infancy. The second marriage of Mr. Mitcham was to Miss Emma C., a daughter of Andrew Swanson, a very wealthy planter of Georgia. His wife was Cordelia Lester, a member of the family of that name well known in that State. Their children were: Sallie, deceased; Catharine, deceased; William; Alice married Wesley Moore; Mrs. Mitcham, Fannie and Virgil.
Mr. Swanson served four years in the Confederate army, participating in the campaign about Atlanta and other hard campaigns during his long service, dying in April, 1865. He left a large estate, an item of which was 200 bales of cotton, worth $500 a bale. The bulk of the inheritance was swallowed up by greedy and dishonest relatives, and it did the family of the deceased soldier very little good.
In 1869 Mrs. Swanson came to Texas, and Miss Emma met and married our subject at time age of sixteen years. The union resulted in several very bright and interesting children: Willie, deceased; Arthur, deceased; Preston, aged twelve; Lila, aged ten; and Mary, aged eight.
Mr. Mitcham is a member of the Masonic order, and is a Democrat and worthy member of the Methodist Church, in which he is a Steward.
SOURCE: A Memorial and Biographical History of Navarro, Henderson, Anderson, Limestone, Freestone and Leon Counties, Texas
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