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Below is a family biography included in History of Shawnee County, Kansas and Representative Citizens by James L. King, published by Richmond & Arnold, 1905.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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HON. MATTHEW R. MITCHELL
Hon. Matthew R. Mitchell, M. D., one of the citizens of Topeka, whose distinguished services during the Civil War of themselves justify a claim to prominent mention, without considering his political and professional eminence, was born November 10, 1835, in Logan County, Ohio, and is a son of Matthew and Margaret S. (Speer) Mitchell.

The parents of Dr. Mitchell belonged to the substantial agricultural class of Ohio. Of their 11 children, seven still survive, the three who became residents of Kansas being our subject and a brother, William S. (a retired farmer of Olathe, Johnson County), and a sister Elizabeth (widow of Thomas Hutchinson, of the same place).

Matthew R. Mitchell was educated at the academy at Northwood, Ohio, and then entered Jefferson College, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he was graduated in June, 1862. On the 25th of the following September, he enlisted for a term of service in the Civil War, becoming a member of Company B, 88th Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf., under command of Colonel Neff. When it became public policy to enlist colored troops, Mr. Mitchell was commissioned a 1st lieutenant and two weeks later was appointed adjutant of the 27th Regiment, United States Colored Troops, under Colonel Blackman and Lieutenant Colonel Donaldson. He served as adjutant until August 1, 1864, when he was wounded before Petersburg, being shot through the face. On account of being so seriously injured he was given a furlough of two months. When he rejoined his regiment along the Weldon Railroad, he found that he had been promoted to the rank of captain during his absence, under General Butler. This resulted in his participation in the memorable siege of Fort Fisher when the colored troops gave such a good account of themselves. In June of that year he was commissioned major and with this rank he was mustered out at Smithfield, North Carolina, in September, 1865. Major Mitchell saw much hard service and took part in all the dangerous fighting in front of Richmond and at Petersburg, and endured the four days and four nights siege at Fort Fisher.

After his return from the army, where he had made a brilliant record, Major Mitchell began the study of medicine, reading under Dr. Clason, Dr. Sullivan and Dr. Fulton, and then entered the Cincinnati Medical College, where he was graduated in 1868. At this time this institution had a faculty of distinguished and able men, including Dr. Blackman, Dr. Wright, Dr. Graham, Dr. Parvin, now of Philadelphia, subsequently of Jefferson Medical College, and a prominent author, and Dr. Barthelow, the author of “Medical Therapeutics,” all of whom gained the esteem of Dr. Mitchell and gave him great encouragement.

Dr. Mitchell located at Fairmount, Leavenworth County, Kansas, and during his seven years of residence there became one of the leading citizens, and was elected to the House of Representatives from the 24th District. In 1875, after the expiration of his legislative term, Dr. Mitchell located at Topeka and this city has been his place of residence ever since. For nine years he has been health officer here, a position of grave importance, and has filled the duties with complete efficiency.

He was married on March 10, 1868, to Mary M. Fulton, of Bellefontaine, Ohio, who is a daughter of Dr. Abraham and Lucretia (Huntington) Fulton, the former of whom was one of Dr. Mitchell’s early preceptors. They have three children: Porter M., Clara and Stella.

Politically, Dr. Mitchell votes the Republican ticket. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and is ex-commander of Blue Post, No. 250, Topeka. He is an elder in the United Presbyterian Church.

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This family biography is one of 206 biographies included in History of Shawnee County, Kansas and Representative Citizens by James L. King, published by Richmond & Arnold, 1905.  For the complete description, click here: Shawnee County, Kansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

View additional Shawnee County, Kansas family biographies here: Shawnee County, Kansas

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