Hines, H. K. "An Illustrated History of the State of Oregon." Chicago: Lewis
Pub. Co. 1893.  p. 906.
 
WILLIAM H. MITCHELL

     president of the Mitchell, Lewis & Staver Company, of Portland and the
Northwest, was born in Chicago, Illinois, November 13, 1834.  His father and
mother, Henry and Margaret (Mitchell) Mitchell, were natives of Scotland, where
they were married and emigrated to America in 1832. Locating in Chicago, Mr.
Mitchell, a wagon-maker and wheelwright by trade, opened a small factory and
engaged in the manufacture of such wagons as the country required. In 1848 they
removed to Kenosha, Wisconsin, and with increased facilities conducted a more
extensive business, until 1855, when he removed to Racine, Wisconsin, and
organized the firm of Mitchell, Lewis & Company, and founded the present very
extensive business, employing an average force of 650 men, with a manufacturing
power of 100 farm and spring wagons per day.  Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell are still
living at Racine, having celebrated the sixtieth anniversary of their marriage
June, 1892. They have six children living, William H. being the second child. He
was educated at the schools of Kenosha, and attended the Beloit University
until 1853, when he joined the tide of emigration flowing westward and, with his
ox team, crossed the plains, and after eight months of travel landed at Olympia,
Thurston county, then Washington Territory.  He started a bakery and grocery and
meat market, which he continued until 1868, when he engaged in the milling
business at Tumwater, operating both grist and saw mills until 1880.
     He served the constituents of his county as Road Overseer in 1854, Deputy
Sheriff in 1857-58, and County Commissioner in 1874. He was elected to the
Territorial Legislature, and served in the Council one term. In 1877 he was one
of the principal movers in building the sixteen miles of road connecting Olympia
with the Northern Pacific Railroad at Tenine, but subsequently sold his interest
in that line, as well as in the mills of Olympia. In 1880 he returned to his old
home in Racine, it being the first visit in twenty-eight years. At that time
Mitchell, Lewis & Company arranged with him to handle their trade in Oregon and
Washington. After becoming well established at Portland, he took up a line of
buggies and subsequently worked into a general line of vehicles and implements.
The Portland warerooms occupy a two-story building, 100 x 100 feet, with a
warehouse, 60x200 feet, for the storage of wagons, with branch offices at
Albany, La Grande and Medford, Oregon; Lewiston, Idaho; Seattle, Colfax and
Olympia, Washington. In his several lines Mr. Mitchell has built up an extensive
business, which has increased in annual sales from $4,000 to upward of $250,000
per year. February 1, 1892, the Mitchell-Lewis Company consolidated with
Staver & Walker, and organized the Mitchell, Lewis & Staver Company, which was
incorporated under the laws of Oregon, with a paid-up capital stock of $350,000,
William H. Mitchell being elected president and G. W. Staver vice-president and
treasurer. Staver & Walker have been prominent dealers of Portland in
farm machinery and vehicles for some years, with branch houses throughout the
States of Oregon, Idaho, Washington and British Columbia.
     Mr. Mitchell married Miss Martha T. Johns at Olympia in 1859. She was a
native of Tennessee. They have four children: Frank W., Harry W., Albert B. and
Cora Edith. The sons are all engaged with Mr. Mitchell in business, Frank W.
being assistant secretary. The family reside on Holladay avenue and Ninth
street, where Mr. Mitchell has just built a very elegant home. He also has large
property interests at Olympia and vicinity. He is a member of the A. O. U. W.,
and is a Deacon of the Emanuel Baptist Church of South Portland.

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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in June 2007 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.