"Early History of Thurston County, Washington; Together with Biographies and
Reminiscences of those Identified with Pioneer Days." Compiled and Edited by
Mrs. George E. (Georgiana) Blankenship.  Published in Olympia, Washington, 1914.
p. 370.
 
JOHN R. MITCHELL

     John R. Mitchell was born in Halifax County, Virginia, January 31, 1861.
From six to seventeen years of age he attended private school. From 1878 to 1888
engaged in farming and mercantile pursuits (mostly hunting) at his old home the
last three years of -which he read law under a practicing lawyer. Mr. Mitchell
came to Olympia, Washington Territory April 28, 1888, and formed a partnership
with M. A. Root at that time Probate Judge. He was admitted to the bar by the
Superior Court (Mason Irwin, Judge) of Thurston County, on November 23, 1889. In
1890 the young man studied law at the University of Virginia. He dissolved
partnership with M A. Root, in January, 1893, upon his qualifying as
Prosecuting Attorney.
      Mr. Mitchell was admitted to the bar by the Supreme Court, May 24, 1894.
He was elected Prosecuting Attorney in 1896 and served 1897-9, and in January,
1901, formed a law partnership with Thos. M. Vance, Esq., which continued until
Mitchell was chosen to the bench. Elected Judge of the Superior Court for
Thurston and Mason Counties in 1908 for four years and re-elected without
opposition, in 1912, the position which he now occupies. In politics he is a
democrat.
      J. E. Mitchell was married to Hallie Price, of Clarksville, Tenn., on
April 22, 1891, while she was on a visit with relatives in Olympia; to which
union one child, Richard S., was born May 15, 1894; the son is now a student at
the State University.

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