The History of the Yakima Valley, Washington, Comprising Yakima, Kittitas and
Benton Counties, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1919, Volume II, page 611

BENJAMIN L. MITCHELL.

Yakima has reason to be proud of her business district and the enterprise
displayed by those who represent her commercial and industrial interests, among
this number is Benjamin L. Mitchell, proprietor of a grocery and variety store.
He is building up a business of gratifying and substantial proportions and what
he has accomplished represents the fit utilization of his time and innate
talents. He was born in Cairo, Georgia, August 20, 1878, a son of Nelson and
Florence (Paramore) Mitchell, who were representatives of old southern families,
both of English descent. The father took up the occupation of farming, which he
followed in early manhood, and in later life he turned his attention to
merchandising. His death occurred in Florida and his wife has also passed away.

In his youthful days Benjamin L. Mitchell became a public school pupil and when
still but a boy started out in the business world, obtaining a clerkship in a
mercantile establishment. Later he went to Florida, where he conducted a general
merchandise store of his own, becoming one of the active business men of
Wauchula, Florida, in 1901. There he remained for about a year, after which he
went to Temple, Oklahoma, where he carried on mercantile pursuits for about five
years. In May, 1907, he arrived in Yakima and purchased a fruit ranch which he
conducted until 1912. He then again returned to commercial circles, opening a
grocery and variety store on South Second street in Yakima. In January, 1917, he
removed to No. 113 East Yakima avenue, where he has a store twenty-five by one
hundred and thirty feet. He employs three clerks and gives his personal
attention to the business, which is steadily growing. His trade is now large and
satisfactory and his patronage is continually increasing. His methods are
thoroughly reliable and he has ever recognized the fact that satisfied customers
are the best advertisement. He retained possession of his fruit ranch until
1916, when he sold that property.

In 1906 Mr. Mitchell was united in marriage to Miss Agnes L. Shepard, of Temple,
Oklahoma, and they have one child, Neva L. Mr. Mitchell maintains an independent
course in politics and has never been an office seeker, preferring to give his
undivided attention to his business affairs. There are no spectacular phases in
his life, his course, however, being marked by devotion to duty at all times and
by determination and progressiveness in the conduct of his business interests.

********************************
Submitted to the Washington Bios Project in December 2007 by Jeffrey L. Elmer.
Submitter has no additional information about the subject of this article.