In mid 1964, a Washington County Historical Society correspondent from California went through an old trunk, which was stored behind some other things in the barn. In this trunk were quite a few old family letters, dating back as far as 1859, some written from Cane Hill, Ark. There was so much of interest, historically and genealogically, that this correspondent gave the WCHS permission to edit them for publication. It makes one wonder -- how many trunks in attics or barns contain old letters which might hold the very information some of us are seeking so desperately!
Having known nothing of the Mitchell family of Cane Hill, it was interesting to piece together bits of information from these letters, census, Goodspeed's "History of Northwest Arkansas", as well as back numbers of FLASHBACK -- and emerge with a fairly complete picture of the family. Later, a perusal of the book, "The Mitchell Family", by Homer Rawlins Mitchell, Grace E. Mitchell, and Mrs. Laura Emery (1952) yielded further information on this family.
James Mitchell (b. ca. 1793, Ky.) married Mary A. Webber (b. ca. 1806, Ga.) ca. 1825 in Lincoln Co., Tenn. They moved to Cane Hill, Ark. in 1830. They became the parents of six sons and three daughters. James Mitchell died 13 Aug. 1860; his wife died in 1882. Their children included:
- George Mitchell (b. ca. 1826, Tenn.; d. ca. 1859, Texas), Married Sarah Cox in Washington Co., Ark. 6 July 1848.
- Nancy Mitchell (b. 23 June 1828, Tenn.; was living 1908) married in Cane Hill 22 Nov. 1866, as his second wife, William Pierson Crawford. They had two children: William Alfred Crawford and Mary Lou Crawford.
- James Mitchell (b. 8 May 1833; d. June 1902) married Elizabeth (Lizzie) Latta in Washington Co., Ark. 31 Jan. 1860. He became a school teacher at age 16; was deputy surveyor 1855-1859; elected to legislature 1860; became a Captain in the Confederate Army; was professor in Cane Hill College 1866-1874 and then was professor at Arkansas University 1874-1876. He was editor-in-chief of the Arkansas Democrat at Little Rock after 1876, and in 1893 was appointed postmaster at Little Rock by President Cleveland. He had 8 children.
- William Mitchell (b. 10 May 1834, Cane Hill; d. 20 Dec. 1914, Texas) married in Washington Co., Ark. 1 Dec. 1858, Josephine Lewis. He served in the Confederate Army in Co. B, Brooks Regt. He was county surveyor in 1889. He had 7 children, all born in Washington Co., Ark.
- Margaret Jane Mitchell (b. 25 May 1835 or 1836; d. 1912) married in Washington Co., Ark. John Tipton Rutherford of California. They had 8 children, all born in California.
- Alfred Mitchell (b. 18 Jan 1838; d. 10 April 1894) married 26 Feb. 1872 Mrs. Amelia (Summers) Russell of New Madrid, Mo. He taught school in Ark., Mo., Tenn. and N. Car. He had three children.
- Roderick Mitchell (b. ca. 1840; d. 6 Dec. 1862 in the Battle of Prairie Grove).
- Mary Mitchell, (b. ca. 1846; was living in 1908) did not marry. Lived at Westville, Indian Territory.
- John Campbell Mitchell (b. 28 July 1849; was living in 1908) married Sept. 1882 in Fayetteville to Mary A. West. He was a professor in Cane Hill College. He had 5 children.
In 1830, several members of the Rutherford family moved to Washington Co., Ark. from Greene Co., Tenn. One of these was Robert R. Rutherford (b. Ca. 1798, Tenn.) with his wife Ann Tipton Rutherford. About 1830, this family crossed the Plains with horse teams and located at Sacramento, California. Two years later, the two older sons and a daughter returned to Arkansas. One of these sons was, William B. Rutherford (b. 1824, Tenn.) married Nancy M. Ferguson on 29 Sept. 1853, and remained in Fayetteville. The sister, Ruth Rutherford (b. 1828, Tenn.) married J. P. Stevenson on 18 March 1852 in Washington Co., Ark., and they moved back to California. The other son, John Tipton Rutherford (b. 10 Oct. 1831, Ark.) married Margaret Jane Mitchell on 28 April 1859, and they moved to California, where they raised their family.
The first letter was written by Nancy Mitchell, sister of Jane, just five months after Jane's marriage. She refers to her brothers Alfred, James, and William (who had married Josephine Lewis on 1 Dec. 1858). She also refers to the younger children, Mary (then about 13 years old) and John (then age 10).
My dear sister, Cane Hill,
September 25, 1859
.....There has been a good many changes since you left. Cyrus Buchanan died last Saturday night with the fever. He was in his right mind to the last and talked about his future prospects for happiness. This morning Johnny Banks died. I have not heard the particulars of his death. Lizzie Trout has been very sick, is some better now. Will Sawyers has been trying to court the widow Shannon's daughter. Major Billingsly forbid it and they quarreled. Will threatened the Major's life and Billingsly shot him. It is thought by some he will not live.
.....I will try to write something pleasant, about camp meeting. We had the best preaching I have ever heard. Not one poor sermon. All good and very good. There was some new preachers from a distance. There was many mourners but not very many conversions. Miss Hamlen, Mary McColock, Bud Buchanan professed. They are all that you know. there was some others. Oh, yes. Bud Webber he shouted just as good as any one hand looked just as happy. I believe he is truly converted. I never saw a happier looking person in all my life........I suppose you have heard of Ben Witherspoon's death...... Every person inquired about you at Camp meeting. (Partly torn).....very near taking a "Caneption fit" about you. They say you promised to write to them. Mary Davis said you must right to her. She has a fine boy. I enjoyed camp meeting. Every person was so kind.
Oct. 6th. Today we received two letters from you. One to me and Al. Al has gone to the Choctaw Agency to teach. He gets four hundred and fifty dollars for teaching eight months. We miss him very much. We will send him you letter. Jim is teaching in Vineyard and he has a very large school. He gets $75 a month. He was up last week and looks very well. 'Speck he will marry this winter. We are paying particular to his poor little turkey hen which has turned out to be a fine large gobbler.
Celina Parks and Bob have gone to Texas after Ann. He sends her love to you. Will and Jo have gone to Kansas, only to stay a short time to secure some of Will's land. Jim B. and Mag have moved there. They have been gone sometime. Mary and John are going to school to Miss A. Blakemore at Valley. She has 21 scholars.
The Burg has improved since you left. Mr. Wright and McClure each have large brick houses done, and the new Methodist Church house is finished. Uncle George's folks are all well. Cousin Jane G. w as here the other week. I was at Will's they day she came. We have quilted a quilt and spun, sewed, wove, cooked, and done many things lately. I asked John what I should tell you for him. He said to tell you he had a stiff shirt, a pleated bosom shirt. He wanted to wear his linen coat to school the other day. He said some of the scholars didn't know he had a linen coat.
Oct. 9th. Since I commenced this letter, Lizzie Trout has died. She died yesterday. I set up with her the night before and was there when she died. She professed religion three days before she died. Mother and me went to her funeral today. Uncle John preached very good sermon from the text Lizzie selected herself. Will and Jo have got home from Kansas. They were only gone two weeks. They found Jim Bales sick and Marg with the blues (partly torn -- some mention of Mr. Trout and Clem Holland).
Ever yours,
Nancy Mitchell
The minister referred to above was undoubtedly "Uncle" John Buchanan. The Mitchells were members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church at Cane Hill, where he ministered.
True to Nancy's prediction, brother James Mitchell did marry the following winter. He married Lizzie T. Latta 31 Jan. 1860.
**Taken from pages 1-3 of the Washington County Historical Society's publication FLASHBACK Vol. XIV, No. 4, October, 1964. Written by Marian Carter Ledgerwood
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