Obit below from Phillips Co. Review - 28 Feb 1928

"Josiah Mitchell was born in Richie County, West Virginia, February 18,1840 and answered the call of the Great Commander in Glade, Kansas February 12th, 1928 at the age of 87 years, 11 months and 4 days.

He resided with his parents at Richmond, West Virgina, until the beginning of thie Civil War, when he enlisted as a volunteer soldier serving his country for three years, nine months and twenty-six days. He was honorably discharged and returned to his home and after spending one year at home he was united in marriage to Molly Braide of Wheeling, West Virgina on April 8, 1870. No chidren were born to this union, but they adopted MATTIE MITCHELL, now Mrs. John Elliott of Phillipsburg, Kansas at the age of four years.

They came to Kansas in the year of 1873 and settled near Beloit where they lived for a few years later coming to Phillips County where his wife departed in death on July 4th 1886.

September 3, 1894 he was united in marriage to Emeline Elliott Copper. To this union five children were born, one dying in infancy, and again death entered his home taking his beloved wife on September 2, 1910. He remained on the farm being both a father and mother to the four children, two being quite small. He was a loving kind father and was loved by all who knew him. He has resided in Phillips county remaining here with the exception of a few months spend in Johnstown, Colorado.

Of late he was making his home with his youngest daughter, Mrs. Guy Ewell(Margaret Maggie Mitchell) at whose home he was at at the time of his death, she being the only one of hte children at his bed side when the end came.

He is survived by his four children, two boys and two girls: Robert Mitchell of Sharon, KS; Mary Chestnut of Glade, KS; Albert Mitchell of Eldorado, KS; Margaret Ewell of Glade and two step daughers Sadie Nay of Fullerton, CA; and Mrs E. E. Northrup of Haxtum, Colorado. Also twelve grandchildren and two great grand children and a host of relatives and friends to mourn his departure."

Obit above from Phillips Co. Review - 28 Feb 1928

Biographical Story below from "Josiah Mitchel Family" from "Marvin (Glade) KS Memories" follows which is a little different than his obit.

Josiah Mitchel was born in West Virginia in 1840. He resided with his parents in Richmond, West VA until he enlisted as a volunteer soldier in the Civil War. He served a year and was honorably discharged. The family came to Kansas in 1873 and settled near Beloit later coming to Phillips County (My Observations: Not sure if Molly Braide ever made it to Kansas. She may have died prior to his trip with Martha Jane Mitchel. Although obit says that they adopted her at age 4. The U.S. Census data shows that he brought a second wife named Mary Ann Smith and "adopted" daughter Martha "Mattie" Jane Mitchell then age 7 later who married John Morgan Elliott at age 14 in Beloit, KS. John M Elliott lived in Simpson, KS at that time. Living relatives say his first wife was very ill and Martha Mitchell even remembers caring for her as a very young girl and died in location unkown but we have census data to show this family and first wife made it to Beloit, Mitchell County KS -we have not been able to find her grave.) He moved to Phillips County and married Emeline Eliott Cooper (John M Elliott's sister) in 1894. Five children were born to them. Emeline died in 1910. Josiah stayed on the farm five miles southwest of Glade and was both mother and father to his children.

His later years were spend with his youngest daughter Margaret "Maggie" Mitchell Beck. Margaret was married to Charles Beck a former resident of Glade but later employed at an ice plant in Goodland where he died while ar work in 1925. Maggie was married to Guy Ewell and was living in Glad with her father at the time of his death in 1928. The other Mitchel chldres were Albert, Robert, and Mary and two step children Olive Northrup and Sadie Nay. (Note: I believe this means that Emeline Elliott must have been twice married prior to her marriage to Josiah and married to a "Northrup" and a "Nay")

Josiah Mithcell shows up in early Census data with his family in West VA as Mitchells with 2 L's and then changes to one L when he moves to Kansas.

Biography came from "Josiah Mitchel Family" page 90 of "Marvin Memories" (Glade, KS) first settlers of Solomon Township - 1872.