Vernon Banner - November 23, 1887

In Memoriam

James H(F). Mitchel, M.D., was born in Jennings County, Indiana, December 14th, 1837. He completed all the courses at the common school in the neighborhood where his parents resided. At the age of nine months he was left fatherless by the death of his father and was reared to manhood by his imaternal grandfather/i. After his primary course in the common school he took a three years' course in the State University at Bloomington; and subsequently a medical course at the Ohio Medical College and received his diploma as a graduate of that Institution in March 1860 and continued in the practice of his profession till the day of his departure, a period of 27 years.br     While a youth, 18 years of age, in the year 1855, at Dupont, he united with the Methodist Episcopal church under the pastoral labors of Rev. Wm. H. Sweets, and retained his membership in the church militant until his recent removal to the church triumphant. From the time that he first witnessed the good confession, he maintained and unwavering friendship for the church, and the other members of the church cherish a fond memory of his appropriate confessions and testimonies, as in our class and love-feast meetings he has with becoming humility witnessed for Jesus the Savior.br     In his physical proportions, Dr. Mitchel was of medium stature, symmetrically formed and was comely in personnel; of amiable disposition, never coarse or cross, remarkably free from fretting and stewing, even amid the ever occurring vexations of the daily routine of human life; polite in his deportment, never glorying in sin or shame and never reproaching others with faults or foibles that were consciously his own; a gentleman by nature, and a generous, friend by culture. And this tout en senble was reciprocated by his extended circle of acquaintances, and was appreciated by the numerous families who were his patients and patrons in his profession. "He that would have friends show himself friendly." He carried this refinement of manhood with him in his professional visits and was a favorite among the people. His personal interest in his patient, and tender sympathy with the afflicted made him a welcome visitor in the home where the sable wings of the dark angel are so often heard to rustle amid the hopes and fears of the distressed and anxious household. How much he will be missed by the families included in the wide circle of his patrons, can be better realized in the deep feeling of a public loss than expressed in words. The well to do families and the humble home of the poor share alike in this sense of bereavement, for he was the sympathizing friend of all regardless of the accident of poverty or wealth. The lady whom he wedded Sept. 3rd, 1861, (In Jennings County, Indiana), Miss Maggie (Margaret) Hilton, with whom he had lived in loving harmony for 26 years, and the son to them born an now attained to manhood and bearing the professional mantle of the departed father - these objects of his unwavering affection and subjects of his undying interest, have the consolation in their sad bereavement, to feel assured that the great public heart throbs in sympathy with their own sorrowing sensations.br     When I say that Dr. Mitchel was a justly esteemed and valuable citizen I only uter what many lips are ready to repeat. When I say that he was a success in his profession his numerous patrons are ready to emphasize the testimony. The members of the profession are ready to bear testimony to his honorable observance of the rules of etiquette belonging to the practice. In a word, if the faults of each and every citizen was reckoned up in order, and numerically stated, Dr. J.H.(F) Mitchel's list would compare favorably with the best, the most faultless.br     He commenced the practice of medicine in Crothersville in 1860, but at the end of one year he removed to Dupont and remained till 1871, when he removed to Vernon. where he continued to reside the remainder of his natural life.br     His last illness was of brief duration and was diagnosed as blood poison. On Thursday evening he sank into a comatose condition and remained unconscious till the last. On Wednesday morning, Nov. 15, 1887, at 1:30 o'clock, his spirit departed and he rested from his labors and his works follow him. A favorite verse of scripture with him was the 18th of the 30th chapter of Isiah. It is worthy to be commented and remembered by the multitude of the living, and is a fitting conclusion to this brief sketch. "And therefore will the Lord wait that He may be gracious unto you; and therefore will he be exalted that he may have mercy upon you; for the Lord is a God of Judgement; Blessed are all they that wait for him" Amen. W.W.S.

Contributor: Sheila Kell (47593606) • [email protected]