Mrs. Mildred Mitchell, said to be the oldest resident of Caswell county, passed away on Saturday night [25 September 1926] at her home, "Aspen Hall," at the age of 97. She was claimed by the infirmities of old age after preserving her health, strength, and faculties in an unusual way. Last December she began to fail and throughout the year had steadily declined in health and strength. Mrs. Mitchell is believed to be the last surviving slave owner of Caswell county. She was born September 30th, 1829 the same year that President Andrew Jackson was inaugurated and she lived to see the administrations of 24 United States presidents. She was a daughter of the late Thomas Jeffress [Jeffreys] and Mrs. Keziah Jeffress [Jeffreys], being married in 1849 to James Thomas Mitchell who died many years ago. All of her life was spent in Caswell county where she was widely known and greatly respected. Her surviving children are James G. Mitchell, Blanch; R. L. Mitchell, Blanch; C. H. Mitchell, of Lynchburg, and Mrs. Dora Hunt, Ringgold. She also leaves nineteen grandchildren and 28 great-grandchildren. The funeral is being held from the home place at three o'clock this afternoon, interment to be in the family burial ground.
Mrs. Mitchell made many sacrifices while the war between the north and the south was being waged. Her husband away at the front, the Aspen Hall farm was left in her absolute charge. There were 35 slaves on this farm and to her was left the sole responsibility of their management, [a] difficult task. The farm was kept self sustaining, and from [it] much food was contributed for the upkeep of the southern armies. Mrs. Mitchell is perhaps the only living woman in Caswell who owned slaves. After the war and during the troublous days of the reconstruction period, Mrs. Mitchell was an outstanding figure in Caswell county. She gave much of her time and effort to help put the returned Confederate soldiers on their feet, and she often related her remarkable experience during the days when the Invisible Army of the K. K. K. saved this county from innumerable hardships, and was one of those Caswell women who stitched the garments, which were worn by the mysterious riders.
At the age of 11,she became a member of the New Hope Methodist church, and for 84 years had been one of its most loyal communicants. First to respond to the call of all needy objects, her familiar figure in the New Hope congregation has given, many say, a real spiritual uplift to more than three generations. [The Bee (Danville, Virginia) 27 September 1926]
Mother of...
* Emma Keziah Mitchell ~1860-
-- [married Henry S. Norman]
Grandmother of...
* William Marshall Norman 1879-1959
* Arch James Norman 1881-1954
Mrs. Mitchell made many sacrifices while the war between the north and the south was being waged. Her husband away at the front, the Aspen Hall farm was left in her absolute charge. There were 35 slaves on this farm and to her was left the sole responsibility of their management, [a] difficult task. The farm was kept self sustaining, and from [it] much food was contributed for the upkeep of the southern armies. Mrs. Mitchell is perhaps the only living woman in Caswell who owned slaves. After the war and during the troublous days of the reconstruction period, Mrs. Mitchell was an outstanding figure in Caswell county. She gave much of her time and effort to help put the returned Confederate soldiers on their feet, and she often related her remarkable experience during the days when the Invisible Army of the K. K. K. saved this county from innumerable hardships, and was one of those Caswell women who stitched the garments, which were worn by the mysterious riders.
At the age of 11,she became a member of the New Hope Methodist church, and for 84 years had been one of its most loyal communicants. First to respond to the call of all needy objects, her familiar figure in the New Hope congregation has given, many say, a real spiritual uplift to more than three generations. [The Bee (Danville, Virginia) 27 September 1926]
Mother of...
* Emma Keziah Mitchell ~1860-
-- [married Henry S. Norman]
Grandmother of...
* William Marshall Norman 1879-1959
* Arch James Norman 1881-1954
Mrs. Mildred Mitchell, said to be the oldest resident of Caswell county, passed away on Saturday night [25 September 1926] at her home, "Aspen Hall," at the age of 97. She was claimed by the infirmities of old age after preserving her health, strength, and faculties in an unusual way. Last December she began to fail and throughout the year had steadily declined in health and strength. Mrs. Mitchell is believed to be the last surviving slave owner of Caswell county. She was born September 30th, 1829 the same year that President Andrew Jackson was inaugurated and she lived to see the administrations of 24 United States presidents. She was a daughter of the late Thomas Jeffress [Jeffreys] and Mrs. Keziah Jeffress [Jeffreys], being married in 1849 to James Thomas Mitchell who died many years ago. All of her life was spent in Caswell county where she was widely known and greatly respected. Her surviving children are James G. Mitchell, Blanch; R. L. Mitchell, Blanch; C. H. Mitchell, of Lynchburg, and Mrs. Dora Hunt, Ringgold. She also leaves nineteen grandchildren and 28 great-grandchildren. The funeral is being held from the home place at three o'clock this afternoon, interment to be in the family burial ground.
Mrs. Mitchell made many sacrifices while the war between the north and the south was being waged. Her husband away at the front, the Aspen Hall farm was left in her absolute charge. There were 35 slaves on this farm and to her was left the sole responsibility of their management, [a] difficult task. The farm was kept self sustaining, and from [it] much food was contributed for the upkeep of the southern armies. Mrs. Mitchell is perhaps the only living woman in Caswell who owned slaves. After the war and during the troublous days of the reconstruction period, Mrs. Mitchell was an outstanding figure in Caswell county. She gave much of her time and effort to help put the returned Confederate soldiers on their feet, and she often related her remarkable experience during the days when the Invisible Army of the K. K. K. saved this county from innumerable hardships, and was one of those Caswell women who stitched the garments, which were worn by the mysterious riders.
At the age of 11,she became a member of the New Hope Methodist church, and for 84 years had been one of its most loyal communicants. First to respond to the call of all needy objects, her familiar figure in the New Hope congregation has given, many say, a real spiritual uplift to more than three generations. [The Bee (Danville, Virginia) 27 September 1926]
Mother of...
* Emma Keziah Mitchell ~1860-
-- [married Henry S. Norman]
Grandmother of...
* William Marshall Norman 1879-1959
* Arch James Norman 1881-1954
Mrs. Mitchell made many sacrifices while the war between the north and the south was being waged. Her husband away at the front, the Aspen Hall farm was left in her absolute charge. There were 35 slaves on this farm and to her was left the sole responsibility of their management, [a] difficult task. The farm was kept self sustaining, and from [it] much food was contributed for the upkeep of the southern armies. Mrs. Mitchell is perhaps the only living woman in Caswell who owned slaves. After the war and during the troublous days of the reconstruction period, Mrs. Mitchell was an outstanding figure in Caswell county. She gave much of her time and effort to help put the returned Confederate soldiers on their feet, and she often related her remarkable experience during the days when the Invisible Army of the K. K. K. saved this county from innumerable hardships, and was one of those Caswell women who stitched the garments, which were worn by the mysterious riders.
At the age of 11,she became a member of the New Hope Methodist church, and for 84 years had been one of its most loyal communicants. First to respond to the call of all needy objects, her familiar figure in the New Hope congregation has given, many say, a real spiritual uplift to more than three generations. [The Bee (Danville, Virginia) 27 September 1926]
Mother of...
* Emma Keziah Mitchell ~1860-
-- [married Henry S. Norman]
Grandmother of...
* William Marshall Norman 1879-1959
* Arch James Norman 1881-1954
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