Our Family History
Joseph A. S. Mitchell
1836 - 1890 (53 years)
1845 - 1937 (91 years)-
Name Joseph A. S. Mitchell Born 21 Dec 1836 Mercersburg, Franklin, Pennsylvania, USA 
Gender Male Died 12 Dec 1890 Goshen, Elkhart, Indiana, USA Buried Oak Ridge Cemetery, Goshen, Elkhart, Indiana, USA Notes - Judge Joseph A.S. Mitchell was born in Mercersburg, Pennsylvania on December 21, 1837. At the age of seventeen, he moved to Illinois. Two years later, he returned to Pennsylvania and began the study of law in the law office of Riley and Sharp in Chambersburg. He was admitted to the bar of Pennsylvania in 1859. Before long, the young lawyer decided to move west to Goshen, Indiana, to practice law. In 1860 when the Civil War erupted, Mitchell abandoned his northern Indiana law practice to enlist in the Union Army. He rose to the rank of Captain and later was made an Inspector General. After the war, he re-entered the practice of law with Judge John H. Baker of Goshen. He then served for a time as deputy prosecuting attorney. Being a successful practitioner, his interests drifted toward politics. His first venture came in 1872 when he was elected Mayor of Goshen. He was re-elected to the post in 1874. By this time, Mitchell had established himself as an influential force in Democratic politics in northern Indiana. He was rewarded in 1880 with the nomination for the Indiana Supreme Court. The year 1880, however, was a Republican year, and the 43 year old lawyer met his first political defeat. Four years later, he was re-nominated and this time was elected to the high court. He was re-nominated and re-elected in 1890, but died before his first term expired on December 12, 1890.
From: "Hoosier Justice: A History of the Supreme Court of Indiana", by Jerome L. Withered, Member of the Bar of the Supreme Court of Indiana.
Enlisted as 1st Lt 9/9/1861, Company M, 2nd Cavalry Rgmt Indiana. Promoted to Captain 3/31/1862. Mustered out on 10/4/1864.
Person ID I15938 Clark Last Modified 11 Aug 2012
Wife Mary E. Defrees, b. 31 Dec 1845, Goshen, Elkhart, Indiana, USA , d. 29 Aug 1937, Goshen, Elkhart, Indiana, USA (Age 91 years) Last Modified 11 Aug 2012 Family ID F4552 Group Sheet | Family Chart
- Judge Joseph A.S. Mitchell was born in Mercersburg, Pennsylvania on December 21, 1837. At the age of seventeen, he moved to Illinois. Two years later, he returned to Pennsylvania and began the study of law in the law office of Riley and Sharp in Chambersburg. He was admitted to the bar of Pennsylvania in 1859. Before long, the young lawyer decided to move west to Goshen, Indiana, to practice law. In 1860 when the Civil War erupted, Mitchell abandoned his northern Indiana law practice to enlist in the Union Army. He rose to the rank of Captain and later was made an Inspector General. After the war, he re-entered the practice of law with Judge John H. Baker of Goshen. He then served for a time as deputy prosecuting attorney. Being a successful practitioner, his interests drifted toward politics. His first venture came in 1872 when he was elected Mayor of Goshen. He was re-elected to the post in 1874. By this time, Mitchell had established himself as an influential force in Democratic politics in northern Indiana. He was rewarded in 1880 with the nomination for the Indiana Supreme Court. The year 1880, however, was a Republican year, and the 43 year old lawyer met his first political defeat. Four years later, he was re-nominated and this time was elected to the high court. He was re-nominated and re-elected in 1890, but died before his first term expired on December 12, 1890.
