Husband Forster Wilson Mitchell 1 2 3
Born: 7 May 1828 - near Millhall, Centre Co, PA 1
Christened:
Died: 15 Dec 1912 - Franklin, Venango Co, PA 4
Buried: - Franklin Cemetery, Franklin, Venango Co, PA
Father: Thomas Mitchell (Abt 1800-1870) 1 5
Mother: Eliza Lamb ( -1851) 1 5
Marriage: 17 May 1850-1851 4 6
• Additional Image: F. W. Mitchell.
Wife Laura M. Wilson 3 4 6
Born:
Christened:
Died: 1907 4
Buried: 30 Aug 1907 - Franklin Cemetery, Franklin, Venango Co, PA 7
Father: Alonzo Wilson (Abt 1800-Abt 1850) 4 8
Mother: Lucy Rowe ( - ) 4 8
Children
1 M Herbert W. Mitchell 4
Born:
Christened:
Died: while young
Buried:
2 F Lottie E. Mitchell 9
AKA: Lottie M. Mitchell 4
Born:
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: William Dilworth Richardson (1857-1902) 4 9
Marr: 20 Jun 1887 9
3 F Stella V. Mitchell 3 11
AKA: Stella M. Mitchell 10
Born:
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Bryan Hill Osborne (1858- ) 12 13
Marr: 11 Dec 1889 - ? Venango Co, PA 3 14
General Notes: Husband - Forster Wilson Mitchell
He was eight years old when he accompanied his parents to Venango County, Pennsylvania, and there he grew up, on his father's farm at Pleasantville. As his father's assistant he early became familiar with farming and lumbering, as well as merchandising. In 1859, when Colonel Drake struck his well, he was engaged in merchandising and lumbering, and he shared the general excitement, being one of the first to view the fifteen-barrel wonder. He lost no time in securing a lease on a portion of the Buchanan farm, on the bank of Oil creek at the mouth of Cherry run, and beginning drilling, which was then done by the primitive and laborious spring pole method, and his was said to be the third well in operation after Drake's. It paid well, the flow beginning at seventy-five barrels a day and continuing for six months and more, and from that time until near the close of his active business career he was extensively and successfully engaged in the production of oil. Among the lands which he purchased and developed was the Shaw farm, near Rouseville, and he was interested in the Bullion field and the Bradford field, in the former owning the "Big Injun" well in company with John H. Lee and Hon. W. R. Crawford, and in the latter being associated with Capt. J. T. Jones, of Buffalo, NY, and the late George H. Van Vleck, of Toledo, Ohio. The "Big Injun" had the high record of the district, flowing over three thousand barrels June 18, 1877.
In March, 1865, Mr. Mitchell moved to Franklin, where he made his home permanently, and in addition to caring for his oil interests he became engaged in banking for a number of years. He was always alert to conserve or advance the interests of those engaged in the various activities allied with the oil industry. His discernment and practical common sense made his counsel particularly valuable in emergencies, and his initiative saved the day often when a strong leader was needed to take hold of a trying situation. The early days of the oil country development were marked by much haphazard speculation and wild fluctuations which would ruin investors if allowed to continue, and Mr. Mitchell's influence was always a steadying factor when conditions were adversely affected by such operations. He took an active part in the various movements made by the producers for their protection, being one of the heavy operators on the market, and the advance in the price of crude oil in 1880, from sixty cents to a dollar and twenty-seven cents, was known as "Mitchell's boom."
In 1870, in company with F. H. Steel, Mr. Mitchell opened a bank at Rouseville, Venango County. The business was removed to Oil City in 1883, and there for over twenty years the firm of F. W. Mitchell & Co. was prominent in financial circles. George V. Forman was associated with Messrs. Mitchell and Steel for some years, being succeeded in 1882 by W. H. Wise, of Oil City. When the banking business was discontinued, in 1894, Mr. Mitchell withdrew from active business pursuits.
Throughout his residence in Franklin Mr. Mitchell was looked upon as one of its public-spirited citizens, devoting both time and means to promote the material progress of the city of his adoption. He gave the ground which is now the site of the city buildings and Opera House. In 1875 Governor Hartranft appointed him a member of the Centennial commission, and he served as treasurer of the board during the Exposition.
Mr. Mitchell was an invalid much of the time during the last four years of his life, though he kept his clear mind and serenity of spirit to the end. His enjoyment of his friends, and his faculty for friendship, was one of his most charming traits of character. He liked congenial company and social pleasures, and was never so delighted as when extending the hospitality of his home to some loved friend. His gift for reading human nature no doubt influenced him in selecting his companions, and for that reason he had few disappointments in them, for he chose them for their real worth, not their material standing. With his fine presence and cordial, courteous manners, he fairly radiated good cheer and wholesomeness wherever he went, and the pleasure of his society lent attraction to every circle. Though he attained a good old age he kept alive his interest in the progress of the times, tenacious of nothing belonging to the past except the loving memories of family and friends. [CAB, 473]
General Notes: Wife - Laura M. Wilson
from Enterprise, Warren Co, PA