Thomas Mitchell Historical Society
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Thomas Mitchell Historical Society |
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Universalist Church | |||
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Thomas Mitchell Founder of Mitchellville, Iowa | |
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| Thomas Mitchell was a native of New Hampshire born on March 4, 1816. | ||
| Mr. Mitchell came to Iowa in 1840 and to Polk County in 1844. He was the first white | ||
| settler in the county. he was very friendly with the Indians. | ||
| He built 3 log cabins on Camp Creek to be used as inns for the people traveling west. | ||
| Later he had a school, an inn, and a small community at Apple Grove. | ||
| From 1846-1848 Mr. Mitchell served as sheriff of Polk County. He also served as Polk | ||
| County Commissioner ( Supervisor). In 1875 he was elected to the Iowa General | ||
| Assembly and in 1878 he was elected a state senator. | ||
| About 1850 Thomas Mitchell heard that the railroad was coming through the area so he | ||
| moved his family and started the town of Mitchell (or Mitchell Town) about one mile | ||
| northwest of where Mitchellville is today. The railroad was many years in coming and | ||
| when it did, it was farther south than he had expected. So he moved his home and | ||
| planned the town of Mitchellville where it now stands. | ||
| Thomas Mitchell was active in the underground Railroad and helped runaway slaves. | ||
| When Mr. Mitchell planned and built Mitchellville, he wanted the streets to be wide and | ||
| trees planted. He gave the land for a cemetery where he is buried and gave the land for | ||
| our city park. In 1873 he donated $500.00 to establish a seminary so girls could get a | ||
| high school education. After Mitchellville had its own high school Tom Mitchell sold the | ||
| seminary to the State of Iowa. It is now the state prison for women. | ||
| He built the Universalist Church where he was a lifelong member. It was the first church | ||
| built in Mitchellville. Each of the other churches met there until their own churches | ||
| could be built. The church was also used as a school until a school could be built. | ||
| The bell in the church came west by train as far as Iowa City. then it came to | ||
| Mitchellville by horse and wagon through mud and ruts. It's very large and has a | ||
| beautiful sound. | ||
| Thomas Mitchell died on July 15, 1894 in his home where Artis Fenimore's now lives. His | ||
| funeral was held in the Universalist Church and more than 1,000 people attended. He | ||
| was so well known and respected that a special train came from Des Moines bringing | ||
| people to the funeral. He is buried in the Mitchellville Cemetery. | ||
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