Willis Alvin Mitchell and Sallie Oliphant Gemmill

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Husband Willis Alvin Mitchell ¹

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           Born: 19 Apr 1853 - Falling Springs, Venango Co, PA 1
     Christened: 
           Died: 15 Feb 1897 - Erie, Erie Co, PA 1
         Buried:  - Oakland Cemetery, Warren, Warren Co, PA

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         Father: John Hutchinson Mitchell (1829-      ) 1
         Mother: Catherine Ann Frantz (      -1854) 1

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       Marriage: 8 Jan 1877 2

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Wife Sallie Oliphant Gemmill ³

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           Born: 16 Nov 1858 - Warren, Warren Co, PA 2
     Christened: 
           Died: Aft 1913
         Buried: 

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         Father: Zachariah Gemmill (1831-1899) 2
         Mother: Caroline Stewart (1836-      ) 2

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Children

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1 M Willis Gemmill Mitchell ³

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           Born: 30 Sep 1877 - Warren, Warren Co, PA 3
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

         Spouse: Elizabeth Wakeman (      -      ) 3

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2 M John Mitchell ⁴

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           Born: 9 Sep 1880 4
     Christened: 
           Died: 19 Oct 1887 4
         Buried: 

         Spouse: Did Not Marry

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3 M Harry L. Mitchell ^{3 5}

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           Born: 1 Jan 1883 - Warren, Warren Co, PA 3
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

         Spouse: Edith Davidson (      -      ) 3 5
           Marr: 19 Sep 1908 3

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General Notes: Husband - Willis Alvin Mitchell

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He never knew a mother's care, but was taken when an infant by his grandmother Mitchell, spending with her the greater part of his childhood. After his father's second marriage the family moved to Warren, Penn­sylvania, where his education was obtained in the public school; later he attended James­town Academy, Jamestown, New York. He began business life in the oil fields, working while yet a minor in the Venango county field, also in adjoining counties. He had many thrilling adventures and escapes during this period, but on one occasion was so severely burned in an oil fire that the attending surgeon insisted on amputating his arm. Mr. Mitchell would not permit this to be done, and after­ward regained its full use.
When about twenty-one years of age he yielded to his fondness for adventure and journeyed through the south, locating in Texas. There he became engineer of a gov­ernment saw mill at Texarkana, continuing until chills and fever drove him to a less ma­larial climate. He returned to Warren and until 1876 was associated with his father in the fire insurance business, under the firm name of J. H. Mitchell & Company. This agency, founded by the father in 1871, was continued by the above firm until 1876, when the senior member moved to Philadelphia, and Willis A. Mitchell assumed full control and management. He became one of the ablest insurance men in the state, and built a busi­ness that at the time of his death was regarded as one of the most successful and prosperous in Pennsylvania. He was a Republican in pol­itics, but never sought public office for him­self, his influence always being given freely to assist his friends in their political ambitions. He was for a short time postmaster of Warren under President Harrison, this being the only public position he ever accepted. He was a member of the Masonic order, and interested in all that pertained to the welfare of his town. He was a man of sympathetic heart and quick to respond to any appeal, although so quiet and unassuming that often only the benefi­ciaries of his generosity knew of the assist­ance rendered. He was most genial, cordial and courteous to all, and was highly esteemed by business associates, friends and acquaint­ances. [GPHAV, 876]

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General Notes: Wife - Sallie Oliphant Gemmill

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She was edu­cated in the public schools and was always actively interested in church and society affairs. She was a member of the Presbyterian church; was president and vice-president of the Ladies' Auxiliary of the Young Men's Christian Association; member of the Blue Stocking Club, the Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle, and corresponding secretary of General Joseph Warren Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution (national number 78,358). She gained admission to the patriotic society through the revolutionary service of her ancestor, Lieutenant John Jacob Mytinger, with supplementary papers through Andrew Oliphant.

1 John W. Jordan, LL.D., Genealogical and Personal History of the Allegheny Valley, Pennsylvania (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1913), Pg 876.

2 John W. Jordan, LL.D., Genealogical and Personal History of the Allegheny Valley, Pennsylvania (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1913), Pg 874.

3 John W. Jordan, LL.D., Genealogical and Personal History of the Allegheny Valley, Pennsylvania (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1913), Pg 877.

4 John W. Jordan, LL.D., Genealogical and Personal History of the Allegheny Valley, Pennsylvania (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1913), Pg 875.

5 Blanche T. Hartman, Genealogy of the Nesbit, Ross, Porter, Taggart Families of Pennsylvania (Pittsburgh, PA: Privately printed, 1929), Pg 16.