Will County ILGenWeb Biographies..... 
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File contributed for use by:
Dori Leekly & Margie Glenn

Author: History of Will County, Illinois; Chicago: Wm LeBaron Jr & Co, 186 Dearborn Street, 1878.

Franklin MITCHELL, market gardener, Wilmington; was born in what is now Sullivan, then a 
part of Chester Co., N. H., Feb. 8, 1812, but removed when quite young, to Windsor Co., 
Vt., where he resided until 1833; thence to Jefferson Co., N. Y.; in April, 1836, he 
removed to Illinois, locating at Joliet, where he engaged in the mercantile business, 
and, four years later, to Wilmington, continuing in the same business for one year, 
under the firm name of MITCHELL & ROLFE; in 1841, he opened the Eagle Hotel, in a 
building on the corner where A. D. WRIGHT's store now stands, and, in 1844, he erected 
a brick building for that purpose, which was the first hotel built in the city; this he 
occupied until 1862; owns sixty acres of land, valued at $1,800, and city property 
valued at $12,000; member of the Board of Town Trustees, in 1857; also served as County 
Commissioner some twelve years. Married in 1838, to Miss Hannah POOR, who was born in 
Jefferson Co., N. Y.; she died Jan. 15, 1847; four children by this union - William C., 
Mary A. (wife of Wm. H. VAUGHN), and Carrie P. (wife of Thomas CLINTON), and Charles F., 
who enlisted in Co. A, 100th Regt. I. V. I., in August, 1862; commissioned Second 
Lieutenant Aug. 30, 1862, wounded at the battle of Stone River, Tenn., Dec. 31, 1862; 
died of wounds, Jan. 4, 1863. His second marriage was in 1850, to Miss Ann VAN_DE_CAR, 
who was born in Canada; four children - Josephine (wife of John R. GETTY), Louisa 
(wife of Frank BURNHAM), Fran D. and Georgiana. Mr. Mitchell is a member of the 
following Masonic bodies: Wilmington Lodge, No. 208, Wilmington Chapter No. 142, and 
Joliet Commandery, No. 4.