Bryan Earl Mitchell, b July 7, 1888 at Blue Ridge, Falls County, Texas, d February 26, 1971 at Marlin,
Falls County, Texas and buried in Calvary Cemetery at Marlin-was a son of William Henry and Margaret Lucinda (Chamberlain) Mitchell of the Blue Ridge Community. Although he purchased his wedding license in Falls County, the marriage was performed on October 14, 1915 in Mexia, Texas, when Bryan married Cleone Clark, b August 23, 1890 in Cotton Gin, Freestone County, Texas, d July 17, 1972 and buried by her husband in Calvary Cemetery in Marlin - a daughter of Marcus Simeon and Emily (Wills) Clark of Freestone and Limestone Counties, Texas. At the time of his father's death in March 1917, there were only two of Bryan's siblings still in the family home: Bess, who married a few months later, and Harold C. ("Hal"), who remained with their mother until another brother, Claude, moved into the family in 1919.
Bryan attended Texas A&M College at College Station, and then returned to Falls County to begin a farming and ranching career that lasted his entire lifetime. After their marriage, Bryan and Cleone first lived and farmed at Alto Springs, Texas until 1927, when they moved to a farm located on "Old Bald Hill Road" east of Marlin. Later, Bryan purchased a large tract of land west of Marlin in the Brazos River Bottom which was previously land owned by Robert Barton and E. J. Gurley.
Bryan Earl and Cleone (Clark) Mitchell had eight children, including a pair of twins:
Mary Nell Mitchell, b August 14, 1916 at Alto Springs, Falls County, Texas - now resides in Marlin, Texas. She married first to Fred Wills on May 29, 1939, and lived on his ranch at Valley Mills, Texas until he was killed in a hunting accident. During World War II, Mary Nell worked in the Engineering Department of General Dynamics in Fort Worth, after receiving both her B.S. and M.A. degrees from Southwest Texas State Teachers College in San Marcos, and teaching several years in Falls County at the Dot and Blue Ridge schools. On June 28, 1946, Mary Nell married second to Alvin Walter Sholvin, a native of Illinois and an engineer for 28 years at General Dynamics in Fort Worth - a son of Mr. and Mrs. F. W. Scholvin of Lansing, Illinois. After Al's death, Mary Nell became a successful Real Estate Broker for a time in Fort Worth, before retiring to Marlin, Texas. She had no children.
Bryan Earl Mitchell, Jr., b February 3, 1918 at Alto Springs, Falls County, Texas, graduated from Texas A&M College-receiving a B.S. degree in Petroleum Engineering. He served in World War II in the North African and European Theaters of War - completing his service as First Lieutenant in the U.S. Army. On June 19, 1945 in Houston, Texas - he married Margaret Ann Jones, b September 23, 1922 - a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Peyton Jones, and they had four children: Suzanne Mitchell, b January 5, 1947 who married first to Ronald Lawrence Garner, and married second to Edward Wardlaw Stasney; Margaret Alline Mitchell, b August 10� 1948 who married Thomas Emde; Beverly June Mitchell, b January 17, 1951 who married Warren Edward Bright; and Bryan Earl Mitchell, III, b August 16, 1957 who received his degree in Petroleum Engineering from Texas A&M University. Bryan retired from his position as presi dent of Amoco Gas Company- an affiliate of Standard Oil Company, and he and Margaret Ann continue to reside in Houston.
Nova Mildred Mitchell, b January 8, 1920 at Alto Springs, Falls County, Texas, was called "Mildred." She received her B.S. degree from Southwest Texas State Teachers College in San Marcos, and her M.A. degree from Baylor University in Waco - teaching school for thirty years before her retirement, including the Riesel School. On March 10, 1947, she married William King Brown of Temple, Texas, and they had one son, Larry Mitchell Brown, b October 6, 1948. Mildred was active in the Violet Club in Marlin, and a member and past officer of the Falls County Retired Teachers Association until shortly before her death.
Margaret Emily Mitchell, b February 6, 1924 in Falls County, Texas - married first on January 30, 1943 to James Lonnie Gentry, Jr., b November 9, 1921, d September 28, 1968; and married second on January 22, 1972 to Clinton Seth Ferguson, Sr.
William Henry Mitchell II, b June 16, 1925 in Marlin, Falls County, Texas - was married December 21, 1951 to Gladys Killgore.
Fay Mitchell - twin, b November 24, 1927 in Falls County, Texas on that year's Thanksgiving Day married August 30, 1952 to William Martin Wood, and had four sons: David Martin Wood, b August 12, 1953 who married Ava Grace Brooks; Bryan Allan Wood, b January 7, 1957; Bruce Edwin Wood, b July 16, 1960; and Curtis Eugene Wood, b June 20, 1963. Fay received her Bachelor's degree in Business from North Texas State Teachers College in Denton, Texas, and worked as a medical secretary at Scott and White Hospital in Temple, Texas. Bill received his Bachelor's degree in Architecture from The University of Texas in Austin. Fay now resides in Marlin, Texas.
Ray Mitchell - twin, b November 24, 1927 in
Falls County, Texas on that year's Thanksgiving Day - married December 26, 1953 to Edna Jean Lloyd.
Cleone Clark Mitchell, b May 17, 1931 in Falls County, Texas, attended North Texas State Teachers College in Denton, Texas. During her second year there, on February 23, 1951 in her parents' in Falls County, Cleone married Philip Richard Grove son of W. W. Grove of Dallas, Texas, and had one son: Stuart Mitchell Grove, b February 19, 1953. Cleone now resides in Marlin, Texas.
Bryan Earl Mitchell was a member of the Blue Ridge Baptist Church, and a Mason. He served as a School Trustee at Blue Ridge, and for many years served on the Falls County School Board. Cleone (Clark) Mitchell was reared as a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, but attended the Methodist Church in Riesel, Texas with her daughters. She had a lovely flower garden at her -primarily with rare and unusual speciman of Iris. Her daughters also shared her love for beautiful flowers. Bryan Earl Mitchell was a very successful farmer and rancher all his life - instilling into his children the advantages of hard labor and a good education.
Copyright Permission granted to Theresa Carhart and her volunteers for printing the biographies of these Falls County Families to this web page. �Families of Falls County�, compiled and Edited by the Falls County Historical Department, p. 307-308.
