MEMNON A. MITCHELL

 

Memnon A. Mitchell, b February 28, 1810 in Mississippi Territory in the part which became Washington County, Alabama, d November 23, 1854 in Blue Ridge, Falls County, Texas and buried on his wife's land inherited in the partitioning of her father's land, now called Blue Ridge Cemetery, Falls County, Texas. On August 7, 1834 in Parke County, Indiana, Memnon married Martha Harlan, b December 8, 1818 in Laurens District, South Carolina ‑ the first of twelve children of Dr. Isaiah Harlan, b May 4, 1798 in Laurens District Carolina, d January 29, 1847 in Montgomery County, Texas and buried on his own land which is now Willis Cemetery at Willis, Montgomery County, Texas; and his wife, Nancy Henry, b 1800 "aboard a sailing vessel on the Atlantic Ocean" while enroute between Ireland and South Carolina, d April 10, 1852 in Montgomery County, Texas and buried by her husband. Memnon and Martha came to Texas ‑ then the State of Coahuila, Mexico ‑with her parents in the Fall of 1834, and Dr. Isaiah Harlan received his grant of a league of land (4,428 acres) from Mexico on February 20, 1835 at Viesca‑seat of government of Sterling Clack Robertson's Colony. The Harlans were the parents of twelve children, but only six lived to adulthood; and these six all eventually settled in Falls County on their shares of land received in the partitioning of the estate: Martha Mitchell, Mary Millerman, Silas Harlan, Jonathan Harlan, Charles Harlan, and George Harlan ‑ the youngest to survive, who was born in Texas February 2, 1835.

Memnon and Martha (Harlan) Mitchell first settled in the area of "Old Franklin" ‑ a few miles from present‑day Franklin in Robertson County, Texas where he practiced law, was a planter, and served with the Minute Men in Indian engagements, in the Army of The Republic of Texas, and as a Texas Ranger ‑receiving grants of land for such service which included 640 acres in what became Falls County, 640 acres in Burleson County, and 1280 acres in what later was described as being in Hill and Johnson Counties ‑ all of which was sold for lack of tax payments while he was in service, and during his participation in the Mier Expedition. One piece of land was settled on by a family who took possession, paid the taxes, and held it in adverse possession permanently. In addition to his other professional interests, Memnon was granted with three others, an early mail route described as: "#6268 from Franklin in Robertson County to Chamber's Creek, let to M. A. Mitchell, Tilman Wolverton, J. S. Dougherty, and Alex Douglas on May 22, 1850 ‑ 91 miles there and back." The route went through present‑day Stranger in Falls County to Springfield, Limestone County ‑ and Chamber's Creek was near Waxahachie, Ellis County, Texas.

Memnon's record of service to The Republic of Texas is documented in the Texas Archives ‑ showing his service in the Army in Lieutenant Marthen's Company, E Regiment, Battalion of Rangers; and he is also found in the Archives on the Texas Ranger official Muster Rolls.

Memnon and Martha (Harlan) Mitchell were the parents of ten children, but only four sons lived to be named ‑ and only two survived to marry and have families of their own:

John Newton Mitchell, b August 21, 1841 in Robertson County, Texas, d August 21, 1862 in Arkansas during the Civil War, and was buried there. A Civil War tombstone has been erected in Blue Ridge Cemetery by his parents. On August 15, 1862, John enlisted with his uncle, Jonathan Harlan, in the Confederate States Army in Limestone County, Texas ‑ and served in Company F, 20th Texas Infantry, until his death. He was not married.

George Washington Mitchell, b December 20, 1842, d in 1858 while duck hunting with his young brother, William Henry Mitchell ‑ being accidentally shot. He was buried next to his father in what is now called Blue Ridge Cemetery at Blue Ridge, Falls County, Texas.

William Henry Mitchell, b July 4, 1846 in Robertson County, Texas, d March 6, 1917 just a week after his youngest daughter, Agnes, married Sanford Q. Garrett, and buried in Blue Ridge Cemetery. On September 9, 1869 in Falls County, Texas, he married Margaret Lucinda Chamberlain, b June 23, 1854 in Mississippi, d July 19, 1940 and buried in Blue Ridge Cemetery ‑ a daughter of Alexander Hunter and Temperance Killingsworth (Aldridge) Chamberlain, who settled in Falls County in the Spring of 1855. They were the parents of fourteen children, but only twelve reached maturity.

Charles Oliver Mitchell, b December 26, 1852 in Robertson County, Texas, d August 19, 1905 and buried in Blue Ridge Cemetery ‑ married September 12, 1875 in Falls County, Texas to Martha A. Blan, b June 6, 1855, d October 17, 1890 and buried in Blue Ridge Cemetery. They reared seven children.

Memnon and Martha Mitchell were found residing in Falls County in 1853, and were the first of her family who resettled on a portion of land granted to her father in 1835, where he died. Martha (Harlan) Mitchell lived with her son, William Henry Mitchell, until her death on March 8, 1887 and was buried by her husband in what is now Blue Ridge Cemetery. Memnon and Martha Mitchell were of the Baptist denomination, and he was a Mason.

The descendants of Memnon A. and Martha (Harlan) Mitchell who still reside in Falls County are predominantly the descendants of their son, William Henry Mitchell, although one family now residing in Reagan, Texas are descendants of their son, Charles Oliver Mitchell.

 

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, pp. 311-312.