businessman, philanthropist, politician, Congressman, U.S. Senator, b. Milwaukee. He was the son of Alexander Mitchell (q.v.). He graduated from the Hampton, Conn., military academy, studied at several European schools, and in 1860 returned to the U.S. During the Civil War, he served in the 24th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, as 2nd lieutenant of Co. I (1862-1863), and 1st lieutenant of Co. E (Jan.-Sept. 1863). Resigning his commission in 1863, he returned to Milwaukee, and for several years operated a large farm in Milwaukee County. A Democrat, he was state senator (1872-1873, 1876-1877). He was also chairman of the Milwaukee County Democratic central committee for several years, and in 1888 was a member of the national Democratic campaign committee. In 1890 he was elected to Congress, was re-elected in 1892 and served from Mar., 1891, to Mar., 1893, when he resigned to accept his election by the Wisconsin legislature as U.S. Senator. He served in the Senate from Mar., 1893, to Mar., 1899, when he retired from politics. From 1899 to 1902 Mitchell studied linguistics at Grenoble Univ. in France, and in 1902 returned to his home in Milwaukee. He was active in numerous business enterprises, including the Marine Fire and Insurance Co, Bank, the Milwaukee Gas Co., and the Northwestern Fire Insurance Co., and had large financial interests in several banking institutions. He was known for his philanthropic activities, especially to veterans groups, and from 1886 to 1892 served on the board of managers of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers. He was also president of the Wisconsin State Agricultural Society, and a trustee for the Layton Art Gallery. Biog. Dir. Amer. Cong. (1928); Columbian Biog. Dict. . . . Wis. (Chicago, 1895); Wis. Blue Book (1897); Milwaukee Sentinel, June 30, 1904; j. L. Mitchell Papers.

The Wisconsin Historical Society has manuscripts related to this topic. See the catalog description of the Alexander and John L. Mitchell Papers for details.

View newspaper clippings at Wisconsin Local History and Biography Articles.

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[Source: Blue book]