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This biography appears on page 1848-1849 in "History of South Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. II (1904)
W. S. MITCHELL was born in Aberdeen, Scotland, on the 16th of
February, 1861, and received his educational discipline in the excellent schools of his native land, where he remained until he had
attained the age of twenty-one years, when he severed the home ties and came to America. He landed in New York city and remained in the
national metropolis about six months, at the expiration of which he came to the west and located in St. Cloud, Minnesota, where he followed
his trade, that of stone cutter, for the ensuing year, at the expiration of which he returned to New York, where he passed the
following year and then came again to St. Cloud, where he made his home until he came to South Dakota and took up his residence in Sioux Falls,
where he was engaged in the work of his trade until the following year, when he cast in his lot with that of the good people of Dell Rapids,
where he organized the Dell Rapids Granite Company, of which he became secretary and treasurer, the company owning and operating valuable
quarries in this locality. He continued to be actively concerned in this line of enterprise for a period of twelve years, at the expiration
of, which he disposed of his interests and engaged in the hotel and restaurant business in Dell Rapids. He has gained to his place a high
reputation for the best of service in all departments, and Mitchell's hotel and restaurant enjoy unmistakable popularity with the traveling
public. For the past five years he has been manager of the local opera house and in the connection has given the public an excellent class of
entertainments. In politics Mr. Mitchell has ever given an unqualified allegiance to the Republican party but has never sought or desired
public office. He is held in high regard in fraternal circles and he is identified with the Masonic order, the Benevolent and Protective Order
of Elks, the Knights of Pythias, Knights of the Maccabees, Modern Woodmen of America and the Dramatic Order of the Knights of
Khorassan.
Mr. Mitchell was united in marriage to Miss Hattie Love, and they
have one child. |
