Senator W. O. Mitchell broke the long democratic reign in Adams county in 1891, when he was elected to represent the republicans in the house that session. He filled that office two terms; the first term he was honored by being elected speaker. Senator Mitchell was born in Bonaparte, Van Buren county, April 4, 1846, and is one of the few pioneer Iowa men of the senate. He received his earlier education in the common schools of Van Buren county, and when the war broke out enlisted with a number of his schoolmates in the Thirteenth Iowa infantry, Company C. He served three years in Crocker's brigade, was at the siege of Vicksburg, on the Meriden march, and was captured at Atlanta, July 22, 1864. For eight months he was a prisoner in the Andersonville, Florence and Salisbury prisons, his imprisonment ending only with the war. After his release he entered Cornell college at Mt. Vernon, Iowa, to complete his education. He was graduated from there in 1871. When he had finished college he entered the law office of Stuart Bros., at Chariton, and a year later was admitted to the practice of law. Senator Mitchell located in Corning, his present home, in 1872, and has practiced law, in which profession he has been a success. He is also engaged in the real estate business, and has farming, horticulture, and live stock interests beside. By reason of his interest and knowledge in these pursuits, Senator Mitchell was chosen president of the Southwestern Iowa Blue Grass league. His family consists of wife and daughter Helen. Mrs. Mitchell enjoys an extensive acquaintance in Des Moines' social set, and is one of the most popular of the legislative ladies. Helen is a favorite, with her quaint and charming manner. Senator Mitchell is a member of the G. A. R. organization, and of the Methodist church. In house legislation in the Twenty-fourth and Twenty-fifth General Assemblies he was an active man, and equally so in the regular and special sessions of the Twenty-sixth in the senate. He was chairman of the committee on rules, and served on the committees on judiciary, agriculture, public health, retrenchment and reform, manufactures and public libraries. In the latter question, and that of general education he is especially interested.

Adams county, long Democratic, was turned over to the Republicans in 1891, when the Hon. W. O. Mitchell was elected to the. House of Representatives of the Twenty-fourth General Assembly. It remained in line in 1893 by returning him. Mr. Mitchell was born in Bonaparte, Van Buren county, this state, April 4, 1846. His parents were George and Sarah Mitchell, pioneers of Van Buren county. He attended the common schools at his home. When the war broke out he enlisted with a number of other students in Company C, 13th Iowa Infantry. He served three years in Crocker's brigade, was at the siege of Vicksburg, on the Meriden march, and was captured at Atlanta July 22, 1864. For eight months thereafter he was compelled to undergo the tortures of the rebel prisons at Andersonville, Florence and Salisbury, his sufferings ending with the close of the war. Returning to Iowa, he entered Cornell College and in six years graduated. After leaving college he entered the law office of Stuart Brothers at Chariton, and after a year's study was admitted to practice. In law work he has been a success. In addition to law he has turned his attention to farming and live stock raising, and in this connection has occupied the office of president of the Southwestern Iowa Blue Grass League. The first public office he ever held was when lie was elected to the Twenty-fourth General Assembly as Representative. The House made that honor still greater by choosing him for speaker, in which position he served with ability. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias and Grand Army. In Corning he is a member of the Methodist church. He is married and has two children. His promotion to the Senate is fully deserved, and he will show in that body the same marked ability that has characterized his work heretofore, together with the effective methods learned by the experience of two previous sessions in the House.

Adams County, long Democratic, was turned over to the Republicans in 1891, when the Hon. W. O. Mitchell was elected to the House of Representatives of the Twenty-; fourth General Assembly. It remained in line in 1893 by returning him. Mr. Mitchell was born in Bonaparte, Van Buren county, this State, April 4, 1846. His parents were George Mitchell and Sarah Hobson Mitchell, pioneers of Van Buren county. After attending the common schools at his home he went to college at Mount Vernon, Iowa. While there the war broke out and he enlisted with a number of other students in company C, 18th Iowa infantry. He served three years in Crocker's brigade, was at the siege of Vicksburg, on the Meriden march, and was captured at Atlanta July 23, 1864. For eight months thereafter he was compelled to undergo the tortures of the rebel prisons at Andersonville, Florence and Salisbury, his sufferings ending with the close of the war. Returning to Iowa, he re-entered Cornell College and in six years graduated. After leaving college he entered the law office of Stuart Brothers at Chariton, and after a year's study was admitted to practice. In law work he has been a success. In addition to law he has turned his attention to farming and livestock raising, and in this connection has occupied the office of president of the Southwestern Iowa Blue Grass League. The first public office he ever held was when he was elected to the Twenty-fourth General Assembly as Representative. The House made that honor still greater by choosing him for speaker, in which position he served with ability. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias and Grand Army. In Corning he is a member of the Methodist Church. He is married and has several children.

Adams county, long Democratic, was turned over to the Republicans in 1891, when the Hon. W. O. Mitchell was elected to the House of Representatives of the Twenty-; fourth General Assembly. It remained in line in 1893 by returning him. Mr. Mitchell was born in Bonaparte, Van Buren county, this State, April 4, 1846. His parents were George Mitchell and Sarah Hobson Mitchell, pioneers of Van Buren county. After attending the common schools at his home he went to college at Mount Vernon, Iowa. While there the war broke out and he enlisted with a number of other students in company C, 18th Iowa infantry. He served three years in Crocker's brigade, was at the siege of Vicksburg, on the Meriden march, and was captured at Atlanta July 23, 1864. For eight months thereafter he was compelled to undergo the tortures of the rebel prisons at Andersonville, Florence and Salisbury, his sufferings ending with the close of the war. Returning to Iowa, he re-entered Cornell College and in six years graduated. After leaving college he entered the law office of Stuart Brothers at Chariton, and after a year's study was admitted to practice. In law work he has been a success. In addition to law he has turned his attention to farming and livestock raising, and in this connection has occupied the office of president of the Southwestern Iowa Blue Grass League. The first public office he ever held was when he was elected to the Twenty-fourth General Assembly as Representative. The House made that honor still greater by choosing him for speaker, in which position he served with ability. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias and Grand Army. In Corning he is a member of the Methodist church. He is married and has several children.