Born in Henry County, Indiana, October 28, 1834, and came to Iowa in 1857, settling at Sidney in Fremont County. He held for one term the office of clerk of courts, and was elected to the legislature as a war democrat, 1861. In1862 he entered the army, joining the 29th regiment of Iowa infantry, being chosen first lieutenant of company E. While his regiment was in camp at Council Bluffs he served in the extra session of the ninth general assembly and left the legislative halls to join his regiment in the field. He resigned his commission and returned to Sidney where he studied law removing to Nebraska City in 1875. In 1879 he was in the Nebraska legislature and was one of the leading spirits of that body holding the position of chairman of the railroad committee. He was a delegate to the national republican convention in 1880. In 1885 he was appointed district judge and at the general election of that year the appointment was ratified by the voters of the district. Mr. Mitchel was married to Miss Helen E. Hedges.