Susannah Caroline (Acton) Mitchell

Susannah Caroline (Acton) Mitchell

April 8, 1826 – September 8, 1878

of Charles County, MD and Ohio County, KY

Wife of Joseph Martin “Mart” Mitchell

Susannah Caroline Acton was born in the spring time, April 8, 1826, at Port Tobacco, the first county seat of Charles County, Maryland.  She was the first and oldest of nine children born to her parents, Bartemus Acton and Sarah Ann “Sallie” (Robey).  Susannah’s brother and sister, Mary Jane and Thomas Washington, were also born in Maryland. 

Sometime after the 1830 census was taken in Port Tobacco, when Susannah was about four, her parents migrated from Maryland with their three small children and moved to Ohio County, Kentucky, a distance of about 700 miles.  Upon arrival, they settled on a farm near Hall’s Creek, a branch of Rough Creek, where a deed shows that Bartemus purchased an unspecified number of acres of land on February 26, 1831 from Absalom Albin and his wife, Piety, for $280.00.

On August 24, 1843, when she was seventeen, Susannah married Joseph Martin Mitchell, son of Robert Mitchell and Judith Benson who moved to Ohio County in 1825, formerly of Shelby County, Kentucky.  Joseph Martin Mitchell, called “Mart,” was born March 19, 1822 in Shelby County. 

Over the next twenty years – 1844 to 1864 – Susannah had nine children of which seven grew to maturity.  The Mitchells were hardworking people and expected their children to do likewise.  For Susannah, chores centered on raising her children and keeping them healthy, cooking for her household, sewing and mending, working in the family garden, and tending the farm yard.

It is reported that Mart Mitchell was a farmer and a stone mason, a person who cuts and shapes native stone into various shapes for building chimneys, flues, doorsteps, walkways and fences.  Mart and his son, Joseph shaped the rocks and built one of the abutments to the bridge at Barrett's Ferry on Rough River in 1892.  That bridge was eventually replaced by a concrete bridge, but the stones of the old bridge abutments still remain in place to this day.

Joseph and Susannah lived on Cane Run between Olaton and New Baymus Church of Christ near Barrett's Ferry, about two miles from Dundee (formerly called Hines Mill) and Sulphur Springs.   In the 1860 census the couple was living in the Briggs Mill area of the Caney District of Ohio County, Kentucky. 

Susannah was 52 when she died Sep 8, 1878.  Joseph Martin Mitchell was said to have married twice after her death, first to Mary Hushon Bishop on May 21, 1881, and second to Mattie Wickliffe, Oct 18, 1892, both of whom he outlived.  He died Nov 27, 1904 at age 82.  Joseph and Susannah are said to be buried at McCord Cemetery on Hall’s Creek Road, not far from Rosine.   They had nine children, all born Ohio County.

1)      Mary Elizabeth Mitchell (my ancestor) – Born June 1, 1844; married  1^st James William Cox on Aug 4, 1860 and they had 14 children – all born in Ohio County; she died Feb 7, 1903, in Obion County, TN.  He died Sep 30, 1931, Ohio County.

2)      Ellen Boatman Mitchell – Born Dec 15, 1845; married 1^st George W. Ezell on Oct 17, 1860; she died May 29, 1890, Ohio County. 

3)      Anthony T. Mitchell – Born Mar 11, 1847; died July 19, 1847, Ohio County.

4)      Sarah Ann “Sallie” Mitchell - Born Apr 15, 1849; married 1^st William Neighbors on Jan 15, 1867; died Nov 2, 1939, Ohio County.

5)      Corella Evelyn Mitchell – Born Oct 5, 1850; married Robert H. Daniel on Nov 5, 1870; died Oct 26, 1939, Ohio County.

6)      Martha Benson Mitchell – Born Aug 15, 1852; married Calvin W. Daniel on Mar 14, 1870; died Jan 4, 1897, Ohio County.

7)      Robert B. Mitchell – Born Aug 10, 1855; died Aug 21, 1855, Ohio County.

8)      Joseph Gabriel Mitchell – Born Sep 25, 1858; married 1^st Henrietta A. Hurt on Sep 3, 1878; died Apr 29, 1912, Ohio County.

9)      Allison Pierce Mitchell – Born Dec 11, 1864; married 1^st Viola V. Mills Jun 21, 1887, Ohio Co.; died May 12, 1950, Ellis County, Texas.

Sulphur Springs - Editor:

       The Hartford Herald, September 12, 1878

Mrs. Mart Mitchell dropped from her chair on the 8th instant, and expired before her husband who was in the same room, could reach her.

       The Hartford Herald, September 18, 1878

Mrs. J. Martin Mitchell, living near Barrett’s Ferry, this county, died  very suddenly last Sunday evening week.  She had been in declining health for several months, but was not thought to be in any danger at the time of her death.

Mrs. Mitchell was an exemplary lady, an excellent neighbor, a devoted wife and a loving affectionate mother.    The deceased was a daughter of Bartemus Acton,  deceased, and  sister to Mrs. G. J. Bean, of this place.

  

                                                                                            ~ by Janice Cox Brown

                                                                                                          Tyler, TX

                                                                                            

Sources

·         Ohio Co., Kentucky Marriage and Death Certificates

·         Ohio Co. KY Census Records (various years) and Deed Records

·         Family records of Hoyt Wilson; Sue (Acton) Gregory; Terry Acton; Glenda Potts Thacker; and David Arthur Myers

·         Family records researched in 1973 by Gladys Altman for Janice Brown, shared by Mrs. Alpha Smith, Narrows, KY;  Bessie K. Rowe, Louisville; and Loretta (Crowder) Westerfield, Rosine.