James Cafield Mitchell was born in Corinth Township, near Attila in Williamson County on October 30, 1852 to William N. Mitchell and Rachel Roberts. He attended the public schools and at the early age of 16 years engaged in the drug business, in which he continued with success until 1886. On October 21, 1872, at 20, he married Lillie White, daughter of Col. John H. White, killed in the Civil War, and sister of A. F. White, builder of the White building that sat on the south side of the Public Square and west of S. Market St. (In later years, it was known as the Dunston building.)

He was elected county clerk in 1886, then re-elected county clerk in 1890, serving until 1894. In 1891, he also became cashier of the First National Bank holding dual positions for three years.

When Mr. Mitchell assumed the duties of his office as county clerk Williamson County had an indebtedness of $30,000 and county orders were selling at 4 cents on the dollar of their face value. When he left that office this debt had been cancelled and county warrants were selling at par, a result largely due to the efficiency and financial skill displayed by him in management of county affairs.

He had since won added recognition in financial circles, and was known throughout the state as a factor in the development of Williamson county interests.

In 1891 and 1892 he served as Marion City Alderman under Mayor Shannon Holland both times. He was also active in the early Marion School system around the turn of the century. He also served under Shannon Holland as President of the First National Bank.

On March 31, 1892, J.C Mitchell and his wife Lillie bought a home from L.A. Goddard and his wife Annie Goddard at 402 S. Market St.

In 1901, Lillie White Mitchell passed away and left J.C. with seven children, John, Rose, Verna, James, Frank, Dessie and Everett.

In May, 1903, the Marion Pressed Brick Company was organized by Chas. A. Gent, J. C. Mitchell and S.R. Fuller, commissioners, with $25,000 capital stock. The original stockholders were, besides the above named gentlemen, Adele Holland, W.H. Warder, E. N. Rice, L. C. Campbell, A. L. Cline, John H. Duncan and M. L. Baker. Its officers then were A. L. Cline, president; J. C. Mitchell, vice president; L. C. Campbell, secretary and treasurer; J. R. Lamport, superintendent of works.

The Marion Pressed Brick plant occupied 40 acres of land on what was then outside the city. They were located on the northwest corner of the intersection of where the Illinois Central tracks cross N. Carbon Street. There was a large pond at this site for decades that belonged to them.

In this year of 1903, J.C. finds a mother for his children and remarries to Julia A. Dunaway.

On July 5, 1906 Virginia A. Thorne Dunaway, widow of Samuel W. Dunaway, deceased, transferred her land now located in the Thorne and  S. Virginia Street area to James C. Mitchell. The land was then surveyed and platted and dedicated as “Thorne Place,” to the city of Marion, Illinois by J.C. Mitchell and Julia A. Mitchell, his wife. This plat of Thorne Place was accepted by the Marion City Council, C.H. Denison, mayor on July 30, 1906. Specifically Lot 1 and 2 Block 7 Thorne (601 East Thorne) was transferred by J.C. Mitchell and his wife Julia A. Mitchell to Hosea V. Ferrell, Leon A. Colp and Paul R. Colp on September 29, 1906.

J.C. Mitchell was Mayor of Marion from 1907 through 1910.

In the 1910 census, J.C. is now 58, his new wife Julia is 38 and they have two children from his deceased wife Lillie living at home, Dessie 22 and Everett 19. James is listed as cashier. They are living at 402 S. Market St.

J.C. Mitchell was cashier of the First National Bank when it burned down as part of the old C.H. Denison building in the fire of February 11, 1916. This means that he was in on the plans and groundwork for the rebuilding of the new First National Bank building in 1916, which the Bank of Marion still occupies on the square.

The 1920 census confirm J.C. and Julia living alone in their home on S. Market St. He is still actively working as cashier at the bank at age 68.

On the 30^th of May 1927, J.C. passed away at age 75 and was buried in Rose Hill Cemetery on June 2, 1927. Julia Dunaway Mitchell, born in 1872, continued living in their home until her death on March 1, 1948 at age 76.

On February 3, 1949, the property was deeded to Eugene and Shirley Cox from the J. C. Mitchell estate. Verna Mitchell Parker, daughter of J. C. was administrator at the time of the estate. Gene and Shirley Cox later became owners of Cox Hardware on the Public Square passed down through his family.

One of J.C. Mitchell’s grandsons name was also J.C. Mitchell and was a prominent, practicing attorney in Marion, Illinois for decades.

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(Data extracted from 1905 Souvenir History, WCHS; 601 E. Thorn Abstracts; Ancestry.com; Marion City Cemetery Records; Marion City Directories; compiled by Sam Lattuca on 02/21/2013)