Andrew J. Mitchell, one of Lempster’s well-to-do farmers and an ex-member of the New Hampshire legislature, was born in Acworth, N.H., August 3, 1828, son of William L. and Elmira (Moore) Mitchell. He is a descendant of Thomas and Mary (Mitchell) Mitchell, who emigrated from Ireland, and located in Londonderry, N.H. William and Martha (Wallace) Mitchell, Andrew J., settled upon a farm in Acworth in 1777. Jonathan Mitchell, grandfather of Andrew J., and a native of Acworth, spent the active period of his life engaged in agriculture. He married Nancy Mitchell, of Francestown, N.H., and his children were: William L.; James L.; Nancy, who died in Acworth; and Jonathan T.
William L. Mitchell, whose birth occurred in Acworth in 1804, was a lifelong resident of that town. He prosperously conducted a good farm, and was highly respected as an upright man and a worthy citizen. He lived to be seventy-six years old. His wife, Elmira Moore, who was born in Lempster in 1807, became the mother of ten children, as follows: Andrew J., the subject of this sketch; William L., who died in infancy; Elmira A., who died young; William L. (second), who married Jane Elliott, and is a farmer and milk dealer in Littleton, Mass.; Levi W., who married Harriet W. Brown, and is engaged in agriculture in Mason, N.H.; Alma A., who married Herbert L. Piper, of Acworth, and died in September, 1895; Abram, who wedded Frances Bailey, of Claremont, N.H., and is a prosperous farmer in Acworth; Jonathan T., who is also engaged in farming in that town; Nellie J., who did not reach maturity; and Clara L., who married George Miller, neither of whom is living. Mrs. William L. Mitchell lived to be seventy-seven years old. She was a member of the Congregational church.
Andrew J. Mitchell was reared in the common schools, and grew to manhood in Acworth. He resided at home until he was twenty-seven years old, assisting in carrying on the farm and working to some extent at shoemaking. In 1858 he bought the Way farm in Lempster, where he now resides. Since then he has enlarged the property from one hundred and five to two hundred acres, and made various improvements upon the land and buildings. In addition to carrying on general farming, he raises some fine cattle, manufactures considerable maple sugar, and cares for a large orchard. In politics he is an active supporter of the Prohibition party. He has served as Selectman and upon the School Board. He ably represented this district in the legislature during the years 1876 and 1877, and he has been a Justice of the Peace for some time.
On April 21, 1857, Mr. Mitchell was joined in marriage with Mary M. Whittemore. She was born in Wilton, N.H., September 28, 1827, daughter of Abram and Martha (Marshall) Whittemore, the former of whom was a native of Greenfield, and the latter of Tewksbury, Mass. Abram Whittemore was extensively engaged in agricultural and mercantile pursuits. The erection of the first cottonmill in New Hampshire was due to his energy and enterprise. Mrs. Mitchell’s grandfather, Major Amos Whittemore, was in the Revolutionary War, and served at Bunker Hill. Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell have three children; namely, Abraham W., M.D., Martha A., and Nellie J. Martha died young. Abraham W. was educated in Lempster, Newport, and Meriden, N.H. His medical studies were begun at the University of the State of Vermont in Burlington; and he was graduated from the New York College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1887, taking high rank in a class of one hundred and fifty-one students. He commenced the practice of his profession in Harrisville, N.H., where he remained about a year. Since then he has resided in Epping, N.H., which he now represents in the lower house of the State legislature. He married Harriett F. Perkins, daughter of Dr. Marshall Perkins, Marlow, N.H., and has three children-Avis W., Karl P., and Richard A. Nellie J. Mitchell is now the wife of Edward L. Pike, who is manager and superintendent of the cold storage buildings of the Providence Freezing Company, Providence, R.I. Mr. Mitchell is a member of the Congregational church; and he is connected with Cold River Grange, No. 19, Patrons of Husbandry, of Acworth. Mr. Mitchell has had a busy and useful life, and his industry has been attended with good financial results.