Alexander Mitchell, one of the leading farmers of the Bitter Root Valley, was born in Missouri, March 8, 1850, the son of Cowan and Ellen Mitchell, of Scotch-Irish descent. Their ancestors located in Alabama and Tennessee in an early day. Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell moved to Missouri in the early settlement of that state, and after moving to Kansas, Mrs. Mitchell died in 1863 at the age of fifty years.

     In 1854 the remainder of the family took up their residence in Kansas. Mr. Mitchell followed farming in that state until 1856, when he was affected with spinal trouble and was confined to his bed for thirty years, dying May 16, 1886. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church and was an excellent man. They had nine children, five of whom still survive.

     In 1869 Alexander Mitchell and his two brothers crossed the plains with ox teams, spending three and a half months on the road. They came direct to the land on which they have since resided. Mr. Mitchell has added to his original purchase until he now owns a valuable farm of 400 acres and is engaged in general farming and stock raising.

     During the Indian war of 1877, he and his brother Campbell enlisted until General Gibbons, and took part in the battle of Big Hole on August 9, in which many of the whites were killed or wounded. Mr. Mitchell escaped without a scratch but his brother was killed. The volunteers purchased their own equipment. Mr. Mitchell received $7 from the Government for services rendered during that struggle.

     January 6, 1884, he was united in marriage with Nannie Summers, a native of Missouri and a daughter of Henry L. Summers, a native of Kentucky, whose wife, Mary O. was a native of Tennessee. Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell have two sons, Henry Clay and Samuel Oscar. Mrs. Mitchell is a member of the Christian Church.

      Socially Mr. Mitchell is a member of the Masonic order at Stevensville and in political matters affiliates with the Republican party.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               History of Montana, 1898