John Inscho Mitchell (July 28, 1838August 20, 1907) was an American lawyer, jurist, and

Republican party Republican Party is a name used by many political parties around the world, though the term most commonly refers to the United States' Republican Party. Republican Party may also refer to: Africa *Republican Party (Liberia) * Republican Part ...

politician from

Tioga County, Pennsylvania Tioga County is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 census, the population was 41,045. Its county seat is Wellsboro. The county was created on March 26, 1804, from part of Lycoming County and later organized in 1812. ...

. He served in the

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and represented

Pennsylvania Pennsylvania (; ( Pennsylvania Dutch: )), officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state spanning the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes regions of the United States. It borders Delaware to its southeast, ...

in both the

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and

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. He was later a judge in several state courts.

Biography

John Inscho Mitchell was born in Tioga Township,

on July 28, 1838. He attended

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in addition to receiving private instruction. Mitchell later received his college education at the

University of Lewisburg Bucknell University is a private liberal arts college in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1846 as the University at Lewisburg, it now consists of the College of Arts and Sciences, Freeman College of Management, and the College of Engineering. ...

, modern-day

Bucknell University Bucknell University is a private liberal arts college in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1846 as the University at Lewisburg, it now consists of the College of Arts and Sciences, Freeman College of Management, and the College of Engineering. ...

. After graduating from college in 1859, Mitchell taught school until 1861, when he joined the

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. He served in the

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as a lieutenant and captain in the 166th Regiment of the

Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Pennsylvania (; (Pennsylvania Dutch: )), officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state spanning the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes regions of the United States. It borders Delaware to its southeast, Mary ...

. Mitchell subsequently pursued an education in law and was admitted to the

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in 1864. He served as

District Attorney In the United States, a district attorney (DA), county attorney, state's attorney, prosecuting attorney, commonwealth's attorney, or state attorney is the chief prosecutor and/or chief law enforcement officer representing a U.S. state in a l ...

of Tioga County from 1868 to 1871. He ran for, was elected to and served in the

Pennsylvania State House of Representatives The Pennsylvania House of Representatives is the lower house of the bicameral Pennsylvania General Assembly, the legislature of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. There are 203 members, elected for two-year terms from single member districts. It ...

between 1872 and 1876 until his election to the

United States House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the Lower house, lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the United States Senate, Senate being ...

, where he served from 1877 to 1881. In 1881, Mitchell was

elected Elected may refer to: * "Elected" (song), by Alice Cooper, 1973 * ''Elected'' (EP), by Ayreon, 2008 *The Elected, an American indie rock band See also *Election An election is a formal group decision-making process by which a populatio ...

to the United States Senate. He served there for one six-year term and was chairman of the Committee on the Mississippi River and Its Tributaries and Committee on Pensions. After the conclusion of his congressional career, Mitchell served as judge of the

court of common pleas A court of common pleas is a common kind of court structure found in various common law jurisdictions. The form originated with the Court of Common Pleas at Westminster, which was created to permit individuals to press civil grievances against one ...

of Pennsylvania's fourth district from 1888 to 1899. He subsequently served for one session as judge of the

Superior Court of Pennsylvania The Superior Court of Pennsylvania is one of two Pennsylvania intermediate appellate courts (the other being the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania). It is based in Harrisburg. Jurisdiction The Superior Court hears appeals in criminal and most ...

. Mitchell died in

Wellsboro, Pennsylvania Wellsboro is a borough in Tioga County, Pennsylvania. The borough was founded by Benjamin Wistar Morris. It is located northwest of Williamsport. The population was 3,472 at the 2020 census. Early in the 20th century, Wellsboro was the shipp ...

on August 20, 1907, and was interred in Wellsboro Cemetery.

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Mitchell, John I. 1838 births 1907 deaths 19th-century American judges 19th-century American politicians County district attorneys in Pennsylvania Judges of the Pennsylvania Courts of Common Pleas Republican Party members of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives People from Tioga County, Pennsylvania Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Pennsylvania Republican Party United States senators from Pennsylvania