William Mitchell was an educator, Civil War veteran, and

North Dakota North Dakota ( ) is a U.S. state in the Upper Midwest, named after the indigenous Dakota people, Dakota and Sioux peoples. It is bordered by the Canadian provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba to the north and by the U.S. states of Minneso ...

public servant who served as the first

North Dakota Superintendent of Public Instruction The North Dakota superintendent of public instruction oversees the operations of the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction. The superintendent enforces state and federal statutes and regulations regarding public schools and related program ...

from 1889 until his sudden death in 1890.

Biography

William Mitchell was born near Mount Vernon in

Knox County, Ohio Knox County is a county located in the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2020 census, the population was 62,721. Its county seat is Mount Vernon. The county is named for Henry Knox, an officer in the American Revolutionary War who was later the ...

. His birth year is disputed. Some sources claim 1828 or 1829, and other sources claim it was 1830. William was the oldest of nine children born to Rev. John Mitchell and Anne (Ogden) Mitchell. He married Catharine Haller in 1854 and they had three children. During the

Civil War A civil war is a war between organized groups within the same Sovereign state, state (or country). The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government policies.J ...

, Mitchell was employed as a teacher in Ohio. He left the classroom and served as a captain in Company A of the 96th Ohio Infantry Regiment. From then on, he preferred to be called "Captain" Mitchell. He served as superintendent of instruction in

Columbus, Ohio Columbus (, ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of cities in Ohio, most populous city of the U.S. state of Ohio. With a 2020 United States census, 2020 census population of 905,748, it is the List of United States ...

, for several years. In 1883, he moved to

Fargo, North Dakota Fargo is the List of cities in North Dakota, most populous city in the U.S. state of North Dakota and the county seat of Cass County, North Dakota, Cass County. The population was 125,990 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, which was e ...

. In 1887, he was elected superintendent of schools in Cass County. He became instrumental in calling the first education association meeting, which eventually become the North Dakota Education Association. When

was admitted to the Union in 1889, the state's constitution created the office of the

Superintendent of Public Instruction A state education agency or state department of education is the state-level government organization within each U.S. state or U.S. territory, territory responsible for education, including providing information, resources, and technical assistan ...

, and the position was made an elective office for a two-year term. In 1889, William Mitchell became the first Superintendent of Public Instruction for North Dakota. During his short time in office, he became well liked and respected. During his long career as an educator, he worked as a teacher, college professor, instructor, city superintendent, State Examiner, county superintendent, and State Superintendent. He also had experience in the legal field. On the evening of March 10, 1890, William Mitchell died suddenly of heart failure at his residence on Second Street in

Bismarck, North Dakota Bismarck (; from 1872 to 1873: Edwinton) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of North Dakota and the county seat, seat of Burleigh County, North Dakota, Burleigh County. It is the state's List of cities i ...

. His deputy, Frederick W. Cathro, became interim superintendent until William J. Clapp was appointed to complete Mitchell's term in office. William Mitchell is buried at Mound View Cemetery in

Mount Vernon, Ohio Mount Vernon is a city in Knox County, Ohio, United States, and its county seat. It is located along the Kokosing River, northeast of Columbus, Ohio, Columbus. The population was 16,956 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. History Th ...

References

External links

North Dakota Department of Public Instruction official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mitchell, William 19th-century births 1890 deaths Year of birth uncertain North Dakota superintendents of public instruction People from Mount Vernon, Ohio 19th-century American educators School superintendents in Ohio People of Ohio in the American Civil War

Biography

See also

References

External links