Note from Martha Mitchell Clark

The following data is extracted from David and Margaret Mitchell Genealogy.

"My father (David Mitchell) was born, 1797. In his childhood days, he was much petted by his grand mother Margaret, and as all spoiled children he became wilful and gave her much trouble. In telling of his conversion, father said. "Soon after we were married, we lived in a part of the house with a young man, who had lately been converted. This young man had erected a family altar. Father came under conviction. He thought, "There is a man, brought up in ignorance of God or His ways, who is now serving Him with all his heart, while I, from my earliest recollection, have been instructed in God's truth."

Father delayed not. He immediately- took side with God, and from that hour his whole life was devoted to right living. On every question, father could be found always on the side of righteousness. He suffered much persecution because of his adherence to principle. This was notably so in the days of the abolition agitation. Father kept a station on the underground railway and many a poor colored man was sheltered and helped on his way to freedom. My grand father 'Morrow ryas displeased with father's "fanatical" manner of doing things; he did not take in God's helping hand; he feared father would be arrested and his daughter brought into disgrace. But God protected him through those years. My parents belonged to the Associate Reformed Church, and during this period of my life, my mother died. She was blessedly prepared for death, and shouted God's praise when all thought her dying. Father had, for a long time, insisted that mother would take a hart in our family worship, and when able would read a portion of God's word, but could not be induced to pray aloud. This grieved father, and if called from home, when he returned after the first greeting, he would inquire of me, "Did your mother hold worship?"

She never, until on her death bed, overcame her early education and natural timidity.

Father ruled his household with kindly firmness; he led his family through peaceful ways, and when death met him, after a few hours of sickness, he was prepared; he had nothing to do; but like the old patriarch-to depart in peace. Among his dying utterances, he said, "For twenty years I have lived for this hour." "I have a hope big with immortality and eternal life." My father's life always affected my own, and when far strayed away in worldly ways, the memory of Father's life was always an appeal to return to father's God. "The memory of the just is blessed."

After my mother's death, my father took my sister Mary and myself to stay for a time with my grand mother, Martha Mitchell. Here we went to the little schoolhouse, and grand mother helped to inspire an ambition to study, in my rather dull and neglected mind. No one ever lost anything of implanted good with grand mother; and as I look back I am sure her own sense of righteousness, her fine perceptions of truth, must have greatly influenced father's life. The children were always glad to see grandmother in her few visits to our house. Those dear old people may have been too strict in outward forms, but no one brought up to regard sacred God's obligation and His holy day, but the hallowed influence lingers in the heart, not to be obliterated.

Source: David and Margaret Mitchell Genealogy

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