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HENRY CLAY MITCHELL, M. D.
The high calling of the medical profession summons to its service the finest qualities of human character,—absolute integrity, comprehensive human sympathy and a diligent devotion to science. That Dr. Henry Clay Mitchell has distinguished himself in his profession is due both to the large measure in which he possesses these attributes and to his signal ability in the field of surgery.
Henry Clay Mitchell was born in Corinth, Illinois, July 31, 1855, the son of Samuel Minton and Martha Ann (Harrison) Mitchell. His father was one of the first and most widely known physicians and surgeons of Southern Illinois, having come to this state in the year of its admission to the Union, 1818. He was a graduate of the Medical College of Louisville, Kentucky, and of Rush Medical College of Chicago, Illinois.
Dr. Henry C. Mitchell, the son of Dr. Samuel Mitchell, was educated primarily in the public schools. He then attended Northwestern University, finishing his course in the medical department in 1879. He at once began the practice of his profession, and for eight years was located at Corinth, Illinois. In 1887 Dr. Mitchell removed to Carbondale and took up practice there. He has been local, district and later division surgeon for the Illinois Central Railroad for many years, and in line of his profession is a member of the American Association of [ican -typo] Academy of Railway Surgeons, the American Medical Association, the Illinois State Medical Society, Southern Illinois Medical Association and Jackson County Medical Society. He is ex-president of the Southern Illinois and State Medical Associations, and has been counselor for the Illinois State Medical Society for the past twelve years. Of late years Dr. Mitchell has given up a considerable portion of his large general practice and devoted himself largely to office consultation and surgery.
Aside from his profession Dr. Mitchell has imported financial interests. Together with Mr. F. T. Joyner he organized the Jackson State Bank and served as its president for a period of six years. He was also one of the organizers and a member of the directorate of both the Carbondale and the Marion building and loan associations. For six years he was treasurer of the Southern Illinois Normal University. Politically Dr. Mitchell is an adherent to Republican principles, and he has served three terms as a member of the board of aldermen of his city.
Dr. Mitchell first married Miss Alma F. Roberts, of Corinth Illinois. She died in 1886, leaving one son, Edward Clay Mitchell: who is now a physician, practicing in Memphis, Tennessee. The present wife of Dr. Mitchell was formerly Miss Adella Brownlow Goodall, of Marion, Illinois. Dr. and Mrs. Mitchell are the parents of four children. John Minton Mitchell is now a student in the medical department of the Northwestern University at Evanston, Illinois. Jennie Alma Mitchell, a graduate of the Southern Illinois Normal University, is now a student at the Wesleyan University, at Delaware, Ohio. The
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two younger daughters Sarah Scates Mitchell and Adella Goodall Mitchell, are attending the Southern Illinois Normal University.
The Mitchell family are members of the First Methodist Episcopal church of Carbondale, and Dr. Mitchell serves the church as a member of its board of trustees. Fraternally he is a Mason and a Knight Templar, being a member of Centralia Commandery, and he has been chairman of the committee on Lodges Under Dispensation of the Grand Lodge of Illinois Masons for sixteen years.