Biography

01/14/1839 - 05/24/1904

Captain Benjamin Bentley Mitchell (R23) Bradford and Wyoming Counties1893-1900

Early Life: 

Captain Benjamin Bentley Mitchell, born, January 14, 1839, family farm, Tioga County, Pennsylvania; son of Richard and Harriett Dartt-Miller Mitchell; public school education; Lewisburg University (now Bucknell University); Bryant and Stratton College, Buffalo, New York; captain, Company F, 108th Regiment, 11th Pennsylvania Volunteer Cavalry, Civil War, 1861-1864); bookkeeper, 1859-1860; druggist; engaged, mercantile, real estate and livestock businesses; secretary and treasurer, Keystone Land and Cattle Company; elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1883-1884, not a candidate for reelection, House, 1884; appointed, justice of the peace, Troy, Pennsylvania; elected, council, Troy; elected, board of education, Troy; elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1893-1900; partner, Pomeroy and Mitchell, banking company; married, Ellen Eliza Pomeroy; died, May 24, 1904, Troy, Bradford County, Pennsylvania; interment Glenwood Cemetery, Troy, Bradford County, Pennsylvania.

Early Career:

Mustered in, September 27, 1861, Company F, 11th Pennsylvania Cavalry, 108th Regiment, elected 1st Lieutenant, three-year service. Helped recruit and organized first cavalry company of Tioga County. Promoted captain, March 13, 1862, action at: Williamsburg, Peninsula Campaign; defeated Confederate General Pryor at “Deserted House;” took part in the sabotage, Virginia Central Railroad; discharged September 24, 1864, expiration of term.    

Pennsylvania Politics: 

Republican, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1883-1884; not a candidate for reelection, 1884.  

Appointed, justice of the peace, Troy, Pennsylvania; elected, borough council, Troy; elected, secretary, board of education, Troy. 

Elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State Senate, 23rd district, Bradford and Wyoming Counties, 1893-1900. Committee assignments, Finance, Forestry, Legislative Apportionment, Mines and Mining, Pensions and Gratuities, Public Health and Sanitation, Railroads and Street Passenger Railways.

Pennsylvania House of Representatives Biography: 

Official Website - PA House Archives Official Website (state.pa.us)

Cited: 

Cox, Harold. "Senate Members M". Wilkes University Election Statistics Project. Wilkes University.

Smull’s Legislative Handbook, (1900). Cochran, T.B., (Editor) Miller, H.P. (Assistant Editor) Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, pages 1186, 1192-1195, Biographical Sketches of Senators, page 1162.

Benjamin Bentley Mitchell (1839-1904) - Find a Grave Memorial