William Henry Mitchell (November 13, 1834 – March 14, 1919) was a pioneer of the Washington Territory and Olympia who made big contributions to the city's industrial and business development. He was a member of the Washington State Legislature and the Pioneer's Association of the State of Washington, an Olympian Town Trustee and a joint councilman for Thurston and Lewis counties.
Mitchell was one of the Great American Plains emigrants, among the first to cross the Naches Pass, a member of Washington Territorial Volunteers, and a ranger during the Yakima War. After the war, he served as sheriff and deputy sheriff of Olympia.
During his long career in Olympia, Mitchell owned a grocery store and developed the bakery and butcher businesses, working in the field for over eleven years. He entered the lumber business, investing $20,000 ($531,000 in 2020 dollars) into a sawmill in Tumwater, Washington owning a mill in Olympia. He was engaged in the lumber business for fourteen years. Under Mitchell's management, the railroad line between Olympia and Tenino was built, connecting the city to the Northern Pacific Railway.
In later years, Mitchell returned to his family business: the manufacture of the Mitchell wagons, which were famous around the U.S. Mitchell participated in the merger of several companies into the family business; after the merge he became the president of the Mitchell, Lewis & Starver Company. Under his direction, branch firms in Portland and Seattle were opened. After his retirement from the business Mitchell designed, built, and managed the Mitchell Hotel in Olympia.
Early life, family, and education
William Mitchell was born on November 13, 1834, in Chicago, Illinois. His parents, Henry Mitchell and Margaret Mitchell, were married in Scotland and had eight children, of which William was the eldest. Both of Mitchell's parents were communicants in the Baptist church. Mitchell's father, born in Aberdeen, Scotland, emigrated to Chicago and became a successful manufacturer of the Mitchell wagon, a product known all around the U.S. The family moved from Chicago to Kenosha, Wisconsin, and then to Racine, where huge wagon works were built. At the same time, Mitchell's father established the Mitchell & Lewis Company. The next generations kept on developing and working in the business until 1983.
Despite travelling a lot, Mitchell had time to attend the public schools of Kenosha, Wisconsin, and spent a year in Beloit College.
Journey through the Great Plains
In 1853, aged 18, Mitchell decided to go to the Oregon Territory. Mitchell's family was against the trip, but after the argument was settled, they found him travel companions: Samuel Holmes and his family. Together with other emigrants, they started their journey on April 9, 1853. The first stop was at Council Bluffs, where Mitchell lost almost all of his money in a card game, and where his team joined a train of 20 wagons to continue the journey together. They left on June 3, crossed the Missouri River (or the Mississippi River), and continued their journey along the Platte River. The travel became more difficult and dangerous. There were more natives, following or watching the train from the distance. Despite being armed, two immigrants were killed by natives near the Snake River. Mitchell shot himself in near the Boise River, and had to cut the bullet out with a knife. In his own words, that shot was accidental: his gun "slipped from its holster and was discharged."
In his memoir, Mitchell stated that their train reached Fort Kearny on July 4, but a later brochure assumed he may have been referring to Fort Hall, based on the distance provided by Mitchell.
One last stop before getting to Fort Walla Walla was La Grande, Oregon, where the travelers stopped to buy provisions, and Mitchell witnessed a woman being stolen from their camp by a trader. Reaching Fort Walla Walla, the wagon train split. Mitchell's party decided to go over Naches Pass through the Cascade Range and to Fort Steilacoom. This was a historic passage, for it was the first party to ever cross the Naches Pass, opening the region for more settlers. From there, Mitchell went on to Olympia, arriving October 6, 1853, around the same time as Governor Isaac Stevens.