Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 668 - 671 

GEORGE H. MITTS, of Wichita, was engaged during the earlier years of his life in agricultural pursuits, but is now retired from active labor, and occupies a pleasant home at No. 1305 McCormick avenue. He has traveled over a large portion of the western country, worked in the mines of Idaho for $5 per day, and paid $18 per week for his board. His experiences have been varied and interesting, and he is a man who has kept his eyes open to what was going on around him in the world, and availed himself of all the sources of general information.

             Our subject is the offspring of an old American family, of English origin, who settled in Kentucky at an early day. His father, James Mitts, was born in that State, whence he emigrated when a young man to Sangamon County, Ill., and was there married to Miss Martha, daughter of George Moffitt, of the latter State. Of this union there were born nine children, namely: James M., Margaret, Sarah; George H., our subject; Mary E., Frank, Oscar, Osbert and Mattie.

             James Mitts in the latter part of the thirties left his Illinois home, and crossing the Mississippi into Henry County, Iowa, took up a section of land near the embryo town of Mt. Pleasant. Although a man of iron constitution he broke himself down by hard work, clearing the heavy timber from his land, from the effects of which he suffered for many years before his decease. He was permitted, however, to reach his threescore years and ten, passing away in the spring of 1884 upon the homestead which he had labored so industriously to build up. He accumulated a fine property, and was an upright and honest man, thoroughly respected by all who knew him. Politically, he affiliated with the Democratic party, and in religious views was a Methodist. The mother died at her home in Iowa, in 1865.

             George H. Mitts, our subject, was born at the old homestead in Henry County, Iowa, July 18, 1841. He received but a limited education, and early in life became familiar with the labors of the pioneer, and the later regular pursuit of agriculture. At the age of twenty-two years he was united in marriage with Miss Lydia H. Ogg, who died eighteen months after her wedding. Mr. Mitts had rented a farm in Henry County, Iowa, and Feb. 4, 1869, contracted a second marriage, with Miss Hettie, daughter of John and Sarah (Bush) McCormick. (A full history of her parents is given in a sketch of her brother, Nicholas McCormick.) A year later, in 1870, they came to this State, and settled on a farm of 160 acres, the ground of which is now included within the city limits of West Wichita. Here Mr. Mitts operated about two years, then sold out and removed to another farm seven miles southwest of the city, near the Cowskin, which he purchased. Later he moved back to Henry County, Iowa, but again returned to Kansas, and settled on a farm south of Wichita, and remained there two years, then went to Barber County, where he tarried for a time, then entered 160 acres of land in Kingman County, where he remained until his last removal to Wichita, which was in February, 1887. He still owns his farm in Barber County. Five children have been born to him and his excellent wife, and were named respectively: Willie, Ida May, Mabel M. and Nellie H. One child died in infancy unnamed. The eldest is nearly nineteen years of age, and the youngest four. In politics Mr. Mitts is a Democrat, and both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

[ Home ]