Mr. Mitchell is one of the best business men of Ottawa, and one who is very highly respected for his pushing enterprise and strict integrity.
He was born in Ottawa, January 29, 1852, and is the son of Bradford and Ann (Sansberg) Mitchell. His father was a soldier in the Mexican war and served with honor and occupied a respected place in business circles at the time of his death, which occurred while Marshall was yet a child. From his early childhood to the present day Marshall has been a faithful stay to his widowed mother. He early showed his business instincts, and while yet a lad, during the civil war, reaped a harvest selling papers. He passed through a course of study at the public schools of his home city and took a course at Drew's Business College. He commenced work in Hughes' bakery and confectionery store August 1, 1867. Later, April 1, 1868, he was employed by Strawn & Powell, lumber dealers and manufacturers of sash, doors and blinds. He proved so bright, reliable and upright that he was offered a position with Smith & Rising, extensive cigar manufacturers, June 1, 1870, as a shipping clerk, and accepted it. He again proved so efficient, that he was promoted traveling salesman, and was very successful on the road. He thoroughly mastered the business, and in 1877 started in a cigar and tobacco business for himself, with a small capital, but well equipped in experience, determination and untiring industry. In the first year he commenced the manufacture of his own goods, and his famous No. 7 Nickel cigar has held the leading place in the home markets for twenty-three years. In that time Mr. Mitchell has acquired a competency and a commercial standing that is very highly recognized in business circles at home and abroad. He now owns on Madison street, the second door east of the National City Bank, the most complete, though perhaps not the largest, tobacco store and cigar factory building in northern Illinois. It is equipped especially for the business from the basement up. The store-room is very handsome and accommodates daily as extensive and choice lot of customers in this line as can be found anywhere. Mr. Mitchell also has the reputation of being a shrewd handler of real estate, and owns considerable property in that line. In politics he is a loyal Republican, but believes in good government and honest officials even at the expense of party ties.
In 1887 Mr. Mitchell married Miss Lodema Clift, a popular and well known young lady belonging to an old and respected family. He owns a handsome home on Ottawa avenue. His mother still survives, and he has two sisters, - Minnie E. and Martha A. All live in the old homestead adjoining his own.
Extracted by Norma Hass from Biographical and Genealogical Record of LaSalle County, Illinois published in 1900, volume 1, pages 89-90.
| Lee | DeKalb | Kane |
| Bureau |
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Kendall |
| Putnam | Grundy | |
| Marshall | Woodford | Livingston |
