Joseph Mitchell (1840-1895)
Joseph Mitchell (1840-1895)
1895 Obituary [1]
JOSEPH MITCHELL, of Bolton Hall, near Rotherham, was the eldest son of the late Joseph Mitchell, of Swaithe Hall, near Barnsley, by Anna, daughter of the late Mr. Binns of Wentworth.
He was born on the 7th of September, 1840, at Worsborough Dale, near Barnsley. At the commencement of his career he was engaged with his father in various collieries in Worsborough Dale, also in the iron works and foundry called Mitchell's Worsborough Dale Foundry.
In time he assumed the control of the latter establishment, then the leading one in the district, supplying the neighbouring collieries with engines, boilers, &C., and turning out most of the bridges for the old South Yorkshire Railway.
During this time a lamentable explosion occurred at Edmund's Main Colliery, in the re-opening of which it fell to him to take a leading part.
Again, after the explosion at the Swaithe Main Colliery in 1875, he was called in to take charge of the re-opening of the pit, and to put the same into working order.
About the year 1871 his father formed the idea of sinking the Mitchell Main Colliery on the dip of the Swaithe Main Colliery,....[more]
1895 Obituary [2]
JOSEPH MITCHELL died at his residence, Bolton Hall, Wath-upon-Dearne, on April 18, 1895, at the age of 54. In early life he was chiefly engaged in mechanical engineering, and was carrying on the Dearne Steel Works, Worsborough Dale, when the Swaithe Main Colliery, of which his brother was in charge, fired. This was on December 6, 1875, and 140 lives were lost. The shock of this caused the death of Mr. Mitchell's father, who was then sinking the Mitchell Main Colliery, and the son brought the operations to a successful conclusion, becoming managing director of the company, a position he held to the day of his death.
He was eminently successful as a mining engineer, and was consulted on all hands in the South Yorkshire and other coalfields; and as an arbitrator in mining disputes, and a Parliamentary witness in mining, railway, and trade matters, was much esteemed. He was connected with many scientific and mining Institutes.
A member of the Midland Institute of Mining, Civil, and Mechanical Engineers from the beginning, he became its secretary and treasurer in 1879, and succeeded in placing its finances on a sound footing.
In 1890 he resigned his post, and was succeeded by his son, Mr. T. W. H. Mitchell. Twice subsequently he was elected President of the Institute, and at all times his part in the discussions had a marked influence. He was a member of the Institution of Civil Engineers, a Fellow of the Geological Society, a member of the North of England and other Mining Institutes, and a Vice-President and member of the Council of the Federated Institution of Mining Engineers.
He was elected a member of the Iron and Steel Institute in 1891.
1895 Obituary [3]
1895 Obituary [4]