Spring Fever was delightful enough, but it comes along with wet rains and thunderstorms. Indian Summer is delightful, but with less weather intruding. Right now, I’m trying to write this column while watching the wind and gentle breezes send colorful leaves flutter to the ground. The temperature is absolutely perfect for sitting outside and reading.
I have changed my collection of articles to fit into this Blog/article, but of course, the one I want is not where it should be. This one is relatively important; it pertains to libraries, archives, and other places that care for documents. The Pandemic has spread havoc on public use of such documents. However, I have been fortunate to find some ways to circumstantiate such hardships. Let me share with you.
From the time railroads entered Greenville, the city and businesses subscribed to a means of locating all houses and businesses and describe the materials with which the building was made. That was called Sanborn City Directories. City Directories also provided good information and well as U. S. Census. Today most are microfilmed and held at state libraries and archives. Until the Pandemic arrived towns of all sizes had local Sanborn Fire Maps. Covid-19 caused these collections to be put away. As far as I know they are still in storage.
I was asked to find all I could find about a house on Washington Street in Greenville. All I had to go by with the name of the owner. John Leonard Mitchell was born in Greenville in 1885 and died in Venture, California in 1952. The house at 3415 is still standing and is occupied.
The first mention I found of John L. Mitchell, as his name was, a resident at 3415 Washington Street in the City Directory of 1913. Mr. A. H. Birdsong, a travel agent for the Armour Company, owned the home but had converted into a rent house. Mrs. Nettie Birdsong was the widow of Albert H. Birdsong, evidently the original owner. Sarah Birdsong, the widow of William A. Birdsong was also a resident. Also living in the converted house were S. B. Brooks, the City Treasurer and cashier at the First National Bank. John L. Mitchell was the assistant cashier at Greenville National Exchange with his wife Annie. J. L. Collins was the manager of the J. L. Collins Piano Company. A. C. Becton was dispatcher for the M. K.&T. railroad. Two years later Mr. Becton and the Birdsongs were gone. All the others were still there.
In 1917 the United States registered all males for World War I. At this time John was still eligible for draft, but younger men were called first. On his Draft Registration card, he was listed as a merchant. When the war was over the city directory noted that John L. Mitchell and his wife were still at 3415 Washington Street. He worked for Armistead-Ende Hardware Co. at the end of Johnson Street while previously he had worked at Collins at the other end of Johnson Street. Perhaps the latter was more incentive. One little trick came out in the census information. Both hardware stores sold pianos, but Mr. Collins sold one to Mr. Mitchell before he went to work for Mr. Collins.
The 1930 census held quite a bit of information for Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell. He was a working male, aged 45 who was married and a bookkeeper at Armestead-Ende Hardware store. He now owned the house at 3415 Washington St. but did not work on the day before the census was taken or the last regular working day. He was not a veteran, showing he was not drafted. Mitchell valued his money at $7500, with a wife Annie who was not employed. Also in the home were two rented rooms, one to Eugene Atchison, a 36-year-old salesman, and his wife Jennie. The other renter was William A. Weatherly, brother of Mrs. Mitchell.
By 1940 Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell resided in San Buena, Ventura, California, having arrived in 1935. John L. Mitchell was then an accountant, who owned a house valued $4500. He had three years of college, worked fifty-two weeks a year to earn $2400. No information was available about his death.
How did I get this report the second year of the Pedantic? For every project like this, I make copies for my files. I don’t have the project written and ready to send it to the paper, but I file each one somewhat organized, and usually find what I find it without pulling my hair.