Photo courtesy of the Negaunee Historical Society)

NEGAUNEE — In 2020, Mitchell United Methodist Church of Negaunee merged with Marquette Hope United Methodist Church and it is an appropriate time to tell the story of Samuel Mitchell.

Thanks to Alan Nelson for his help in this story.

Samuel Mitchell, was the president of the Jackson Iron Company and was one of the most prominent business men of the Upper Peninsula.

He was a self- made man, and the spirit of self help is a source of genuine worth in an individual.

Sam was born in Devonshire, England on April 11, 1846. He was the sonof George Mitchell, who was a farmer. He attended school in England until the age of 10, at which time he left the classroom and the textbooks.

He set out to earn a living.

Early in life he had to lean on his own resources, he didn’t receive anyprivileges or advantages, but he worked quietly and patiently, day by day and year by year.

It seems that men who have obtained the most success in life, are those who have had to fight their way against obstacles and difficulties.

Perseverance and energy triumph and the fruit of their labor are ready to harvest.

Sam Mitchell was first employed in a grocery store, and after a year began work.

In a confectionary and bakery. His next job was in a copper mine where here mained until he was eighteen years of age. This period of preparation fitted him for the positions he would eventually become involved in.

As a young man, at the age of 18, Sam Mitchell was determined to find a home in America. He believed that there would be better opportunities and advantages for young men. He sailed to the United States and made his way to the copper regions.

Sam secured a position as a common miner in the copper mines of the western section of the Upper Peninsula. Sam Mitchell came to this country as a young penniless man and after his arrival he sent part of what he earned back home to his family.

After two years he came to the Iron Range and worked at the Washington mine at Humboldt for three years. In 1870 he arrived in Negaunee and was employed as a common miner.

His first job was to take a contract to deliver iron ore on the cars from the mines of the Negaunee Mining Company. Finishing that contract he took out contracts from other mining companies.

It was during these connections that he was able to accumulate some capital, preparing to become a stockholder in mines himself.

He became mine captains and supervisors of many mining companies and even organized the Mitchell Iron Mine Company, selling the property in 1883. In 1883 he began operations on property known as the Negaunee Mine.

The entire development was under the supervision of Captain Mitchell, who had confidence that it would be a paying investment. In 1887 he went to New York to negotiate the purchase of the Jackson Mine and under his administration the mine was never shut down.

Captain Mitchell had a controlling interest in several mining operations on other ranges. In addition to his other mining interests he was president and general manager of the Blue Mine in Negaunee’s Buffalo Location. Sam Mitchell was secretary and treasurer of the Vermillion Pine and Iron Land Company, and treasurer of the Mitchell Iron and Land Company. He served as director and presidents of many banking institutions.

He had interests in four steamships that were engaged in hauling ore, the William Chisholm, J.H. Devereaux, J.H. Wade and the Sam Mitchell. Samuel Mitchell and Elizabeth Penglase, were married in 1868, and had eleven children. They were members of what was, then called, The Methodist Episcopal Church.

It was in 1865 that the church was organized, and in 1867 a letter was sent to the Iron Cliffs Company requesting financial aid to assist in building a church at a cost of $5,000.

One half to be financed by citizens. In 1868 two lots on the corner of Case Street and Teal Lake Avenue were given to the church by the Pioneer Iron Company.

Before construction was started a group of citizens proposed forming a “Union Protestant Church,” in which all Protestants might join together to support the building. This plan met with opposition.

The corner stone for the Methodist Episcopal Church was laid on May 15, 1869. On February 26, 1897, the parsonage was destroyed by fire and the church building was damaged by water.

Capt. Samuel Mitchell, a major owner of the Jackson Mine offered to pay $5,000 toward a new church structure if the congregation would contribute the balance.

In June of 1899, Capt. Mitchell agreed to guarantee total funding, as it was obvious that raising the funds would take time. The old building was moved to the west side of the lot and brick veneered to become an integral part of the new structure

The new church was re-named Mitchell Methodist Episcopal Church. It was dedicated in March 1900.

Capt. Mitchell donated $8,065 and the congregation donated $1,638 and labor.

Episcopal was dropped from the name in 1939.

Mitchell United Methodist Church bears the name of Capt. Samuel Mitchell, who did a lot toward developing the mining interests in the region, and also the Christian faith community in Negaunee.

Capt. Mitchell died from pneumonia in 1908. The Iron Herald noted that he was well along in years, being 62 years of age.

The safe of Samuel Mitchell can be seen in the yard of the Negaunee Historical Museum.