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Alexanaer Mitchell III
2.
of his desk **an alPhahotical list of aarly national organisations
he turmoil quickly to the Ate and road.:
"Alexander Mitoholl, organism* an& first president of the
American Bankers' Association; organiser and stockholder of the
Chicago, Milwaakee and St. Nail Railroad; and organiser and first
prosillim* (1069) of the Narthoostern National Ineurunoe Company.
"I can siva no first hand information regarding Willa
Alexandsta. Jar a long time I kept a newspaper clipping of a
writeup of the Villa by Harriet Butcher Stowe, but that, too, has
been misplaced and I do not knew whirr. I could new lay hands on it.
"Naturally, I feel reluctant in maw; into any personal
history of my immildiate family. My father and mother separated
many yours ago; I have always mad' my home with my mother and her
pimple, and know practically nothing of the Mitchell family history.
David Mitchell
"My father/I have not seen for considerably over a year.
I -de net know it he is at present in Jacksonvills. However, Mr.
Bainbridge Richardson, MV. Francis P. iflesizig, lit. J. Y. Wilson,
may be able to give some clue as to his whereabouts.
Ris hands played nervously with a pewit, and he was
ovidently anxious to ot baok to the compilation of his report.
"No, 4 do not know if I will over attain to any such
reputation as my famous ancestor enjoyed in the finanoisl
but I an glad, to have impasse assooiatea with the eldest banking in-
stitution in Jacksonville, and I um ournestly trying to make good
just as if I were the first Mitohall in the country, with no an-
cestral background or achievenahts to live up to.
"A banker's lifi is net a bed of roses it means long
hours aid hard work, just the emus as may other vocation, with the,
aids& burden of responsibility for other peoples finances. Whoa
Alexander Mitchell III S.
the slides go down at the tellers' windows at 2 v. m. and neon oin
baturiay, and tho doors are clessd, working hours aro mot evil*
for the employoos; sometime. it means ill afternoon like today, with
me, and ofteu far into the night during sputa rushes or buoy sous
Om.
"I Gould net discuss my work, that would have to came
from the head of my department," he said, clipping his sentonaes
with the finality of dismissal.
"Always work? Well, I have, a little reoreatioa. Ima
very fond of swimming and I have just taken up golf but I isn't
think I'll over bacon. a 'bug' about that. Not so mUoh time to
lost.
"My surly teachers were in a private sohool, thou I at-
tended the Duval Couuty public mamas, later graduating from the
University of Plorida. Now, I am studying a apeoial maws* in
finance by the American Institute of Nanking, and other things in
relation to mg work, that takoo up a great rawly of my off hours.
"Veto? Yes I vets, as a matter of uouree„ but I an
afraid I would never make a ward politician," he laughed -"tee
many snooks and turns. Nationally, I lilts President Roosevelt's
got
ideals, and beliovo in time he will/fillioncos„ labor, and living
conditions of the American people on the up -and -up."
Mardh 7, 1919.
Bainbridge Richurtisen
Realtor
lb Blum Bldg.,
daeksonvillealorida.
Rose 4hephert,Writer
ALUANDitR MITOMiLL, YINANOISR.
Mr, Buinbridee Aishardson wtl.e interviewee in his office, Roes
lb Blum Building, 214 West Forpyth-st.
"1 can oonfirm the t6ot that Mr. Alexander Mitshell of mil-
wioconein, was the organizer and first presidmat of the
American Bankers' Association.
"As to David Mitobell, his grandson and the father of laszaalor
Mitoholl III, of Jacksonville, I have not seen his for three or
four months. I do Dot know just where he ,lay .be, but when he returns,
be 31A, to let you knew,
"You have hoard about under -privileged Children? Well, David
Mitobell was ever -privileged. Re was the"apple of his grandmother's
eye," so to speak, and had everything under the sun lavished upon
him that money could buy or influence scour. education, travel,
and all possible advantages.
"It is reported that iD his early manbooli he hod a fall from
a pole powyou the grounds of Villa Alexandria, suffering severe
injuries, indluding a fractured skull. At any rate, he developed
into an uareliableterrethe individual., sometimes unaoosuntable,
and at other times rational.