Captain John A. Mitchell was born Albert John Michel in Sandusky, Ohio to Gottlieb Michel and Wilhemina Katherina Margharetta Sophia (née Fischer) Dushane Michel. He was one of five children. John left school after the eighth grade to pursue a job on the iron ore freighters on the Great Lakes to help support the family. Because the required age was 18, John changed his name and lied about his date of birth in order to work on the ships.
John met and and fell in love with Ruth Margaret White. They were married on December 26, 1928. John and Ruth resided in Toledo, OH until their retirement in 1962. Two children were born to their union.
John attained the rank of Captain and served 44 years with the Cleveland Cliffs Steam Ship Co. He captained numerous ships, including The William H. Connelly, The Presque Isle, The Yosemite, The Peter White, The Frontenac, The Colonel, The Pontiac, and The Cliffs Victory which was the only ocean-going hull on the Great Lakes. He also served in the Coast Guard during World War II and attained the rank of Commander. He retired at the age of 60 and he and Ruth moved to Ft. Lauderdale, FL.
Captain Mitchell was survived by his daughters and their husbands, five grandchildren, eight great grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren.
John met and and fell in love with Ruth Margaret White. They were married on December 26, 1928. John and Ruth resided in Toledo, OH until their retirement in 1962. Two children were born to their union.
John attained the rank of Captain and served 44 years with the Cleveland Cliffs Steam Ship Co. He captained numerous ships, including The William H. Connelly, The Presque Isle, The Yosemite, The Peter White, The Frontenac, The Colonel, The Pontiac, and The Cliffs Victory which was the only ocean-going hull on the Great Lakes. He also served in the Coast Guard during World War II and attained the rank of Commander. He retired at the age of 60 and he and Ruth moved to Ft. Lauderdale, FL.
Captain Mitchell was survived by his daughters and their husbands, five grandchildren, eight great grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren.
Captain John A. Mitchell was born Albert John Michel in Sandusky, Ohio to Gottlieb Michel and Wilhemina Katherina Margharetta Sophia (née Fischer) Dushane Michel. He was one of five children. John left school after the eighth grade to pursue a job on the iron ore freighters on the Great Lakes to help support the family. Because the required age was 18, John changed his name and lied about his date of birth in order to work on the ships.
John met and and fell in love with Ruth Margaret White. They were married on December 26, 1928. John and Ruth resided in Toledo, OH until their retirement in 1962. Two children were born to their union.
John attained the rank of Captain and served 44 years with the Cleveland Cliffs Steam Ship Co. He captained numerous ships, including The William H. Connelly, The Presque Isle, The Yosemite, The Peter White, The Frontenac, The Colonel, The Pontiac, and The Cliffs Victory which was the only ocean-going hull on the Great Lakes. He also served in the Coast Guard during World War II and attained the rank of Commander. He retired at the age of 60 and he and Ruth moved to Ft. Lauderdale, FL.
Captain Mitchell was survived by his daughters and their husbands, five grandchildren, eight great grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren.
John met and and fell in love with Ruth Margaret White. They were married on December 26, 1928. John and Ruth resided in Toledo, OH until their retirement in 1962. Two children were born to their union.
John attained the rank of Captain and served 44 years with the Cleveland Cliffs Steam Ship Co. He captained numerous ships, including The William H. Connelly, The Presque Isle, The Yosemite, The Peter White, The Frontenac, The Colonel, The Pontiac, and The Cliffs Victory which was the only ocean-going hull on the Great Lakes. He also served in the Coast Guard during World War II and attained the rank of Commander. He retired at the age of 60 and he and Ruth moved to Ft. Lauderdale, FL.
Captain Mitchell was survived by his daughters and their husbands, five grandchildren, eight great grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren.
