James Mitchell and John Miller settled on Turtle Creek about the year 1815. They were brothers-in-law and both were soldiers in the War of 1812. Mitchell was the son of Joshua Mitchell (or Michel,) who came from France with Rochambeau, and served under him at the battle of Yorktown. He married Elizabeth Miller, a daughter of Michael Miller, and his children were Michael, Joshua, a well-known Baptist preacher, and Dr. James, who is living and practicing his profession.
John Miller was the son of Michael Miller, a Hessian who deserted his command and joined the American forces, and after the war settled in Montgomery County, Va. John, who married a daughter of Joshua Mitchell, settled where Riland Ballard now lives. He had two sons - Benjamin and Ezekiel. Ezekiel married a daughter of Joshua Mitchell and is the grandfather of C. M. Turley, a prominent attorney of Logan. ["History of Logan County, W.Va" by Henry Clay Ragland]


The home James Mitchell built in 1820 stands today, a testimonial to the kind of family that lived and fought to shape our Mountain State.
History has not touched heavily on the Mitchells, James and his father, Joshua. They were just two of many strong-willed settlers who perhaps had as much to do with our heritage as did our familiar West Virginia heroes.

Joshua, a native of Paris, France, fought under Lafayette in Virginia during the American Revolution. When, after the War, his command was preparing to return to France, Joshua fled to the Blue Ridge and finally settled on Briar Run in Monroe County.

James was born there, grew to manhood, and served his country in the War of 1812. He eventually settled in Boone County at Turtle Creek, near Danville, where he built his home from the forest surrounding it.

During the Civil War, James quartered troops of the Union Army there to continue his tradition of serving the causes of his state and nation.
[From"West Virginia Call by C. & P Telephone Co"]

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