Photo by Dana Stubbs

Located in the Oakwood Cemetery - Near entrance of Oakwood Cemetery on N. 15th St., Corsicana, Texas

David Reed Mitchell

David Reed Mitchell, born in 1797 in North Carolina, arrived in Robertson County, Texas. In 1845 he was a surveyor by trade, and had surveyed the upper Trinity and Brazos river areas in 1844. He became surveyor of the Robertson County land district, as well as the original land of Navarro County and Corsicana. Mitchell was also a land speculator of sorts, and by 1847 he owned a large amount of land in Navarro County. With two partners, Thomas I. Smith and James C. Neill, he donated one hundred acres on which the town of Corsicana was founded. For a time he operated an inn in the town, sometimes referred to as the "lower hotel" because of its location in proximity to another hotel run by pioneer Hampton McKinney.

David Reed Mitchell married Mary Ann Higgins, and they were the parents of five children. Mitchell continued to live in Corsicana until his death on Oct. 7, 1863. He was buried in Oakwood Cemetery, and the citizens of Corsicana erected a monument at his grave in 1899. Of the three partners who donated land for the city of Corsicana, Mitchell is the only one buried here.

Texas Sesquicentennial 1836-1996

The text of the historical markers have been posted here with the permission of the Texas Historical Commission

Dedication Program

Thursday, August 20, 1987 6:30 P.M.

Master of Ceremonies ... J. Forrest Green, Chairman, Navarro County Historical Commission

Invocation ... Hoyt Moore, Treasurer, Navarro County Historical Society

Dedicatory Remarks ... McAfee Daniel, Division Director, English Department, Navarro College

Dedication of Marker ... Verna Bonner, Member of Navarro County Historical Commission.

Acceptance of Marker ... The Honorable Jim Gill, Mayor, City of Corsicana

Unveiling of Marker ... Gary Brown, Senior Trust Officer, First Republic Bank

Historical Research by Wyvonne Putman, Executive Secretary, Navarro County Historical Society