Fonds mil-2130 - A. P. Mitchell family fonds

Arthur Percy Mitchell was born in England on April 13, 1880. His father was an auctioneer and after his schooling Arthur took up the trade. He worked in his father's show room in Bristol. After his father's death in 1899 Mitchell migrated to Canada. At Edmonton and started an auction partnership with J. H. Reed. Because of his poor health and inability to work in the hot and dusty environment of the sales rooms he left the business after a few years. He visited England and when he returned, and on the advice of his doctor, explored outdoor selling in Millet between 1913 and 1915. Alice Bullas was born in England and migrated to Canada, ending up in Calgary with her parents and eight siblings. Alice trained as a secretary and worked for a time in the office of the Indian Agent at Hobbema. She met A.P. Mitchell when he came to work in Calgary after 1915. They married and for a few years, operated a general store. In 1919 Mitchell heard of an opportunity to buy a large tin-clad building on the main street of Millet with an office and living quarters above. The family, including daughter Alice, moved to Millet where he began to specialize in farm sales. Mitchell operated Mitchell Sales and Mitchell's Auctions as well as running a real estate and insurance agency. The building was destroyed in 1927 in the general fire in Millet. At that time Mitchell was serving as Mayor for the town. He also served as a councillor, as a member of the Board of Trade and on the School Board. Always active in the community he also represented the constituency of Leduc as a Liberal M.L.A. from 1930-1935. The Mitchells retired to Vancouver for several years and then returned to Edmonton until their deaths in 1967 and 1968.