Mitchell land was purchased at different times and eventually covered thousands of acres 
from Route 823 (Smith Mountain Yacht Club) to Radford Ford (Route 655). In between 
were farms later of Lynches, Franklins and Nichols. These families intermarried and 
bought and sold land to each other.
Mitchells have been on this land for almost 250 years. Part of the original house is still 
standing. The log beams under the first and second floor are at least 15 unches across and 
made of walnut. The logs on the outside are large and made of white oak. The house had 
one large and two small rooms downstairs and two rooms upstairs. The fireplace 
downstairs was enormous, lined with soapstone with an arch rock about 6 feet across and 
6 inches thick. The sandstone fireplace was held together with clay and had begun to fall 
out. Mr. Stump tore it down. There was a large outside log kitchen with a room above it 
and a porch almost all the way around the house.
Thomas A. Mitchell, 1820-1897, was the last Mitchell in the homeplace. Thomas is 
buried in one of the graveyards on the property.
In 1888, Benjamin Franklin Thomas Ayers, (B.F. T.) came into possession of the home 
place and it is still known as the Tom Ayers place
Some of the Mitchell family are still living on some of this property. The John Mitchell 
home is located on Route 655. John died Nov., 1990, his wife, Sadie Martin Mitchell died 
recently. Next door is the Mitchell school.
When Mr. Stump purchased the house in the 40's, very little had changed in the house and 
it was much in need of repairs. He has been renovating it since. Rooms have been added 
and part of the porch taken away. The dirt cellar has not changed. One can see the 
enormous beams of the house and the dugout near the fireplace where whiskey was made 
at one time. The smoke went right up the chimney.
The following are parts of some Mitchell and Ayers surveyor's and deed records:
March 22, 1756 - Upon the petition of Robert Mitchell for a road to be cleated from 
Randolph rolling road (probably Route 823) to where the county line crosses Mitchells 
Mill Road. Leave is granted them to clear the same according to their petition, and 
William Rogers is appointed overseer of the said road and ordered that the commissioners 
and their tithes clear the same. 0 B 1754-1761, B 1-B, P 56.
1763 - 1761 - John Irvine, Robert Mitchell and Joseph Eads are appointed to view way 
petitioned for Joseph Eads and make report, B 3, P 199.
1766 - Ordered that Peter Kensey, Thomas Law, William Mitchell, Jr., JohnMitchell Jr., 
William Law, Isaac Law, Thomas Elliott, Nathan Board, Gilbert Mason, James
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