MITCHELL, John Francis Huon (1859–1921)The son of Thomas Mitchell and Charlotte nee Stuckey, John Mitchell was born at Tangambolonga Station (sic). He was enrolled at Geelong College as a boarder by Thomas Mitchell, squatter, on 13 July 1874 providing a birth date of 7 October 1859. His address at the time was listed as 'Bringenbrong' Upper Murray Kiewa Wodonga.
Pegasus in December 1921 recorded the following:
'Mr J F H (John Francis Huon) Mitchell, last surviving son of the late Thomas Mitchell, of Bringenbrong, New South Wales, died at his home, Khancoban Station, Upper Murray, on 30th August, from heart failure as a result of over exertion following a ride on horseback. Born at Tangambalanga Station on 7th October, 1859, he went to Bringenbrong when 16 years old. He was educated at Geelong College under the late Dr Morrison.
After his marriage in 1888 he acquired the Khancoban portion of Bringenbrong, then practically virgin country, and which he improved into a model property. Like his father, brothers and uncles, John F H Mitchell was an excellent judge of cattle and horses. He spent the greater part of his 62 years in the Upper Murray district, and took a very keen interest in local affairs. He was on the shire council, and for 30 years president of Towong Turf Club. It was largely through his instrumentality that the bridge was built over the Murray at Towong. His name not infrequently figured in the Sydney and Melbourne Show catalogues as judge of thoroughbred horses.' John Mitchell died at Khancoban Station on 30 August 1921.
His brothers,
Peter Stuckey Mitchell (1854–1921),
Thomas William Mitchell (1857-1873), and probably
Walter Edward Mitchell (1863–1917), were also educated at Geelong College.
Geelong Grammarians confusingly records the following about a John Francis Huon Mitchell:
'Born 26 Oct 1866 at Little River. Son of Thomas Mitchell and Catherine (nee Stuckey). They lived at Hawksview, Hawthorn. John attended Hawthorn Grammar School and was admitted as a boarder to GGS on 13 Feb 1884. In 1884 he won a prize for Algebra.' Sources: Pastoral Review 16 September 1921 p704; Pegasus December 1921 p31; Geelong Grammarians Vol 1 p414.