Waterloo Region Generations
A record of the people of Waterloo Region, Ontario.

Walter Edward Mitchell[1]

Male 1860 - 1930  (70 years)


Personal Information    |    Notes    |    Sources    |    Event Map    |    All    |    PDF

  • Name Walter Edward Mitchell 
    Born 28 Sep 1860  Birmingham, , Warwickshire, England Find all individuals with events at this location  [2, 3, 4, 5
    Gender Male 
    Business Mitchell Button Factory 
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    Mitchell Button Factory - Weber and Victoria, Kitchener, Ontario
    Nationality , Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [2
    Residence 1861  Birmingham, , Warwickshire, England Find all individuals with events at this location  [4
    Immigration 1884  , Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Occupation 1891  Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [3
    Button Sewer 
    Residence 1891  Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [3
    United Brethren 
    Occupation 1909  [1
    button maker 
    Occupation 1921  Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [2
    Manager, Button Factory 
    Residence 1921  271 Frederick St., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [2
    Residence 1921  Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [2
    Baptist 
    Eby ID Number Waterloo-24664 
    Died 20 Dec 1930  Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [5
    Buried Mount Hope Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [5
    Person ID I24664  Generations
    Last Modified 25 Apr 2024 

    Father William G. Mitchell,   b. 1830, Bristol, , Gloucestershire, England Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown 
    Mother Caroline Dummett,   b. 1826, Bristol, , Gloucestershire, England Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 28 Sep 1897, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 71 years) 
    Family ID F245492  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Elizabeth Webster,   b. 1858, , England Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1930  (Age 72 years) 
    Children 
     1. Walter Oliver "Oliver" Mitchell,   b. 24 Apr 1885, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 10 Feb 1953, Islington, York Co., Ontario Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 67 years)
     2. William Edward Mitchell,   b. 1886, , Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     3. Lillian Beatrice Mitchell,   b. 1894, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
    Last Modified 26 Apr 2024 
    Family ID F6196  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Notes 
    • Prosperous Future Assured For The Mitchell Button Co.
      High Class Finished Article Brings Many Orders to the Firm. Business Inquiries From Overseas are Numerous.

      It was the pleasure of a News Record representative to visit the factory of the 'Mitchell Button Coy. on ______________ Street. Upon his arrival, Mr. W. O. Mitchell took him in charge and conducted him over the premises.

      The first impressions gathered were the courtesy of the management, and the neat and tidy appearance of the factory.

      The reporter expressed a wish to see the entire process through which the pearl passes from the shell stage until it becomes the beautiful polished button packed and ready for shipping.

      Mr. Mitchell was pleased to explain and demonstrate the various machines which bring about the wonderful transformation.

      First, the reporter was taken to the big storage barrels in which the huge clam shaped pearl shells from the South Seas are stored. Other barrels contained shells similar in shape, but without the sheen of those from the South seas. These are known as fresh water pearl, and come from the Mississippi river.

      The shells remain in soak until ready for the cutting, machines. Mr. Mitchell explained that the water keeps the shells soft and, in cutting, they are less likely to break.

      The cutting machine is an ingenious device which can be adjusted to cut the shell to any size ranging from the smallest collar button up to the big three inch ornamental

      From the cutter the round disks are taken to the grinder where a revolving belt conveys the disks into the emery wheels which remove all the dark outer surface, and the button to the correct thickness.

      When this process has been completed button are sorted, and any showing flaws are reground to a smaller size.

      Next comes the facing process in which the buttons are passed through revolving machine which bevels and rounds the edges; and, if necessary, cuts a pattern on the button.

      From the facer they are passed on to the drilling machine where the little holes one, two, three or four in number are bored.

      When the drilling is completed the buttons again are sorted and rejects sent to be ground to a smaller size.

      Those that are found to be perfect after the drilling are placed in a huge revolving barrel together with a quantity of saw dust. This process polishes the buttons and leaves them the finished article. Next they are taken to the carding room whore Button they are sewn to the cardboards

      The Mitchell Button Coy. has but recently started operations in Berlin, and the fact that they cannot begin to fill the orders that are constantly pouring in speaks volumes to the class of their finished article.

      "Ever since we opened up, orders have been coming in so fast that we have been forced to refuse man of them," said Mr. Mitchell

      Continuing Mr. Mitchell said, "When labor conditions again become normal we will extend our factory so that our output will be equal to the demand. Alfred we have had numerous enquiries from overseas dominions, but have been forced to refuse their business."

      The factory is situated at the rear of the Pequegnat block, and the floor space is fully sixty by seventy feet. Besides this space there is a big store room at the rea in which the raw material is store, and the workshop is located.

      The machinery, needless to say, is the very latest and best that money could purchase. Hydro supplies the power.

      Judging by present indications this young firm has a prosperous future before them, and no doubt will develop into one of the foremost Button manufacturing industries in Canada.

      THE BERLIN NEWS RECORD, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST I6, 1916

  • Sources 
    1. [S4] Vit - ON - Marriage Registration, 020287-09.
      Walter Oliver MITCHELL, 24, of London, s/o Walter Edward MITCHELL, button maker, & Elizabeth WEBSTER, married Bertha Magdalena SHOEMAKER, 26, of Berlin, d/o Jacob SHOEMAKER, fruit dealer, & Eliza HALL, witn: Lillian B. & Angus L. MITCHELL of Berlin, 26 Oct 1909 at Berlin

    2. [S2264] Census - ON, Waterloo, Kitchener - 1921, Sub Dist. 30 Page 5.

    3. [S1592] Census - ON, Waterloo, Berlin - 1891, Section 2 Page 20.

    4. [S2942] Census - England - 1861, Birmingham, Warwick - Class: RG 9; Piece: 2160; Folio: 16; Page: 25; GSU roll: 542927.
      William Mitchell 30 Bristol - Button Turner
      Caroline 34 Bristol
      William G. 9 Bristol
      John T. 7 Bristol
      Caroline 6 Birmingham
      Henry 5 Birmingham
      Mary A. 2 Birmingham
      Walter 6/12 Birmingham

    5. [S3231] Find A Grave, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/173562421/walter-edwin-mitchell.

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBorn - 28 Sep 1860 - Birmingham, , Warwickshire, England Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsNationality - - , Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - 1861 - Birmingham, , Warwickshire, England Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsImmigration - 1884 - , Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Button Sewer - 1891 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - United Brethren - 1891 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Manager, Button Factory - 1921 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Baptist - 1921 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDied - 20 Dec 1930 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBuried - - Mount Hope Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth