Auckland Star, 4 Aug.1928: A VETERAN PRINTER. MR. FRANCIS MITCHELL. DIES IN SAN FRANCISCO.
The following extract from the "San Francisco Call" refers to one who served his apprenticeship with the Brett Printing and Publishing Company and left for the United States in 1884: — "Members of the 'Call' staff, from the 'front office' to composing room, are mourning the death of Francis Mitchell, oldest employee of the 'Call' in point of continuous service, and friend of every man and woman of the 'Call' 'family.' Mitchell died yesterday in San Mateo. He was 65. Surviving him are his widow, Mrs. Sarah Mitchell; two daughters. Mrs. Eva McMillan and Mrs. Alma McMillan; three brothers, George E. Mitchell, sen., Robert M. Mitchell, and William A. Mitchell. He had been a resident of San Francisco for 44 years. The funeral will be held Monday afternoon at 2 o'clock from the Sneider Undertaking Parlours, San Mateo. Francis Mitchell entered the employ of the 'Call' 41 years ago. He was a printer of unusual ability, and was a member of San Francisco Typographical Union, Union Printers' Mutual Aid Society, Woodmen of the World, and Ancient Order of Foresters." In forwarding the clipping, Mr. G. E. Mitchell adds: "Charley Chappell, Bill Wright, Bill Drummond, and a few more possibly have fond recollections of the pleasant days of printerdom in the 'eighties, and it occurred to me, as his brother, that perhaps some of the old residents of Auckland would be pained to hear of the passing of a son of an old New Zealander and a volunteer in the Maori War in the 'sixties— R. M. Mitchell, who was a great friend of the late Sir Henry Brett."
