He was born on August 27, 1869, in McKeesport, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania,Herringshaw's City Blue Book of Biography (1917; pg. 293) the son of James B. Mitchell and Emma (Henry) Mitchell. He attended Grammar School No. 61, and graduated from City College of New York in 1888. He attended Columbia Law School, was admitted to the bar in 1891, and practiced in New York City.New York Red Book (1900; pg. 84)
