Isa Izon Mitchell (1834-1909)

Isa Izon Bickley was the eldest daughter of Samuel Wallace Alexander Walsh Bickley and Marian Amelia Caroline Bickley (reference; reference). She was born at Kenwick Park in Cannington on 10 February 1834 (reference; reference). Isa spent her infancy in Perth before her family moved to India for her father’s work (reference; reference). During his life, Wallace worked in the Indian Secretarial under the East India Company’s government and worked as a Registrar of the Government of Bengal (reference; reference). Wallace was also a prominent member of the early colonial years of Western Australia, occupying a position in the Legislative Council and ‘one of the most prominent authorities on commercial and shipping business of his time’ (reference; reference). 

The young family stayed in India for a few years until Isa’s mother died (reference). Isa was sent to a seminary in Scotland when she was ten years old to get her education (reference; reference). On finishing her schooling, she toured England before returning to her family in India (reference).  

Shortly after Isa’s return, Wallace took the family back to Western Australia on his ship, named Isa after her (reference). They travelled to the Eastern Colonies before selling the Isa at Adelaide, South Australia and boarding the Aliba to Fremantle (reference). Isa returned to Western Australia when she was 19 (reference).

On 23 December 1853, Isa married William Owen Mitchell at Kenwick Park House in Western Australia (reference; reference). They were married by William’s father, the Reverend Willliam Mitchell, Anglican minister from the Swan (reference). According to The West Australian, the wedding occurred almost at the same spot where Isa was born (reference). 

Isa and William had twelve children together over twenty-two years. Their first child was Isa Frances Ann, born on 4 October 1854 at Paradise Farm (reference). Their second daughter, Edith Charlotte, was born at Belvidere, Australind, on 21 June 1856 (reference). The couple’s first son, William Wallace, was born on 7 August 1858 at Belvidere, Australind (reference; reference). Their second son and fourth child, James Owen, was born on 29 January 1860 at Belvidere (reference). Their third son, Ernest Augustus, was born in Perth on 6 April 1862 (reference). Graves Bickley was born on 6 March 1864 at Mugawah, Northampton (reference). Agnes Maria was born on 18 September 1865 at Mugawah, Northampton (reference). On 14 February 1868, Valentine Camfield was born and named after Valentine’s Day in Cannington (reference). William and Isa’s ninth child was Susan, born at Dardanup on 9 January 1870 (reference). Theresa Florence was born on 2 August 1872 at Bunbury (reference). Andrew Chauncy was born in Collie on Christmas day in 1873 (reference). Their twelfth and final child was Clement Chauncy Tatlock, born 30 March 1876 at Henty, Dardanup (reference). 

In the 1870s and 1880s, Isa travelled by ship. She went on at least three trips in 1878, 1879 and 1886 on the SS Rob Roy (reference; reference; reference).

In 1904 Isa and William celebrated their golden wedding anniversary (reference). The Bunbury Herald wrote about their wedding celebration and sent them well-wishes for the future (reference). “We combine in wishing the old gentleman and lady still many happy returns of the anniversary and a pleasant and comfortable time in the evening of their long life (reference).”

The year 1893 is the first appearance of Isa’s ongoing illness in the newspapers. After a fire that destroyed a significant portion of their home, Newlands, the newspaper recorded that Isa was very faint during the fire (reference).

In February 1896, she was sick again, having burst a blood vessel and emitted two-quarters of blood. Dr Flynn was sent for and said she was recovering well. Mrs Bovell of the Blackwood Inn went to Newlands to nurse Isa until her daughter-in-law Bertha Louise Mitchell nee Hislop who had married her son Graves, and her daughter Isa Frances Ann Logue arrived and was helped by Mrs Henderson (reference). The Bunbury Herald wished for Isa’s complete recovery (reference).

In June 1907, Isa fell seriously ill, and after six months of suffering at home, she was taken to Bunbury and cared for by Nurse Griffiths, Dr Joel and Dr Flynn (reference). She partially recovered, so William and Isa moved to South Bunbury; their home was called The Retreat (reference). The Retreat was on Swamp Road in South Bunbury (reference). 

However, Isa continued to have severe bouts of illness, with one finally taking her life in 1909 (reference). Isa died at home at The Retreat on 19 October 1909 at 75 years old (reference; reference). Her death came after a long and patiently-borne illness (reference). She left a husband, five daughters, seven sons and twenty-two grandchildren (reference). She was buried at the Bunbury Cemetery the day after her passing (reference). Her burial was officiated by Reverend F Secombe (reference). 

Her friends and family knew Isa as a ‘true, consistent and energetic mother, who made her home and children her first and highest aim - one who sacrificed her ease and comfort for the welfare of both, and one whose loss to her numerous family will ever be felt’ (reference). Her family continued to mourn her passing and posted In Memorials in the newspapers years after her death (reference). Condolences were sent from the Southern Times on hearing of her death (reference). ‘The late Mrs Mitchell was a close observer of public events and the progress and development of her native State, also being gifted with a retentive memory’ (reference).

More information on William can be found in his biography, William Owen Mitchell.