WILLIAM ENGLISH MICKLE (1846-1920)

For the Civil War numismatic specialist on Confederate States of America memorabilia and C. S. A. money and stamps, here is a biographical sketch of one of the most important specialists and dealers -- Major General William English Mickle. Mickle is a contemporary of the thirteen-year younger Luther Brown Tuthill (1859-1930) who also specialized in Confederate Paper Money as a dealer in South Creek, North Carolina (q.v.).

William English Mickle (1846-1920), was born the son of Joseph Thomas Mickle (-1898) and Nancy C. Gandy Mickle, on October 31, 1846 in Columbia, Richland County, South Carolina. He is the grandson of Major Joseph and Martha Belton Mickle of Kershaw County, South Carolina. His father was a very successful merchant and banker who moved to Mobile, Alabama in 1852. His father organized the "Merchants Guard" during the Civil War.

He was educated at Summerville Institute, Noxubee County, Mississippi. On August 20, 1864, he went from school directly in the Confederate Army in the Mobile Cadets, Company A , 3rd Alabama Infantry, Army of Northern Virginia (of Battle's Brigade, near Winchester, Virginia). His urgency to enlist was prompted by the death of his brother Joseph English Mickle who was killed in battle at Warrenton Junction, October 14, 1863. He was severely wounded twice at the Battle of Cedar Creek, October 19, 1864. He was hit by shrapnel and as he was being carried off the field was shot in the right ankle.

He only experienced two months of active duty in the field during the Civil War. He was furloughed home only to return to duty on crutches the following February 1865. The Confederate medical examiner retired him for nine months, during which time the War had ended. After the War he worked as a teacher in the school system at Barton Academy in Mobile, Alabama. He became the school principal of the Boys' Senior Grammar School. He married Ellie Squire Woodhull (born in Branford, Connecticut), daughter of John F. Woodhull (d. 1894), now of Mobile on October 8, 1867, at Mobile, Alabama.

In 1869, he left the field of education entering the book trade at New Orleans, Louisiana, and at Mobile, Alabama. He established one of the most noted Bookstores in the South located on Dauphin Street, Mobile, Alabama.

On June 10, 1889, he was a founding and charter member of the Raphael Semmes Camp, No. 11, United Confederate Veterans, of Mobile, Alabama, serving as the adjutant lifelong. On January 19, 1903, he was made Major General by General J. B. Gordon, Commander-in-Chief. He also served as "Pension Examiner" for the State of Alabama for several years.

He is the author of, Well Known Confederate Veterans and Their War Records, Arranged Alphabetically (1907, and 1915), a significant work vital to the study of Confederate soldiers.

He died on February 18, 1920 at his home 405 1/2 Church Street, Mobile, Alabama. Funeral services were held at the Government Street Presbyterian Church. He is buried at Magnolia Cemetery. He was survived by his wife, three daughters Louie, May, and Josephine, and his son, William English Jr. A collection of 430 of Mickle's papers are in the Perkins Library, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina. Rare book collectors look for the "Mickle, Mobile, Ala" stamp in old books that were sold from his bookstore. The 1907 edition of his book Well Known Confederate Veterans  typically sells for $400.

To read the complete article, see:
MICKLE, MAJOR GENERAL WILLIAM ENGLISH (https://sites.google.com/a/numismaticmall.com/www/numismaticmall-com/mickel-william-e)

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