Son of Wiley Mitchell (b. 1802 in South Carolina - d. 1862 in Franklin County, Georgia) and Martha Mitchell (b. 1804 - d. May 20, 1889 in Hart County, Georgia)¹⁾, Elisha “Eli” W. Mitchell was born on February 9, 1839.

Elisha had at least one sister, named Sophia Mitchell, who on August 26, 1852, married Anderson Smith Randal.

During the “War of Northern Aggression”, Elisha (Eli) W. Mitchell had served in the Confederate 34th Infantry Regiment, Co. G. with Anderson Smith Randal. Elisha advanced to the rank of 1st Corporal in Company G, 34th Georgia Infantry, CSA. He was first captured at Champion Hill, Mississippi, on May 16, 1863, and was captured again at Vicksburg, Mississippi, on July 4, 1863. He was paroled on July 8, 1863.

On November 9, 1865, Elisha (Eli) W. Mitchell (age 26) married his sister-in-law, Susannah Jane Randal (age 23) in Franklin, County, Georgia.

Due to the close family ties, it is likely that Oney Cypress Randal and Susannah W. Wilkins (parents of Anderson Smith Randal and Susannah Jane Randal), were close to Wiley and Martha Mitchell.