Edwin Elias Mix

DuBois Courier 30 Nov 1927

Edwin E. Mix Dies Suddenly At His Home on East Side

Old and Highly Esteemed Resident Succumbed at 5:10 p.m. Yesterday as a Result of Heart Attack. Expert Horseman and Father of Tom Mix Movie Star

The DuBois community was shocked early last evening when it became known that Edwin E. Mix, one of the city's best known citizens and a resident of DuBois for more than forty years, had died unexpectedly at his home at 412 East Second Street. Death occurred at 5:10 o'clock and was due to heart trouble, which had caused Mr. Mix to be ill for several hours but gave no symptom of its tragic results until a few moments before death occurred.

Mr. Mix had been a sufferer from heart trouble from time to time but, had never been very serious. On Monday night about 10 o'clock he was seized by an attack and medical help was summoned and worked with him during the night. Yesterday morning he showed signs of returning to normal health and at noon few qualms of fear for his condition were entertained. Mrs. Mix with her two grandchildren were with him during the afternoon and shortly after 5 o'clock last evening, when Mrs. Mix attempted to give him some medicine, he was stricken and died almost immediately. Mrs. Emma Yoder, a daughter, was summoned as well as physicians but death had already occurred when they arrived.

Although "Ed" Mix gained perhaps his greatest notoriety because he is the father of Tom Mix, noted moving picture star, the elder Mix in his own name, held the respect and esteem of thousands of friends in DuBois and up the Bennet's Valley as far as Driftwood, wherein he had spent all of the 73 years of his life.

Edwin E. Mix was born at Mix Run, the son of Sol and Lorahanah, on February 12, 1854, and spent all of his first thirty years of his life there and after two or three years at Driftwood, he moved to DuBois, more than forty years ago and had lived here ever since. Mr. Mix followed the old ways of the early settlers and worked at the lumber and logging trade in the early days but had a natural ??? horses and made them his specialty. He came to DuBois to take charge of the horses of John DuBois and served in that capacity through all of the latter's life and then for John E. DuBois until the automobile gradually shoved the horse out of existence.

It was while he was attending his business in charge of the DuBois horses that Tom Mix received training that afterwards was to help him in such good stead as a western star in the movies.

For a number of years Mr. Mix had been practically retired, living out by DuBois place and looking after ??? which had involved but little duties. He continued in fairly good health and maintained his affiliations with the Moose and Macabee orders in which he was a member, and never missed an opportunity to attend the moving pictures houses when pictures of his illustrious son were being shown. He was easily recognizable in a crowd for his remarkable similarity to Tom Mix and was frequently singled out by movie audiences in other towns.

On February 6, 1875, Mr. Mix was united in marriage with Elizabeth Heistand, and to that union four children were born, three of whom survive. Harry Mix is long since dead and the survivors are Mrs. Emma Yoder, of DuBois; Mrs. Esther Bell, of DuBois and Tom Mix, of Beverly Hills, Cal. Mr. and Mrs. Mix celebrated their golden wedding anniversary here two years ago and the respect and esteem of the couple was shown when hundreds of persons called at the semi public ball in a local hall to extend congratulations and wish the couple many returns of the happy event. Both were in good health at that time and have continued so in spite of the fact that Mrs. Mix was injured in a fall some time ago and Mr. Mix was subject to heart attacks. Only a year ago they had taken their first real vacation when they went out to California and spent the Christmas season at the home of their illustrious son.

IN addition to the widow, son and daughters, Mr. Mix is survived by thirteen grand children; one brother, William Mix, of Los Almatos, Cal.; and two sisters, Mrs. Gene Ross and Mrs. Hulda Funk, both of Homestead.

Burial will be made in the Rumbarger cemetery, but no plans for the services had been made at the bereaved home last night. An effort is being made to get into touch with Tom Mix and until word is received from him, no plans for the funeral can be completed.