Metcalf, J. A.

BIOGRAPHIES
1905 PAST and PRESENT OF GREENE COUNTY ILLINOIS

Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co.


Page 276

J. A. METCALF

It is always of interest to examine into the history of a self-made man and note the plans he has followed and the policy he has pursued in winning prosperity, and credit and honor are due when his success has been worthily gained, his course being such as will bear the closest investigation and scrutiny. Such is true of Mr. Metcalf, who as a farmer, stock-raiser and feeder of Rubicon township has gained for himself a place among the men of affluence in Greene County. He owns a well improved farm of two hundred and eight acres in the homestead and also owns two other tracts, one of forty and one of forty-two acres.

Mr. Metcalf is a native son of Illinois, born in Jacksonville, February 9, 1861. His father, W.J. Metcalf, was a native of Kentucky, and a brother-in-law and nephew of Richard J. Metcalf, for years a prominent business man of Greenfield. The father carried on farming in Greene county for a number of years and subsequently sold his property and removed to Jacksonville, where he was engaged in the stock business. There he reared his family and spent his remaining days, passing away there in 1881. He was twice married, his last wife bearing the maiden name of Martha Williams. She still survives her husband, residing in Jacksonville and is a well preserved lady of eighty-three years.

J.A. Metcalf is one of the three children born of the father?s second marriage, having a brother and a sister both living. He was reared in Jacksonville, acquiring a good education in the city schools, and he also learned telegraph, studying during the periods of vacation. He then entered the office of the Chicago & Alton Railroad Company as an operator and ticket agent at Jacksonville, continuing in that positionAugust 4, 2002 for a year. He afterward went to DeSoto, Missouri, on the Iron Mountain Railroad, and was in the passenger ticket office for over a year. Later in Jacksonville, Illinois, he served as assistant train dispatcher and as bookkeeper, continuing to act in that capacity for a year. He than abandoned the business on account of ill health and went to California, where he remained for a year, at the end of which time her returned to Jacksonville greatly benefited by the change. He was bookkeeper in the latter place for one season in the employ of the Reid & Capps Brick Manufacturing Company. He then gave up business of that character and located on a farm in Barr township, Macoupin county. This land belonged to his mother and he was there engaged in general agricultural pursuits for six years.

Mr. Metcalf was married in Greene county, In September, 1891, the lady of his choice being Miss Minnie Melvin, who was born in that county and was reared here. Her father, T.E. Melvin, now a resident of Greenfield, in numbered among the early settlers and formerly was a prominent farmer of Greene county. She has three brothers, Sylvester, George W. and S.E. Melvin, who are numbered among the leading agriculturists of Rubicon township. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Metcalf have been born three children: William J., Lee A and Louis E.

After his marriage Mr. Metcalf engaged in farming for a year upon his mother?s place and then purchased one hundred and twenty acres of land on which he now resides. He located thereon in 1892 and began to improve his farm. He has just completed an attractive frame residence and upon his place are also good barns and other substantial buildings, in fact, every modern facility to promote the farm work and make it more profitable is now used by him. In addition to this place Mr. Metcalf owns an eighty-acre farm, including two forty-acre tracts, in Macoupin county. He cultivates he fields and they annual yield to him holden harvests and in addition to this work he raises and owns stock, shipping about three carloads of fat cattle and two car-loads of hogs annually. He is justly accounted one of the enterprising, practical and progressive agriculturists of his community. He is also engaged in the breeding of German coach horses, being one of a company formed for that purpose and they now own several pure-blooded horses.

Mr. Metcalf cast his first presidential ballot for Benjamin Harrison and has supported each nominee at the read of the republican ticket since that time. Political office has had no attraction for him, as he has preferred to give his time and energies to his business interests. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and he belongs to the Woodmen?s order. He is widely known as a man of upright character and worth, enjoying and meriting the good will and trust of those with whom business or social relations have brought him in contact.

Transcribed by: Carole Ann Heller


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