- JOHN C. METCALF, general insurance agent, of Janesville,
is a native of Chester County, Pa.,
- and was born near Oxford, Jan. 16, 1825. His parents were
Thomas and Hannah (GOULD) METCALF. His father's family was originally
English, and after the Revolution of 1680, settled in Ireland,
and in 1740 became residents of the northern part of that country.
Ten years later members of the family came to America, and located
in Lancaster County, Pa. The mother of our subject was born in
Cecil County, Md., in 1787, and was of Irish descent, her family
having come form Ireland and settled in that county in 1780.
She went to Lancaster County, Pa., where she was married to Mr.
METCALF.
- When eight years of age, our subject went to Belmont County,
Ohio, where he attended the public
- schools, and later entered Hopewell Academy, of Chester County,
as a student whence he was graduated in the class of 1849. His
education was obtained under difficulties that would have discouraged
a lad possessed of less spirit and ambition. He was obliged to
earn the money to start on, and then, as he progressed, had to
work at teaching and often at the hardest manual labor in order
to procure means to defray his expenses at the academy. During
vacations, when other students were enjoying their hours of leisure
with family and friends, he was working as a common laborer,
carrying a hod for bricklayers. In the academy he taught penmanship
and mathematics to help pay his way, and then had to study all
the harder to keep pace with his classes. On completing his schooling,
he determined to qualify himself for the medical profession,
and again resorted to school teaching to provide the means.
- About this time Mr. METCALF took a responsible and important
step in life, and was married on
- the 3d of June, 1851, to Miss Julietta M. MASSOLETTA, a daughter
of Vincent M. MASSOLETTA, an Italian, who was then Chief Clerk
in the Navy Yard at Washington, D.C. While pursuing his medical
studies Mr. METCALF received the tempting offer of a clerkship
in the Interior Department at Washington, which he accepted,
and remained in that city from 1851 to 1853, inclusive. He then
removed to Muskingum County, Ohio, settling near Zanesville,
where he was engaged in farming for three years. In 1856 he came
to Wisconsin in the employ of railroad contractors. In the month
of December, 1861, he enlisted for the late war, and was commissioned
Second Lieutenant of Company M, 2d Regiment, Wisconsin Cavalry.
He was promoted to Quartermaster of his regiment, and served
until April, 1863, when he was mustered out on account of physical
disability. His military service was principally rendered in
the States of Missouri, Arkansas and Mississippi.
- Soon after this return from the war, having partially recovered
his health, Mr. METCALF accepted
- a position in the Paymaster General's office at Washington,
which he held until March, 1864, when he was offered and accepted
the position of chief book-keeper in the First National Bank
of Janesville. This position he filled for nineteen years. He
then resigned to accept the appointment as cashier in the Merchants'
and Mechanics' Savings Bank of Janesville, where he spent one
year. He was next engaged in the leaf tobacco business for three
years with H. B. DeLONG, and subsequently was in the same line
with L. B. CARLE. In 1886 he engaged in his present business,
that of general insurance - life, fire and accident - and his
office is located in the Phoebus block. In political sentiments
Mr. METCALF is a Republican, and has been called to fill various
public positions of honor and trust. He has served four hears
as a member of the Janesville Common Council, eight years as
a member of the County Board of Supervisors, and was chairman
of the last named body for two years. In April, 1887, he was
elected a member of the Board of Education of the city of Janesville,
since which time he was served as clerk of that Board. In early
life he was a Whig, and cast his first vote for President Taylor.
He also voted in 1856 for John C. Fremont, the first Presidential
candidate of the Republican party. Mr. METCALF is a member of
the Western Star Lodge, No. 14, A.F. & A. M.; of Janesville
Chapter, No. 5, R.A.M.; and of Janesville Commandery, No. 2,
K.T. He has been a member of the I.O.O.F. since 1852, and also
belongs to W. H. Sergeant Post, No. 20, G.A.R.
- Mr. and Mrs. METCALF are members of Trinity Episcopal Church
of Janesville, the latter having
- been confirmed in 1847, the former in 1858. Mr. METCALF has
been Treasurer and Junior Warden of the Church for more than
thirty years. In all the various public positions to which he
has been called he has proved faithful to every duty and true
to every obligation. Methodical and exact by habit and conscientiously
earnest in all his undertakings, he has proven himself a competent
business man and public officer. As a citizen he stands deservedly
high in the esteem of all who know him. His life has been a busy
one, and no obstacle ever made him swerve from the path of duty
or abandon the end in view.
-
- Taken from "The Portrait and Biographical Album of
Rock County, Wis." (c)1889, pp. 399-400.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
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