Metcalf, Oliver Grove

METCALF, GROVE, CARAWAY

Posted By: Janelle Martin (email)
Date: 5/18/2010 at 14:22:41

History of Hamilton County, Iowa, Vol. II, 1912, p. 150

OLIVER GROVE METCALF.

In his active, useful and busy life as one of the leading dry-goods merchants of Webster City, Iowa, Oliver Grove Metcalf is carrying out the honorable traditions upon which his father founded the business. He has been identified with this line of activity during practically all his business career, and by his intelligent use of favorable opportunity, his unflagging industry and integrity of a high order, has built up a flourishing business and won for himself a high place in the regard of his community. His store is located at 620-22 Second street, and is one of the prosperous dry-goods concerns of Webster City.

Mr. Metcalf is a native of Ohio, having been born in Belmont County in 1870. His parents, Jesse P. and Clara (Grove) Metcalf, left Ohio and came to Iowa in 1871. Their first residence was in West Liberty and later they made their home in Stuart, Iowa. The family removed to California and spent a few years in that state before they returned to Iowa in 1894. In that year they settled in Webster City, where Mr. Metcalf's parents are still living. The father was a merchant during his active life and built up during the course of his career a flourishing and prosperous dry-goods business. He has been prominent in commercial circles of many different cities and is a veteran of the Civil war, having served in an Ohio regiment. On the maternal side Mr. Metcalf is a descendant of General John B. Grove, who wrote the first peace petition during the time of the Rebellion and was a prominent officer in an Ohio regiment.

Oliver G. Metcalf was educated in the public schools of Stuart, Iowa, and supplemented this by a course at the Dexter Normal College and study at the Davenport Business College. He has been connected with mercantile business during his active career, beginning in a humble capacity and advancing to a prosperous position. His active career began in Stuart, Iowa, where he was employed by a dry-goods firm. After a short time he went to California, and returning east to Chicago was engaged for three years as an employee of the Boston Store. Another year he was connected with Mandel Brothers of the same city. For a short time after this he abandoned the dry-goods business and mined in Summit County, Colorado, until 1904. On the 25th of January in that year he came to Webster City and became a partner in his father's mercantile enterprise under the firm name of J. P. Metcalf & Son. His influence was immediately felt in the rapid development of the business and his energies and activities directed along progressive and systematic lines soon made the institution flourishing and prosperous. In 1909 Mr. Metcalf purchased his father's interest and moved the store to its present location at 620-22 Second street. He did not change the firm name but continues the active conduct of the business under the old title although he is now the sole owner.

On June 4, 1905, Mr. Metcalf was united in marriage to Miss Veda Caraway, a daughter of W. A. Caraway, a retired merchant of Webster City. They have two children : Wendell Oliver, born March 22, 1906; and Miriam Caraway, born on the l0th of February, 1908.

Mr. Metcalf is one of the prosperous merchants of Webster City. Through undeviating allegiance to high principles of business morality he has added to the city in which he resides a well developed and expanding enterprise and to the ranks of her citizenship a thoroughly honest man.

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