METZ, Finis E. - 1912 Bio (1857-1945)

METZ, MCCORMICK, EMERSON, WILSON, PHILLIPS, WATSON, SCOVEL

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 9/23/2007 at 19:58:25

History of Jefferson County, Iowa -- A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement, Vol II, Published 1912, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago
Pages 244-245

Finis E. METZ, a native of Round Prairie township, Jefferson county, where he now resides, was born September 23, 1857. He is a son of Jacob and Elizabeth (McCORMICK) METZ, the former a native of Hagerstown, Maryland, and the latter of Ohio. The father was a carpenter, having learned his trade in Ohio, where he followed his calling for some time, subsequently removing to Indiana and later to Illinois, where he continued to work at his trade until 1855. In this year he crossed the Mississippi and established his new home in Jefferson county, Iowa. He came with the intention of following agricultural pursuits and for this purpose bought one hundred and sixty acres in Round Prairie township. This he cleared and improved, devoting himself to the cultivation of the fields until 1891, when he sold out his holdings and retired to Glasgow. There he resided until his wife's death, in June, 1894, and after that time made his home with his son, the subject of this review. His death occurred in July, 1900.

The home farm was the playground for F. E. METZ in his boyhood days and in a near-by school he acquired the usual education. He took up farming as his life work and assisted his father in tilling the fields until the age of twenty-one years, when he rented the homestead and operated it during the ensuing twelve years. His father then sold the place and he removed to a farm of eighty acres in Round Prairie township, which he had purchased a few years previously. This he improved and has cultivated since that time, erecting upon the place some very handsome buildings. By additional purchases he increased the area of his holdings until now he has about three hundred and forty-five acres of land. He is thoroughgoing (sic) in his methods and understands every phase of the administration of a well conducted farm. To stock-raising he also devotes his attention and raises on an average seventy-five head of hogs a year and feeds fifty head of cattle and twelve horses.

Mr. METZ was united in wedlock to Miss Mary E. EMERSON, the ceremony being performed March 4, 1880. She is a daughter of John W. and Catherine (WILSON) EMERSON, natives of Ohio, The father was an agriculturist, coming to Jefferson county in the early days of its settlement. Here he rented a farm for some years and subsequently bought a tract of one hundred and forty acres in Round Prairie township and thirty acres in Van Buren county. To the cultivation of his place he devoted his energies for the rest of his life, passing away in September, 1889. His wife, who is now in her seventy-fifth year, still lives on the old homestead. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. METZ there were four children: Mabel A., the wife of George M. PHILLIPS, a farmer of Round Prairie township; Chester E., who married Rose WATSON and operates a farm in Round Prairie township; Elmer L., who is married to May SCOVEL and also operates a farm in Round Prairie township; and Harry W., who lives at home and is twenty-four years of age. Mr. and Mrs. METZ are members of the Methodist Episcopal church of Glasgow. In his political pursuasion Mr. METZ subscribes to the republican policies. He is at present clerk of the township and has served as school director for fifteen years, and for thirteen years of this time was secretary of the school board. Devoted to the interests of his family, he has at all times performed his duty as he saw it and is held in high esteem by the whole community.

*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.