METZLER, Capt. F. F.

METZLER, ALEXANDER, ALLENDER

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 5/13/2006 at 20:28:19

"Fairfield Ledger", Aug. 9, 1889, Pg. 3, Col. 3

AN OLD FAIRFIELDIAN DEAD. Capt. F. F. METZLER, an old resident of this county and city, died at his home in Des Moines Monday evening, aged 73 years. Mr. METZLER was a native of Bedford County, Penn., and came to Jefferson County in May, 1845. His first home was in Lockridge township, but from early in the '50s to 1865 he resided in this city. In 1861, in response to the proclamation of President Lincoln for troops to defend the nation's honor, Mr. METZLER was one of the first to offer his services. His name was placed upon the roll of what was afterwards Company E, 2d Iowa Infantry, and whose muster into the United States service dated May 6th, 1861. Mr. METZLER was elected captain of the company and served as such until his resignation several months later. Remaining here until 1865, in that year he removed to Des Moines where he engaged in business and made his home until his death. Mr. METZLER was an excellent man and a brave soldier, and there are hundreds of old friends here who will learn of his death with deep regret. A wife and three children survive him. He was a brother (-in-law) of Mrs. W. K. ALEXANDER of this city and related to the ALLENDERs of Salina.

Of Capt. Frederick Filer METZLER, first captain of Company E, in "John Williamson of Hardscrabble", Moses A. McCoid wrote: "One man had a dashing uniform, once in the militia services in another state, and he was made captain".

Hiram Heaton wrote, "Fredric METZLER was a pioneer singing master. He lived near the present village of Salina and for some time his home was the place of meeting of the Methodists before a church was built at Salina. Mr. METZLER had been captain of a company of militia at McConnelsburg, Pennsylvania, before coming to Iowa, and when the Civil War opened, he was the only man that enlisted in Co. E of the 2nd Infantry, capable of drilling the men, and he was promptly elected captain... He became a veritable martinet... Returning home on an invalid furlough, he learned that the ill feeling against him in the company was so great that some even threatened that they would shoot him, if ever an engagement gave them an opportunity to do so without fear of detection. No doubt actual battle would have changed the dislike of the men to esteem for the soldierly qualities of METZLER and it would have been found, as many of the best of the company at the time were aware, that it required hard work to make soldiers out of green boys."

[Also posted to the Polk County Obituaries board]

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