Harrison County Iowa Genealogy

HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA, 1915
BIOGRAPHIES
Page 866
ELVIN C. METCALF

Although he has been a resident of Harrison county, Iowa, since 1908, yet Elvin C. METCALF has already demonstrated his right to be classed among the progressive farmers of the county. Locating in Raglan township he has improved his farm and now ranks among the best corn producers of the county, having had very gratifying success in corn culture.

Elvin C. METCALF, the son of William and Mary (WATKINS) METCALF, was born January 16, 1872, in Grange township, Woodbury county, Iowa. His parents were both natives of New York state, his father coming west to Smithland, Woodbury county, in 1852. His mother came with her parents to Correctionville, Iowa, in 1856.

William METCALF was a soldier in the Civil War, serving as a member of Company B, First Dakota Cavalry. He was wounded by a bayonet thrust in the leg, but recovered and rejoined his regiment, serving for about three and one-half years. He was a farmer and an influential man of the community where he lived for many years. Five children were born to William METCALF and wife, three of whom lived to maturity.

Elvin C. METCALF and his twin sister, Mrs. Effie Worth, were the eldest children of the family. He received his education in the schools of Woodbury county, and remained at home until he was married. His sister had previously married and moved to Harrison county. In 1908, two years after his marriage, Mr. METCALF decided to locate in this county, where he bought one hundred and twenty acres of swamp land in Raglan township, there being only seven acres of it in cultivation when he acquired the farm. The excellent system of drainage which has been installed in this section of the county has made his farm one of the best and most productive in this section of the state, and now all of it is under cultivation. He makes a specialty of Reed's yellow dent corn and utilizes practically his whole farm in its production. He has won many valuable prizes at the various corn shows and intends to go into the business of raising corn for seed. He is now planning to raise high class hogs and no doubt will be as successful in this direction as in the raising of corn. Mr. METCALF attends the short courses given by the State University and never fails to attend all of the corn shows in this section of the state. In fact, he is one of the most progressive farmers of the county, and never hesitates to adopt modern methods when he sees they will fit the conditions of his own farm.

Mr. METCALF was married on Christmas day, 1906, to Floy G. WORTH, who was born in Woodbury county, Iowa, on September 23, 1886, and is a daughter of William T. and Nancy J. (GIFFORD) Worth. Her parents were natives of Jacksonville, Illinois, and Burlington, Iowa, respectively. Mr. and Mrs. METCALF are the parents of three children, William M., born February 29, 1908; Erma Aileen, born December 20, 1910; Leona, born May 17, 1914.

Mr. METCALF gives his support to the Democratic party, but has no desire whatever to enter the political field. He takes an intelligent interest in the life of the community about him and can always be depended upon to give his hearty support to all measures of public welfare.

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