LEVI METZGER.

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         One of the excellent farms of Elm Grove township is the four hundred and forty acre homestead of Levi Metzger, who was born on the place where he now resides, on the 3d of October, 1878. His parents, Nathan and Sarah A. (Felenser) Metzger, migrated from Munson, Pennsylvania, where they were born and reared, to Iowa, settling in Louisa county in March, 1868. The father was one of the successful agriculturists of the township and at the time of his retirement in 1903 owned the farm now in possession of his son Levi. When he withdrew from active farming Mr. Metzger removed to Winfield, Iowa, and there he passed away on the 27th of January, 1910. The mother, however, is still surviving. Nine children were born unto them, those beside the subject of our sketch being: Lona, the wife of Edward B. Gipple; Matilda, who is deceased; Ella, the wife of Frank Chamberlain, of Louisa county; Jacob, Simon, David and Edward, all residents of this county; and one who passed away in infancy.

In the acquirement of his education Levi Metzger attended the common schools until he had obtained such knowledge as he deemed essential to enable him to pursue his life work which he had decided should be that of agriculture. As is usual with the majority of farm boys he early began to assist in the work of the fields and when he left school was well able to assume much of the . . .

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. . . responsibility connected with the cultivation of the homestead. He remained with his parents until he was twenty-one years of age following which he farmed as a renter for two years. At the expiration of that time he purchased the old homestead located on section 34, Elm Grove township. He has wrought quite extensive improvements in the place during his ownership and now has one of the valuable properties of the county. He makes a specialty of raising and feeding stock which he finds quite profitable.

         On the 11th of April, 1901, Mr. Metzger was united in marriage to Miss Alice M. Pierson, who is a native of Delta, Iowa, and a daughter of Simon and Margaret A. (Root) Pierson, natives of Pennsylvania. The father was a blacksmith. He and his wife became early settlers of Louisa county and afterwards removed to Delta, Iowa, where Mrs. Pierson passed away in 1880. He lived until six months later when he also departed this life. He was a republican in politics. He held membership in the Methodist church and served as superintendent of the Sunday school, while his wife held membership in the Evangelical church. Nine children were born unto Mr. and Mrs. Pierson, two of whom are deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Metzger have two sons and two daughters, as follows: Russell Lee; Nathan Ronald; Verda Matilda; and Pauline Margaret, who was born on the 17th of March, 1909, and died on the 16th of the following December. His political allegiance Mr. Metzger gives to the republican party and both he and his wife are members of the Evangelical church.