For
Muscatine County Iowa
1911
| Biographies For Muscatine County Iowa 1911 | |
Source: History of Muscatine County Iowa, Volume II, Biographical, 1911, page 636
BURTON L. METCALF....Among the successful farmers of Muscatine county should be named Burton L. Metcalf, also a stock-buyer and an industrious and energetic citizen, who has attained a high place in the regard of the community. He was born in Sandusky, Ohio, November 25, 1868, a son of Reuben and Melissa ( Laughlin ) Metcalf, the former of whom was born in England and the latter in Pennsylvania. They were married in Ohio and made their home for a time in Iowa, later returning to the Buckeye state. In 1870, they came a second time to Iowa and settled near Nichols in Muscatine county. In 1878 the father bought one hundred and sixty acres of land in Pike township and here he continued until his death, which occurred in July, 1878. The mother is still living and makes her home in South Dakota. There were the following children in their family : Evelyn, who died in infancy ; Harvey L., of Muscatine county ; Hattie, now the wife of G. L. Rupley, of Stamford, South Dakota, and the mother of five children; Nettie, Bertha, Clayton, Reuben and Harvey ; James, who was born June 17, 1858, and died August 28, 1879 ; Burton L., our subject ; and Nettie, the wife of Elmer Hankins, of South Dakota, and the mother of two children, Blanche and Arthur.Burton L. Metcalf was brought to Muscatine county by his parents in his infancy and was reared under the parental roof, pursuing his studies in the district school. He began his business career at fifreen years of age as a farm hand, working by the month for seven years. He was then identified with a meat market for a short time and for one year was a clerk in a grocery store. Having married, he farmed for eight years and for an equal length of time conducted a meat market and also bought and sold live stock, while for two years he was in charge of a hotel at Nichols. He is now engaged as a buyer and shipper of live stock and also a farmer upon quite an extensive scale, as he owns two places, one of them highly improved and the other in good condition. For seven years past he and his family have occupied a commodious residence at Nichols. He is recognized as one of the rising men of the county---a man of unusual enterprise and business ability who seldon engages in anything which he does not carry through to success.
On the 6th of April 1903, Mr. Metcalf was united in marriage to Miss Ina Hankins, of Orono township, Muscatine county, who was born April 6, 1869, and is a daughter of Timothy and Elizabeth ( Lee ) Hankins, both natives of Ohio. The parents came to Iowa and after living for a time in Louisa county located in Muscatine county, where Mr. Hankins purchased a farm of one hundred and twenty acres. Here he continued to reside until his death, which occurred October 9, 1897. His wife died in August, 1900, and was laid to rest beside her husband in Brockway cemetery. Ten children constituted their family : Nancy, deceased ; John, a resident of Muscatine county ; Frances, the widow of Henry Brown, of Muscatine county ; George, deceased ; Susie, the wife of Harry Morris, of Davenport, Iowa ; Cornelia, also deseased ; Oda, the wife of Walter Morris, of Davenport, Iowa ; Ina, now Mrs. Metcalf ; William of Muscatine county ; and Emma, now the wife of Bert Park, of Davenport. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Metcalf two children have been born : Clarence R, Born May 13, 1895, now attending high school ; and Alberta F., born March 11, 1899.
Mr. Metcalf has had a wide experience as a business man and has good discrimination, natural and acquired by much experience, which assist him greatly in the determination of values in his business. Governed by a high sense of Honor, he has an established reputation for unswerving reliability and is one of the highly esteemed citizens of the county. Politically he is identified with the democratic party and has served as mayor of Nichols for two years, as township trustee for four years and as justice of the peace also for a period of four years. At the present time he is a member of the city council. Fraternally he is connected with Stainless Lodge, No 445, A. F. & A. M.; the Odd Fellows lodge, and the Modern Woodmen of America, all of Nichols, and he is heartily in sympathy with the principles of those organizations. He and his wife are members of Nichols Lodge N. 1271, Royal Neighbors, and are also connected with the Christian church, being active workers not only in upbuilding the moral interests of the community but also in movements that promote its material welfare.
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