Biographical Sketch of

Holton Bradley Metcalf

Transcribed by Robert Schieber

Source: Memorial and Biographical Record and Illustrated Compendium of Biography of Citizens of Columbia, 
Sauk and Adams Counties, Wisconsin, published 1901 by G. A. Ogle & Co., Chicago, 1901, Pages 698 - 699


Springville township, Adams county, has few men who have passed as eventful a career as has fallen to the lot 
of this gentleman, and who have met with the same success in every undertaking.  His progressive spirit and 
earnest efforts, supplemented by the strictest honesty and sound judgment  have placed him among the foremost 
agriculturists of his community.  He is a native of Wisconsin, and it is but natural to take special interest 
in the welfare of her people, but wherever he has resided he has shown a public spirit and active interest in 
every enterprise for the public good.  He has a fine estate in Springville township, and is surrounded by all 
the comforts of rural life.
     
Mr. Metcalf was born in Oconomowoc, Waukesha county, Wisconsin, April 9, 1883, and was the son of John and 
Mahala (Mead) Metcalf.  His father was born at Corinth, Orange county, Vermont, in 1805, and resided there 
until ten years of age, when he moved to Buffalo, New York, where he lived twenty-five years, and was engaged 
in farming and lumbering.  He lost considerable money and in 1840 moved to Oconomowoc, Waukesha county, where 
his death occurred February 22, 1884, after being a resident of that county forty-four years.  He was one of 
the first settlers in the county and for many years followed farming, and later engaged in the mercantile 
business, and accumulated considerable property.  He was the first president of the village, and was highly 
respected.  He was a Universalist in religious belief, and a Republican in politics.  The mother of our subject 
was born in Dutchess county, New York, here the family had resided many years, and in 1855 the family moved to 
Washington county, Wisconsin.  The parents of our subject were married in 1859, and two children were born to 
them, as follows:  Holton, our subject, and Blenne, now Mrs. E. C. Morse of Chicago, Illinois.  Mr. Morse was 
for a number of years county superintendent of schools of Adams county, Wisconsin.

Our subject passed his boyhood at home and had every opportunity to obtain an excellent education.  At the age 
of eighteen years he went to New Mexico and engaged in stock raising, and made a success of sheep raising, but 
he afterward became interested in the raising of horses and lost a considerable sum of money.  After five years' 
stay in New Mexico he returned to Adams county, here his mother had land.  He now owns one hundred and sixty 
acres of tillable land, well equipped with good buildings and machinery, and is one of the first farmers of the 
vicinity.  He taught school while in New Mexico and has also taught three winters in the district in which he 
lives.  He was a stage coach driver over the Raton mountains in Colorado for a time, and on account of the rugged 
roads the trips were filled with excitement.  At various times he has engaged in the jewelry business, been 
conductor for a railroad, bookkeeper, teacher, stock raiser and driver of stage coach, and has gained a competence 
as well as an enviable name.  Mr. Metcalf was married January 25, 1888, to Mary Reese, daughter of John and Mary 
Reese, natives of Wales, who located in Jefferson county, Wisconsin, where Mrs. Metcalf was born.  Four children 
have blessed the home of Mr. and Mrs. Metcaff, named as follows: George, born April 30, 1890; John, born November 
27, 1892; Lorna, born April 25, 1894; and Hala, born March 7, 1897.  Mr. Metcalf is a Republican in political 
sentiment, but has not aspired to public office.  He has been assessor for his township for a number of terms, 
and is otherwise interested in the welfare of his community.  He is progressive, well educated and keeps pace 
with the current events.  He has one of the finest libraries in the county, and culture and refinement are 
everywhere present at his home.  He is a gentleman of good address, and one whom it is a pleasure to meet.


Transcribed by Robert Schieber






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