James G. Metz
James G. Metz was born August 3, 1846, at Dunbarton, Ohio. His father, William Metz, was born in Kentucky, May 6, 1806. Jacob Metz, the father of William Metz, emigrated first to Kentucky from Germany, and afterwards to the State of Ohio. Jacob Metz, the emigrant, by his first marriage had four children, William, Thomas, Elizabeth, and Martha; all born in the State of Kentucky. Elizabeth married David Sprinkle, and Martha married George Killen. Jacob Metz was married a second time. There were seven children of this marriage. George, Jacob, Frank, Edward, and Michael, sons; and two daughters, Amanda and Margaret. William Metz, the father of our subject, was reared in Adams County. He married Katherine Thomas. February I1, 1826, and she died February 10, 1845. The children of this marriage were Sarah A., married William Anderson; Susan, married Joseph McFarland; George, married Amanda Warren; Thomas, married Elizabeth Francis ; Margaret, married James McGovney; also William J., married Delia Gregory; and Samuel, two sons. The second wife of William Metz was Hannah Williams. She was a granddaughter of James Williams, a Revolutionary soldier from Washington County, Maryland, born February 22, 1759. in Chester County, Pennsylvania, and served ten months; four months in the Maryland Militia and six months in the Pennsylvania Militia: the last four being under Col, William Crawford, who was afterwards burned at the stake by the Indians June 11, 1792.
There were seven sons of the marriage of William Metz and Hannah Williams, and no daughters; James G.. David H, Jacob F., Lewis T., Edward C. Frank C. and Uriah H.. of whom three are living, James G., David H., and Edward C. Hannah Williams, the second wife of William Metz, died August 25, 1888, at the age of seventy years. Her father, James Williams, died September 8, 1873. at the great age of ninety-five years. His wife, Sarah Williams, died March 11, 1862, aged seventyfour years.
William Metz. father of our subject, was a resident of the vicinity of Dunbarton, Ohio, until 1856, when he removed to Rome, and continued to reside there the remainder of his life. He held township offices in Meigs and Greene Townships. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He was a Whig and Republican in his political views. He was an expert in the buying and selling of live stock. In Rome, he was engaged in the merchandising business with his son William, but gave no personal attention to the business. He was a steward in the Methodist Episcopal Church, and a prominent man for years. He died August 7, 1879.
Our subject was educated in the common schools and brought up on the farm. He enlisted in the Civil War in Company D, 173d O. V. I., on September 1. 1804, at the age of eighteen years, and he served with the regiment until the twenty-sixth of June, 1865. He learned the trade of wagon making with J. W. Pettit, at Rockville, Adams County, Ohio. He began as an apprentice in 1865, and bought out Pettit and carried on the business at Rockville until 1873. He then went to Calloway County, Missouri. He remained there nine months, came back to Rockville, and resumed his former business of wagon making. He removed to Rome in 1875. and went to farming, and continued that for a period of four years. In 1879, he went into the butchering business; and in 1881 he engaged as a clerk for W. T. McCormick, and remained in that business until the Fall of 1899, when he was nominated by the Republican party of Adams County for Sheriff and elected.
He was married November 7, 1865, to Mary Devoss, daughter of David and Rachel Devoss. They have had eight children, five of whom are living and three deceased. His living children are Frank C, married Ann Gray, living in Rome and engaged in the timber business. His daughter, Addie Belle, is the wife of E. A. Scott, Superintendent of the Schools at Augusta, Ky. His sons, James F. and George, and his daughter Bertha reside at home. He was elected Sheriff in 1899 by a majority of ninety-one over J. W. McKee, who had been elected on the Democratic ticket two years before.
Mr. Metz has been a Republican in his political views all his life. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and was Superintendent of the M. E. Sabbath School in Rome foi fourteen years prior to his becoming Sheriff. He is a Mason, Odd Fellow, and Knight of Pythias. He is a public-spirited citizen, a Christian gentleman, and an able, careful, and painstaking public official.
From "History of Adams County, Ohio from its Earliest Settlement to the Present Time" - by Nelson W. Evans and Emmons B. Stivers - West Union, Ohio - Published by E. B. Stivers - 1900