James D. Metcalf, cashier of the Shipman Banking Company of Shipman
and prominently identified with the business interests of Macoupin
county, is a native of Girard, born February 14, 1871. He is a son of
James D. and Brunette (Mason) Metcalf, both of whom were born in
Kentucky, the mother being a daughter of Dr. George B. Mason. The father
was born in 1839 and was a son of William Metcalf, also a native of
Kentucky. The grandfather was reared on his father’s plantation and
removed to Greene county, Illinois, with his family but in 1856 settled
in Macoupin county.
James D. Metcalf, the father of our subject,
was reared as a farmer’s boy and secured his education in the district
schools. He engaged in the drug and grocery business for many years at
Girard and later organized the State Bank of Girard, becoming quite
prominent in the development of that section. In his family were eight
children, three of whom died in infancy, the others being: C. H., who is
now living at Girard and is an ex-mayor of the city; Jesse M., cashier
of the State Bank of Girard; E. Bailie, who married Jesse P. McKnight,
of Los Angeles, California, and is now deceased; James D., Jr., the
subject of this sketch; and Mabel, a resident of Los Angeles. The mother
of these children having died, Mr. Metcalf was married to Mrs. Amy Lowe
and to this union one son, Harold, was born. He is connected with the
State Bank of Girard.
Mr. Metcalf whose name introduces this
sketch was reared in Girard and attended the public schools of that
place until fifteen years of age. He then became a student of the
Western Normal College at Bushnell, Illinois, and in 1888 matriculated
in the University of Illinois at Champaign, from which he was graduated
in June, 1893, with the degree of B. S. In 1893 and 1894 he traveled in
California, Arizona and Mexico. Upon his return to Girard he spent
several months in the Bank of Girard and on May 15, 1895, came to
Shipman and assisted in organizing the Shipman Banking Company, of which
he has since been director and cashier. The bank is a private
institution and has a capital stock of fifteen thousand dollars and a
surplus of eight thousand dollars. It does an extensive business with
stock-feeders, farmers and dairymen, confining its operations entirely
to commercial banking. Mr. Metcalf is also vice president and director
of the State Bank of Girard and a member of the board of directors of
the State Bank of Fieldon, Jersey county. In addition to his banking
interests he is the owner of a highly improved farm near Girard.
On the 16th of October, 1897, Mr. Metcalf was married in Macoupin
county to Miss Eugenia Wolfe, who was born November 11, 1877, a daughter
of Peyton Lisle and Medora (Young) Wolfe, the former of whom was born
November 20, 1843, and the latter March 16, 1856. One child, Eugenia,
has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Metcalf. The Wolfe family is well known in
Pennsylvania, the grandfather of Mrs. Metcalf coming from that state to
Macoupin county at an early day. He settled upon a farm west of Girard.
In his family were seven sons, two of whom died in infancy, while James,
John, Thomas and George died after arriving at manhood. Peyton Lisle
Wolfe, the father of Mrs. Metcalf, was reared in Macoupin county and at
the age of nineteen, the Civil war being then in progress, he enlisted
in the One Hundred and Twentysecond Illinois Volunteer Infantry, serving
in this regiment until the close of the Rebellion. After returning home
he took charge of the home place. On November 20, 1874, he was married
to Miss Medora Young and shortly afterwards purchased a farm in this
county. In 1881 he moved to Kenoma, Barton county, Missouri, and
purchased land there but later disposed of it and went to Colorado,
where he took up his homestead on government land. In 1888 he returned
to Girard where he continued to reside until his death which occurred in
1904. In his family were three children: Geraldine, who is the wife of
Ernest Menard Kenna, a wholesale lumber dealer of New York city;
Eugenia, now Mrs. James D. Metcalf; and Maude, who married Dr. John W.
Kelly, of Springfield, Illinois.
Politically Mr. Metcalf is an
adherent of the republican party but not through any desire to seek the
honors or emoluments of public office, as his interest is concentrated
upon his business affairs. He is a member of the Kappa Sigma fraternity
of the University of Illinois and also of Shipman Lodge, No. 212, A. F.
& A. M. An energetic and progressive business man, he has won an
enviable reputation in the financial circles of Macoupin county and his
advice is sought by many who are desirous of making safe investments.
Having been blessed with excellent advantages of education, he has
accomplished with comparative ease what often requires many years of
labor and close application, and the possibilities in a rapidly
developing country for a man of his ambition and energy are very great.
In the opinion of his friends there is scarcely a doubt that as the
years pass his field of activity and usefulness will be very largely
increased.
Extracted 20 Oct 2018 by Norma Hass from History of Macoupin County, Illinois: Biographical and Pictorial, by Charles A. Walker, published in 1911, Volume 2, pages 173-175.
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