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What a tremendous few days of weather we have enjoyed here in Our Neighborhood. Warm days, cool nights and a welcome rain have greened up the grass and freshened the air. It also reminds me that school is "just around the corner".
The last article I wrote was about a father and son grocery business. I do like to write articles about family businesses, perhaps because I've never worked in one; except a couple that, together, spanned most of my career. But working for Uncle Sam is not quite the same thing. With school beginning again soon, thoughts may well be turning to that late summer tradition, back to school shopping (especially for the latest, greatest clothes).
Jesse Metcalf was born in Ohio in 1838, and enlisted in the Union Army at the beginning of the American Civil War. Following his service, he married, had a son named Oliver and moved to Iowa in 1871, first settling in West Liberty and then later moving to Stuart.
During that time, he was appointed to the staff of the Governor and was given the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. From then on he used the title "Colonel".
In 1894, Metcalf moved to Webster City and was in the dry goods business for nearly 20 years. His son, Oliver learned the dry goods business during work in Chicago at a couple of different establishments before returning to Webster City in 1898. J. P. Metcalf & Son was a cornerstone of clothing in Webster City; their advertisements appeared almost daily in the local newspaper. In January of 1904, O. G., as he was known, returned to Webster City after a couple of years in Colorado and developed a reputation as an honest, no-nonsense businessman. The next year, he married Veda Caraway of this city and the couple had two children, Wendell Oliver and Miriam Caraway.
In 1909, O. G. bought his father's interest in the business, keeping the familiar name. The business was located on Second, where Platinum Connect is now located. Jesse Metcalf had developed rather severe hay fever which greatly affected his asthma, requiring him to look for a different climate.
Meanwhile, O. G. ran the store and became one of the most respected and generous retailers in the area. Articles of the time relate his involvement in numerous civic and charitable endeavors and he was known for his giving heart.
Oliver Metcalf died in October of 1917, having been very ill for a short time. He was 47 and left a widow and two children. Jesse spent the last four years of his life in the Soldier's Home in Marshalltown and passed away in 1923.
Both now reside in Our Neighborhood, along with many other business owners and fellow citizens of Webster City and Hamilton County.