Person:Harvey Metcalf (1)

Other residences of Harvey Metcalf : West Bloomfield, Ontario Co., New York

            Geneseo, Livingston Co., New York

Village of Howell, Michigan BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH-HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN PAGE 251, PUB. 1880

Harvey Metcalf, the second white settler in the town of Handy, was born in Worthington, MA, Dec. 20, 1795. After the death of his father, which occured when he was quite young, he found a home with his grandfather until he was fourteen, when the death of his grandfather left him without a home. He then lived among farmers, working at whatever he couyld get to do and for what they chose to give him. Under such circumstances his chances for an education were necessarily very limited. He was drafted during the war of 1812, and served until his company was mustered out at the close of the war. Soon after his discharge he went to West Bloomfield, Ontario Co., N.Y., where he found employment on a farm. From there he went to Geneseo, Livingston Co., N.Y., where he engaged in the livery business, which he followed for some time, but becoming satisfied that an old settled country like New York was a hard place for a poor man to get a start, he determined to to to a new state, where land was plenty and cheap. In the spring of 1836, having sold out his business, he came to the town of Handy and bought of the government one hundred and sixty acres of land, for which he paid down. During the summer of 1836 he made a small improvement, sowed ten acres of wheat, and put up a log house. In the fall he returned to Geneseo for his family, whom he at once brought to the new home in the forest. At that time there was but one family in the town of Handy. The country around was entirely new save the small clearing made by Mr. Handy. There were no roads save Indian trials, while deer and all kinds of fish and game were abundant. The wolves made night hideous by their howling, although they were not a sourse of much danger. With the excepton of the Handy family their only neighbors were the Indians, with whom they lived on friendly terms. Although everything was new and strange to them, and they endured many privations and hardships, still they were contented and happy. So says Mrs, Metcalf, who is still living, and a hale and hearty old lady of nearly seventy. Under Mr. Metcalf's energy and industry the wilderness was soonto "blossom as a rose," and peace and plenty prevailed. At the first town meeting held in the township, Mr. Metcalf was elected road commissioner. But political offices were not to his taste, and he never held one by his own wish. In the schools of his town he always took an active interest, and was generally one of the school board. In politices Mr. Metcalf was first a Whig and then a Republician. He departed this life March 28, 1878, respected and esteemed by his neighbors and friends for his many good qualities. On the 9th day of June 1831, he was married to Miss Eveline Adams, who was born in Geneseo, N.Y. March 26, 1810. She was the daughter of Amos and Elizabeth (Wright) Adams. There have been born to them the following-named children: Theron, born March 25, 1832, Amanda F., born Jan. 18, 1834; Angeline, born April 29, 1836; Adelaide, born August 14, 1840; Edwin A., born June 27, 1844; Cornelia, born March 9, 1848, died June 19, 1872; and Emma L., born Sept. 5, 1851, died Jan. 17, 1878.

Information found in newspaper clippings found in Fowlerville library, gotten together in a book for bi-centennial. 1976 On Mill Street in Fowlerville there was a Fisher and Metcalf store, possibly owned by George L. Fisher and Edwin Metcalf.

A Mrs. Eva Elkin of Webberville remembers as a child, buying from Mr. Metcalf, eggs at 5 cents a dozen, butter at 8 to 10 cents a pound.

                                                                                                             OBITUARY

Friday Review Deaths - 1878

DIED-At his residence in Handy, on the 28th day of March, 1878 Mr. METCALF was born in the state of Massachusetts, where he resided until the year of 1825; he then came west and settled in Geneseo, Livingston County, N.Y., where he engaged in the livery business. In the year of 1831 he married Miss Eveline ADAMS, daughter of Mr. Amos ADAMS, so favorably known as one of the first settlers of Howell, and our first county surveyor, etc. His wife still survives him. In the spring of 1836 he came through Canada on his way to Michigan with a span of horses and wagon, and during the summer of that year built a log house, the second in the town, off Sre_ll, near the site of the house in which he died. Mrs. METCALF came in September of 1833, when they moved into their house, the second family in the Town. Mr. METCALF lived a long and industrious life, clearing up a farm of 160 acres, mostly with his own hands. He never aspired to public office other than to serve as a soldier in the war of 1812, but proved himself a worthy and desirable citizen, a good kind neighbor and an honest man. Mr. Metcalf has raised a family of sons and daughters, the most of whom reside in and about our Town and are an honor to their parents. The death of Mr. METCALF, who leaves a large circle of friends to mourn his loss, leaves but one of the first settlers of Handy to follow. Thus passeth away the pioneers of Handy! Soon the voice of the last one will be hushed in death never to be heard again.

1. ↑ Ancestry.com. 1890 Veterans Schedules. (Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2005).

   Online publication - Ancestry.com. 1890 Veterans Schedules [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2005.Original data - United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Special Schedules of the Eleventh Census (1890) Enumerating Union Veterans and Widows of Union Veterans of the Civil War. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1890.M123, 118 rolls. Handy, Livingston, Michigan, ED 161, roll 19, page 8.