Military Monday : Jay Metzner, World War II Draft Registration, 1942

Working my way through the hints in the Ancestry database for World War II Draft Registrations, 1942 and located this registration in Delaware County, Indiana for Jay Emerson Metzner, my paternal first cousin three times removed.

"World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942," digital image, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 29 March 2015); citing Selective Service Registration Cards: World War II : Fourth Registration : Indiana, National Archives, Washington, D.C..

This draft registration adds to the information I've collected about Jay, who was the son of Wesley T. Metzner and Mary Emma Roser.  Jay's draft registration gives his exact date of birth as February 4, 1888 in Jay County, Indiana.  This is confirmed through Jay County, Indiana birth records.  Prior to this find, I did not know that Emerson was his middle name.

The person listed who would always know where he would be was listed as Janet Metzner, living at the same address at 311 Winthrop Road in Muncie.  Through other census research, I've found out that this was Jay's daughter.  His wife was alive in 1940, but two years later she was not listed.  Will need to find out what happened to her.  Jay's employer was listed as Ball Brothers in Muncie.

Physically, Jay was described as having a light complexion with brown hair and blue eyes.  He stood 5'11" and weighed 190 lbs.

Military Monday – We all have ancestors who have served in the military. Military Monday is a place to post their images, stories and records of their service in various branches of the military. Military Monday is an ongoing series by Cindy at Everything’s Relative – Researching Your Family History.

Bear Creek Township Sunday School Celebration, Jay County, Indiana, 1899

Portland Daily Commercial
Portland, Indiana
August 28, 1899, page 1

Sunday School Celebration

The fourth annual celebration of the Sunday schools of Bear Creek township will be held in Phillip Stolz's grove, one mile south of Westchester, and one mile east of the Emanual [sic] church, on Saturday, September 2.

It is desired and expected that each Sunday school in the township be represented.

Everybody invited to come and bring your baskets well filled and enjoy a good time.

Isaiah Weisel, Township Pres.,

W.T. Metzner, Secretary

----

Found this notice in the local newspaper that mentioned my paternal 2nd-great granduncle, Wesley T. Metzner (1855-    ), son of John and Catherine (Young) Metzner.  Apparently, Wesley was serving as the secretary of Bear Creek township Sunday school association.

Wesley was married to Mary Emma Roser and had 4 children. 

Tombstone Tuesday: John and Catherine (Young) Metzner

My paternal 3rd-great grandparents, John and Catherine (YOUNG) METZNER, are buried in the Mt. Zion Cemetery, Jay County, Indiana.

John was born October 2, 1805 in Saxony, the son of Jasper and Hannah (REISENBURG) METZNER.

Catherine was born July 18, 1819 in France, the daughter of Nicholas and Salome (________) YOUNG.

John and Catherine were married on November 4, 1839 in Newark, Licking County, Ohio. John and his family had emigrated to the United States in 1838. I do not know when the Young family emigrated from Alsace to the United States.

John and Catherine lived out their lives in Noble Township, Jay County, Indiana where John farmed. They moved there from Licking County, Ohio circa 1850.

John died on January 10, 1888 in Jay County, Indiana and Catherine followed him on June 22, 1910 in Jay County.

Children of John and Catherine (YOUNG) METZNER are:

• John Adam METZNER (1840-1895); married Clara MOULTON; 4 children
• Henry METZNER (1842-1842)
• William F. METZNER (1844-1929); married Mary Ann HALEY; 8 children
• George W. METZNER (1847-1869); married Elizabeth ________
• Louis Napoleon METZNER (1848-1900); married Henrietta WEAVER; 4 children
• Caroline H. METZNER (1852-aft1880); married James W. HUSTON; 1 child
• Catherine E. METZNER (1853-1943); married George STOLZ; 1 child
• Wesley T. METZNER (1855-aft1930); married Mary Emma ROSER; 4 children
• Samantha E. METZNER (1857-aft1880); married James ORCUTT; 1 child
• Martha J. METZNER (1859-1861)
• Mary A. METZNER (1862-aft1920); married Harvey A. HUEY
  

Family Milestones: November 15th

My maternal 5th-great grandaunt, Rebecca NESBIT, married Aaron LEWIS on this date in 1815 in Harrison County, Kentucky. Rebecca was the daughter of Samuel and Mary (BERRY) NESBIT, and the younger sister of my Elizabeth NESBIT. Rebecca was born 1801 in Kentucky and died in 1824. I have no other information on her family or that of her husband at this time.

My maternal 3rd-great grandmother, Mary Ellen (SWAFFORD) DAVIS, married Robert Farrell GILLILAND on this date in 1884 in Monroe County, Indiana. She had divorced my 3rd-great grandfather, James Austin DAVIS. Mary was born August 30, 1854 in Monroe County, Indiana, the daughter of Peter Kirkpatrick and Mary Ann (CROCKETT) SWAFFORD. Robert was born November 27, 1849 in Pulaski County, Kentucky, the son of William John and Margaret Ann (WILSON) GILLILAND. He had been previously married to Sarah KELLAR. Robert died August 4, 1916 in Whitehall, Monroe County, Indiana. Mary died January 28, 1932 near Dolan, Monroe County, Indiana.

My paternal 2nd-great granduncle, Wesley T. METZNER, married Mary Emma ROSER on this date in 1885 in Jay County, Indiana. Wesley was born November 9, 1855 in Jay County, Indiana, the son of John and Catherine (YOUNG) METZNER, and the younger brother of my John Adam METZNER. Mary Emma was born March 1863 in Jay County, Indiana, the daughter of Evan and Catherine (SPRECHER) ROSER. They lived in Portland, Jay County, Indiana.

Family Milestones: November 9th

My maternal 5th-great grandaunt, Sarah WRIGHT, was born on this date in 1795. Sarah was the daughter of John and Sarah (FLEMING) WRIGHT, and the younger sister of my George WRIGHT. This is the only fact that I have in my database for Sarah.

My paternal 2nd-great granduncle, Wesley T. METZNER, was born on this date in 1855 in Jay County, Indiana. Wesley was the son of John and Catherine (YOUNG) METZNER, and the younger brother of my John Adam METZNER. Wesley married November 15, 1885 in Jay County, Indiana to Mary Emma ROSER, daughter of Evan and Catherine (SPRECHER) ROSER. Wesley was a farmer and contractor in Wayne Township, Jay County, Indiana. I need to find his date of death, the last record I have for him is the 1930 census.

Wesley T. Metzner household - Jay Co., IN

The Wesley T. METZNER household appears in the 1900, 1910 & 1930 census of Wayne Twp., Jay Co., IN. Wesley was my paternal 2nd-great granduncle, the son of John and Catherine (YOUNG) METZNER.

In the 1900 census, Wesley was a 45 year old Farmer, who had been married for 15 years. His father was born in Germany and his mother in France. Wesley owned his home free of mortgage. Wife Mary was aged 37, born in Indiana with both parents being born in Pennsylvania. Mary was the mother of 3 children, all of whom were living. Daughter Ethel C. was aged 13; son Jay E. was aged 12; and daughter Mary Vada was aged 4.

In the 1910 census, Wesley was a 54 year old general contractor. Wife Mary E. was aged 47 and was now the mother of 4 children, all of whom were living. Only three were listed as living with the family : Ethel C. was aged 23, working as a telephone operator; Mary V. was aged 13 attending school; and daughter Mabel E. was 4 years old. I have not found a record of son, Jay E., who would be approx. 22 years old at the time of the 1910 census.

By the 1930 census, Wesley was a 74 year old widower, living alone, with no occupation. He owned a radio, and his home was valued at $1250.

I need to research the 1920 census to try and locate this family. Also, I have conflicting dates of birth for daughters Mabel E. & Mary Vada that don't reconcile with the census records.

Wesley T. METZNER b. November 9, 1855 Jay Co., IN., d. after 1930 census, m. November 15, 1885 Jay Co., IN to Mary Emma ROSER, daughter of Evan and Catherine (SPRECHER) ROSER. Mary Emma b. March 1863 Jay Co., IN., d. between 1920-1930 Jay Co., IN.
Known children of Wesley T. and Mary Emma (ROSER) METZNER are as follows :
i. Ethel C. METZNER b. August 12, 1886 Jay Co., IN., m. John C. McDANIEL
ii. Jay E. METZNER b. February 1888 Jay Co., IN.
iii. Mary Vada METZNER b. May 1896 Indiana
iv. Mabel E. METZNER b. ca. 1906 Indiana

John Metzner household - Jay Co., IN

The John METZNER household was enumerated in Noble Twp., Jay Co., IN in the 1860 & 1870 census. John was my maternal 3rd-great grandfather. In both records, they were living in the jurisdiction of the Hector post office.

John was a 53 year old farmer, born in Saxony, in the 1860 census. His real estate was valued at $1500, and his personal estate was valued at $400. His wife, Catharine, was keeping house, aged 40 and born in France. Their children listed were William, aged 16; George, aged 13; Lewis, aged 11; Caroline H., aged 9; Catherine E., aged 6; Wesley T., aged 4; Samantha, aged 2; and Martha J., aged 6 months.

John was listed in 1870 as a 62 year old farmer, born in Saxony, with a real estate valued at $3000 and a personal estate valued at $600. Though foreign born, he was a U.S. citizen. His wife, Catharine, was listed as aged 50 years old, born in France. Catharine's mother, Salome, was also living with the family. The census taker listed her name as Solama - aged 77, born in France. The children of John & Catharine living with them in 1870 were : Catherine, aged 16; Wesley D., aged 14; Amanda, aged 12; and Mary, aged 8.

John METZNER b. October 2, 1805 Saxony, d. January 10, 1888 Jay Co., IN., m. November 4, 1839 Newark, Licking Co., OH to Catherine YOUNG, daughter of Nicholas and Salome (________) YOUNG. Catherine b. July 18, 1819 France, d. June 22, 1910 Jay Co., IN.
Children of John and Catherine (YOUNG) METZNER are as follows :
i. John Adam METZNER b. August 23, 1840 Licking Co., OH., d. December 4, 1895 Jay Co., IN., m. Clara MOULTON.
ii. Henry METZNER b. November 3, 1842 Licking Co., OH., d. 1842 Licking Co., OH.
iii. William F. METZNER b. January 6, 1844 Licking Co., OH., d. 1929, m. Mary Ann HALEY
iv. George W. METZNER b. July 6, 1847 Licking Co., OH., d. May 16, 1869, m. Elizabeth ________.
v. Louis Napoleon METZNER b. November 3, 1848 Licking Co., OH., d. July 3, 1900 Jay Co., IN., m. Henrietta WEAVER.
vi. Caroline H. METZNER b. March 1, 1852 Jay Co., IN, d. after 1880 census, m. James W. HUSTON.
vii. Catherine E. METZNER b. October 2, 1853 Jay Co., IN., d. 1943 Jay Co., IN., m. George W. STOLZ.
viii. Wesley T. METZNER b. November 9, 1855 Jay Co., IN., d. after 1930 census, m. Mary Emma ROSER.
ix. Samantha E. METZNER b. ca. 1856 Jay Co., IN., d. after 1880 census, m. James ORCUTT.
x. Martha J. METZNER b. December 26, 1859 Jay Co., IN., d. December 3, 1861 Jay Co., IN.
xi. Mary A. METZNER b. March 24, 1862 Jay Co., IN., d. after 1920 census, m. Harvey A. HUEY.