Saturday, December 05, 2009

Obituary: John Adam Metzner (1840-1895)

Source: The Daily Commercial, Portland, Indiana, December 5, 1895, page 1.

J. A. METZNER DEAD

A Well Known Farmer

Finally Succumbs to Disease - Has Long Been a Resident and was a Soldier

At 7 o'clock last evening, the news of the death of Adam Metzner, at his home in the north-east corner of Wayne township, reached this city.  Mr. Metzner has been ill for some time, and for the last day or two his death was almost momentarily expected.

Undertaker J.L. Baird was at once summoned to take charge of the remains, but no date for the interment has been fixed.

Mr. Metzner was born in Licking county, Ohio, in 1840, and is of German descent, his father being born in that country; his mother was a native of France.  He came to Jay county in 1850.

He was a gallant soldier during the rebellion, enlisting in August 1861 in company G, Fortieth Ohio Infantry, and serving until the close of the war.  He veteranized in 1863, at which time his regiment was consolidated with the Fifty-first Ohio, his command being attached to the Army of the Cumberland.  With his regiment he fought on many a bloody battlefield, including Stone River, Chickamauga and the battles of the Atlanta campaign.  He was severely wounded in the right arm at Burnt Hickory, just before the close of the Atlanta campaign.  He returned to his regiment at Nashville, Tenn., from there went to Texas, and was mustered out at Victoria, November, 1865.

Mr. Metzner has resided on his present farm since returning from the war.

He has always been classed among the best citizens of the county, and his record both as a soldier and citizen is an honorable one.


Comment: John Adam METZNER was my paternal 2nd-great grandfather.

Friday, December 04, 2009

Family Milestones: December 4th

My maternal 2nd-great granduncle, David KING, was born on this date in 1854 in Frankton, Madison County, Indiana.  David was the son of Daniel and Elizabeth (SHAW) KING, and the older brother of my Ellen KING.  David married Litha Ann Trumilis D'Amsel MAY, daughter of Michael and Julie (CAWTHORN) MAY on July 26, 1876 in Frankton, Madison County, Indiana. Litha was born June 1856 in Indiana.  They lived in Pipe Creek and Monroe Townships of Madison County, Indiana where David farmed and operated a grain elevator.  David died November 1, 1914 in Frankton, Madison County, Indiana.  Litha remarried to John PERCIFUL and died September 1954 in Madison County, Indiana.

My maternal 3rd-great grandaunt, Lydia MAXSON, was born on this date in 1799 in Harrison County, Virginia.  Lydia was the daughter of Jesse and Sarah (SUTTON) MAXSON, and the older sister of my Prudence MAXSON.  Lydia married on May 22, 1817 to Jacob BABCOCK, son of Thomas and Martha (DAVIS) BABCOCK.  Jacob was born April 25, 1797 in Salem, Harrison County, Virginia.  They had at least one son.  Jacob died January 2, 1835.  Lydia remarried to Caleb AYERS.  Lydia died September 22, 1871 in Rock County, Wisconsin.

My paternal great-uncle, Vernon Walker LEMASTERS, was born on this date in 1888 in Jay County, Indiana.  Vernon was the son of Luman Walker and Mary Keziah (CHEW) LEMASTERS, and the younger brother of my Luman Cooper LEMASTERS.  Vernon married June 30, 1917 to Helene GARMHAUSEN.  His was a physician and served in World War I.  They had 2 children.  Vernon died March 17, 1955.  Both are buried in the Salamonia Cemetery, Jay County, Indiana.

Advent Calendar - December 4 - Christmas Cards

The mail begins to trickle in this time of year with Christmas Cards, and already this year we've received a couple.  Our cards will be adding to the postal service economy here shortly.

We always seem to get a variety of cards and letters at Christmas time.  Some folks take the time to write out a long letter, but most are just the traditional greetings with a message of love.  We try to keep our address book up to date, as there is always someone among our friends or family who seems to have moved within the year.

In the past, there have been times where we've displayed the cards in the tree or across the doorway, etc.  Some in my family have made small Christmas gift boxes out of the old cards from previous years.  Others have placed them in the Christmas tree itself.  Personally, I like to see who uses the same cards as others to see who shares a similar taste.

Our Christmas cards typically express a Christian message - one small way to share the gospel.  Some of the cards we receive share this faith, others are filled with snowmen, Santa or other winter scene.  Occasionally, a friend will send one of those picture cards, showing us how much their children or their pets have grown.

I do not have any Christmas cards of my ancestors, nor do I typically save the cards from year to year unless they are being recycled into a giftbox.  Other than saving new addresses for the address books, the cards usually end up in the trash.


Christmas cards are a good way to stay in touch with loved ones that we don't get to see as often as we would like.