JOHN METCALF JR.

John Metcalf Jr. (1876-1948) was the son of John Metcalf Sr. (1840-1927) & Vianna Lisenbee Metcalf (1839-1914). He was born on Bear Branch of Big Laurel near the mouth of Little Creek. He was the eighth of eleven children born to his parents. When he was one year old, his father bought a farm from Joe Callahan in the Bull Creek comunnity. This place was to become known as Metcalf Branch from that time to the present. They moved their belongings on a sled over roads that were little more than a bridal-path. The sled had to be half-soled before they reached their destination. A tree had fallen accros the road in one place, and they spent one half day sawing it and moving it out of the way. This community was to be the home of John Metcalf Jr. for the rest of his long life of 73 years. When he was sixteen years old, he married his neighbor and childhood sweetheart Emily Christine Corn (1876-1960). They were married December 24, 1891 at the home of John Howell who had married his sister, Harriett. He was married by Rev. Jack Sprinkle. The wittnesses were Ella Lucinda Corn, his wife's sister who later married his brother Levi John Metcalf and his sister Harriett Metcalf Howell. This union was to last 58 years and produce 11 children, 62 grandchildren and 85 great grandchildren.
John Metcalf Jr. was a sturdy hard working farmer, carpenter, blacksmith and businessman. He once owned eleven farms - three on Bull Creek, one at the mouth of the Ivy River, three at Bethel, one at the head of Middle Fork of Ivy, one in Polk County, N.C. and three in Prince Edward County, Virginia. He was able to give each child a farm as a nest egg when they got married. John Metcalf Jr.'s family was rooted in the Christian faith. His wife, Emily, sang alto in a guartet with her brothers. They were charter members of Peek's Chapel Baptist Church. John served as the first Sunday School Superentendant. He served as a deacon. John Metcalf Jr. passed away in his sleep on the night of January 6, 1948. He left a rich legacy.

JOHN METCALF JR. (1874-1948) OBITUARY

MARSHALL -- Funeral services for John Metcalf , 73, who died of a heart attack at his home at 10:30 p.m. Tuesday, will be held at the Old Bull Creek Baptist church on the Marshall - Mars Hill highway Friday afternoon at 2 p.m. The Rev.J.A. Martin and the Rev. Jesse Corn will officiate, and burial will be in the family cemetery.

Grandsons will serve as pallbearers and granddaughters will be flower bearers.

Mr. Metcalf, a life-long resident of the Bull Creek section of Madison County, is survived by the widow, Mrs. Emiley Christine Corn Metcalf; eight sons, James Carl Metcalf, Sr. of Asheville, Thomas Jefferson Metcalf of Cullen, Virginia, John Stewart Metcalf, Charley Furman Metcalf, Chauncey Metcalf, Jeter McKinley Metcalf, Donald Luther Metcalf, and Zade Paul Metcalf, all of Marshall, N.C.; two daughters, Elizabeth Vianna Metcalf Edmonds (Ossie) and Velda Mae Metcalf Ramsey (Joe), both of Marshal, N.C.; two brothers, William Robert Metcalf of Rice, Virginia and Elbert Franklin Metcalf of Cullen, Virginia; two sisters, Cornelia Anne Metcalf Rice ( William Spencer ) and Nancy Jane Metcalf Dill ( Stephen Abraham ), both of Marshall, N.C.; and a number of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

The body will lie in state at the church from 1 o'clock until time for the service.

Asheville Citizen-Times
Asheville, North Carolina · Thursday, January 08, 1948