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William Metcalf:
History, Obituary and a Timeline of his life

History

William Metcalf was born May 5, 1855 at Salt Lake City, a son of John E. and Mary Waslin Metcalf. The family moved to Springville in 1857 and in 1865 were called to help settle Fayette and build the first saw mill in the town. He also helped his father build and operate the first saw mill in Gunnison.

Mr. Metcalf engaged in stock raising in 1873 and followed that vocation along with farming and sheep raising until he retired several years ago.

He has been constable here for four years, town marshal two years, then deputy sheriff, Sanpete county commissioner two terms from 1893 to 1901, member of the state legislature in 1901 and 1902. He was president of the Dover Canal company 20 years, president of the Gunnison City National bank, vice president of the Gunnison Valley bank until two years ago, when he was made president which position he still retains.

Obituary

Stroke Proves Fatal to William Metcalf, Retired Utah Banker
Tribune Intermountain Service

GUNNISON -- William Metcalf, 83, Utah pioneer, L.D.S. church worker and civic leader, died at the family home here Sunday at 1:12 p.m. following a stroke suffered two weeks ago.

Mr. Metcalf

He was born in Salt Lake City May 5, 1855, a son of John Edward and Mary Waslin Metcalf. When two years old he moved with his parents to Springville, where the family lived for a short time before being called to help settle St. George. While en route the family was stopped at Fayette, where Mr. Metcalf's father was asked to build a flour mill.

He served as town marshal three years, as Sanpete county deputy sheriff four years, as county commissioner two terms and as a member of the Utah state legislature one term.

President of Bank

He was president of Gunnison National bank, vice president and later president of Gunnison Valley bank, until three years ago, when he retired. He also served as president of Dover Irrigation company 40 years, also as president of West View Irrigation company many years. He was instrumental in aiding Gunnison city obtain electric lights and a water system.

He married Emma Ulrica Capson July 3, 1879, in the Salt Lake City endowment house. They celebrated their fifty-ninth wedding anniversary July 3.

Funeral Wednesday

Surviving are his widow and four sons and daughters, Junius W. Metcalf, present mayor of Gunnison, John E. Metcalf, justice of the peace and principal of Washington junior high school, and Ray B. Metcalf, prominent stockman, all of Gunnison, and Mrs. D.B. Sanders of Ellensburg, Wash.; also 10 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Funeral services will be conducted Wednesday at 3 p.m. in Gunnison L.D.S. ward chapel by Bishop Hyrum Christiansen. Interment will be in the Gunnison cemetery, directed by Peterson mortuary.

Friends may call at the mortuary thuesday and at the family home Wednesday until time of services

History and Obituary contributed by srp7@email.byu.edu

Timeline of his life

5 May 1855 Born at Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah

3 July 1879 Marries Emma Ulricka Capson at Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah

2 Jun 1883 Son William Junius is born in Gunnison

5 Mar 1886 Son Ray Bennett is born in Gunnison

25 Mar 1888 Son John Edward is born in Gunnison

7 Aug 1892 Daughter Emma Talula is born in Gunnison

Feb 1896 During this month he was referred to in the newspaper as the Marshal of Gunnison

Nov 1898 Elected Sanpete County Commissioner

Nov 1900 Re-elected Sanpete County Commissioner – This term he was Chairman of that body.

Nov 1902 Elected Representative to the Utah State Legislature

During the 1902 election The Manti Messenger printed the following history of William Metcalf:
William Metcalf, candidate on the Republican ticket for Representative from this county to the State Legislature, was born in Salt Lake City on the 5th of May, 1855. When ten years of age Mr. Metcalf moved to Fayette, this county, with his parents, residing there until 1879, about which time he changed his residence to Gunnison, Utah, at which place he has since made his home, and is at present one of the highly respected citizens of that town, having many times been honored with positions of trust from his constituents there as well as the people of Gunnison as constable and town marshal for several terms, and as deputy sheriff under the late James Burns; he has been a director of the Gunnison Irrigation company, and has two successive times been elected to the office of commissioner of Sanpete in which board he is at present acting as chairman. Mr. Metcalf is in every sense of the word a practical and competent man to fill the position to which his party has honored him, and his motives and intentions will be to do active work for the interests of the people of Sanpete County, and to respect their wishes and act as a servant of the people whenever it is consistent with the best good to the greatest number.

July 1904 Announces he is a candidate for the lower house of the legislature

Aug 1904 Withdraws his candidacy for the legislature

15 Feb 1910 Son Ray Bennett marries Allie Marie Halverson in Manti

Oct 1913 Nominated for Mayor of Gunnison – the Manti newspaper didn’t report the winner, but no other source says he was ever Mayor of Gunnison.

March 1916 Announces he is a candidate for the State legislature (There is no further mention of this candidacy and he is not on the ticket come election day.)

30 Mar 1916 Daughter Emma Talula marries Dauntes Brunell Sanders in Manti

13 Sep 1916 Son John Edward marries Lillie Dean Mellor in Manti

1920 1920 census gives his occupation as Farmer

31 Aug 1920 Son William Junius marries Sylvia Christena Willardson in Provo

1930 1930 census gives his occupation as Vice President, Bank

1935 His obituary indicates that he was President of Gunnison Valley bank until his retirement three years prior to his death.

31 Jul 1938 Dies of a stroke at Gunnison, Sanpete, Utah, age 83. His death certificate gives his occupation as Sheepman.

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