The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-01-11
SENATOR METzEL DEAD.
He Passes Away at His Home
at Fuller Springs.
A PIONEER IN MONTANA
Ha Been Resident of This State Since
1S63-Largely Interested in the
Breeding of Fine Horses
and Cattle.
Special Dispatch to the Standard.

Special Dispatch to the Standard.
Virginia City, Jan. 10.-EX-Senator
Alexander Metzel of York ranch, Fuller
Springs, died at his home this after
noon. The cause of his death was acute
Inflammation of the bowels.
Senator Metzel is one of Montanas
pioneers and Madison county's most
highly respected citizens He leaves a
family of five boys, all grown. The
death was a very sudden one. To all
outward appearances Mr.. MetZel was
healthy and robust man. A few weeks
ago he returned from the East where
he was called to attend the last illness
of sister. Since his return he has not
been well and continually grew worse,
until to-day, when he died.
Alexander Metzel was born Jan. IA,
1885, at York, Pa. His ancestry was
German on the fathers side and Eng
fish on the mothers. He was reared at
York, where he remained until 1851 He
attended the common school there, and
afterwards learned the butcher trade.
In 1857, the year before his father died.
he removed to Iowa City, Iowa, and
was employed there until 1860, when he
crossed the plains to Pixies Peak. He
engaged in the butehering business in
Denver for several months, and then re-
turned to Iowa City, and later went to
Rock Island, where he was employed as
trimmer in a packing house. He
crossed the plains once or twice, and re-
turned to Indianoia. Iowa. where he
married Miss Anna Spicer, native of
Pennsylvania. Soon after his marriage
he again went to Denver, where he re-
manned for year or more.
Mr.. Metzel came to Montana in 1868,
and engaged in the butchering business
at Nevada City, near Alder gulch. On
July Is, 1864, he went to Denver, in
tending to return at once to Montana
with his wife, but upon arriving at
Denver he changed his plans and re-
manned there for some time. He re-
turned to Montana again and resumed
his old business at Nevada City until
1872, when he removed to Fuller Springs,
Is miles southeast of Virginia City, in
Madison county. Fuller Springs was
his home at the time of his death.
During the administration of Presi-
dent Grant, Mr.. Metzel was appointed
postmaster at Fuller Springs, and he
has held that office ever since. He
served four years as county commits
soner, and has served with distinction,
in the state senate. He was also a
member of the stock commission. Dur;
ing his term of membership in the state.
legislature he was instrumental in Sc
curing the erection of the Orphans
home at Twin Bridges.
Mrs. Metzel died May 8, 1878. He
leaves a large family of children.
Mr.. Metzel owned about 5000 acres of
land near Fuller Springs, with large
and capacious buildings, and every
thing necessary for conducting a first
class stock farm. On this land he
raised annually large quantities of oats,
and the yield of hay averaged from 600
to 800 tons yearly. He had the credit
of being the first Montana stoclman to
import thoroughbred Durham cattle.
His first importation was from Ken
lucky in 1871, and since that time he
has done large business in supplying
the farmers throughout the state with
that class of animals. His enterprise in
the direction of high grade stock breed
ing has been Of great value in improv-
ing the cattle of the state. He was also
largely interested in the breeding of fine
horses. At the time of his death, Mr.,
Metzei had about 1000 head of fine
horses. and 5000 head of range cattle.