The copper era., 1910-07-15
James metcalf Dead.

anu HlOSI ulRnIl SPNONNN OtSA1NNS -
Grant county, died at his ranch home
in the Maugus valley, about twenty
miles west of Silver City, N. NJ, at 8
o'clock last Friday morning. Death
was due to a general breaking down
a; the result of old age. Mr.. Met
calf had been in poor health for
aunber of years, and his demise
therefore was not totally unexpected.
The remains were taken to Silver
City Saturday and intermenr made
in the city cemetery.
James Metcalf, or Uncle Jimmie
Metcalf, as he was more familiarlS
! 1nown and called, had long and
! eventful career and was one of the
pioneers of this section. He was
oorn in Bourbon county, Kentucky,
March %, 1924, and was consequently
36 years of age. When an infant his
parents removed to Mill Springs,
Wayne county, Kentucky, where Mr..
Metcalf lived until he was about II
gears of age. Kentucky in those
days was wilderness, and Mr.. Met
calf could relate many interesting
incidents of his early lite. When
Young man he went to Natchez, Mis-
,issippi, to the family of his uncle,
Dr. James Metcalf, and later attend
ed Jefferson Military institute at
Washington, Mississippi. In 1919 he
! Joined a party of about seventy men
who set out for the gold fields of
| California, and in which were his
father, brothers, Robert and John.
The party came to Santa Fe, N. M,
and on the trip passed through Grant
county and camped at what is now
the Haywood Hot Springs. He re-
mained in California for about one
wear and then returned to Missis-
sippi. Two or three years later he
again went to California and thence
TO Oregon, where he spent several
years with his brother, Robert, who
was Indian agent in that terri
tory. During this period Mr.. Met
calf was engaged in the beef con-
tracing business and was also en-
pioyed as a guide and interpreter, he
having a good command of the In
dian language. He participated in
many stirring events incident to the
Indian wars in Oregon in those days,
and was there at the time of the
Rogue river Indian massacre. He
was held in high respect even by the
hostile Indians, and by reason OF
their friendship was enabled to eX-
!, tend material aid and assistance to
his fellow white men. Then with his
brother, Robert, he went to Wash
ington county, Texas, where he re-
mained for several years and where
in 1860 he was united in marriage
T with Miss Sarah Shackleford, who
died at Denver in 1885.
While in Texas Mr.. Metcalf served
, on the Confederate side during the
war of the rebellion. At the close
, of the war and after his discharge
t from military service, he went tC
: Missouri, where he lived until 1871
} when he came to Silver City. II
= 1872 he took up his ranch property
: on the Mangus, where he had evel
since resided.
l Mr.. Metcalf devoted a good deal o
t his time to mining, and was among
o the discoyerers of the rich coppe
S mines at what is now Metcalf ant
y Clifton, the town of Metcalf being
y named after his brother, Robert, ant
: himself. These mines were sold il
/ 1882.
While living on the Maugus MI
Metcalf underwent the hardships an
the privations of the early days, an
, the Indian troubles of the '70's an
Il sos. His life was frequently ia dar
y ger, but owing to a superstitious fea
: which the Apaches held regardin
=, his ranch, his home was neve
u molested. Mr.. Metcalf possessed
bright, active mind, and for a nun
Der OF years furnished interestin
communications to the new
papers under the pen name of 18Th
y Sage of the Mangus."
Deceased is survived by fiv
n children, Miss Mary and Charlie
,e who live on the Maugus, John an
IF Robert, living in the state of Wasl
1t ington, and Orrick, of Mesilla Par
r. N. NJ.
E. Mr.. Metcalf was a good man and
ar good citizen. He was scrupuious hoI
IN est in all his business transaction
re He was an exceptionally industrlor
J. and energetic man, and very popul'
p. with all who knew him. His deaf
1T removes another of the old-timers {
I'd this section who blazed the way fl
& those of the present day.
J.;
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