The life-history of this gentleman, although of necessity briefly detailed here, illustrates a man of more than ordinary ability; one who has made his mark in the world and whose course has been such as to commend him to the respect and confidence of his fellow-citizens. His career has been a varied and interesting one, and he is still the active and energetic business man who commenced life in earnest by starting out on his own account when a young man, in 1850. He has occupied many responsible positions in life, in all of which he has acquitted himself creditably. In 1868 Mr. Metz established himself at Lena, in the drug business, in which line of merchandise he is now the acknowledged leader in that section.

The childhood and early youth of John Metz were spent on the other side of the Atlantic in Hessian Germany, where his birth took place Sept. 27, 1829. His father, Peter Metz, was born in the same locality, where he grew to manhood and married one of his early playmates, Miss Margaret Dapper. When our subject was a youth of fourteen years, in May, 1842, his father, accompanied by his wife and four children, embarked on a sailing-vessel for America. After a tedious voyage of forty-eight days, they landed in New York City, where Peter Metz had his effects transferred to a steamer and proceeded via the Hudson River, the Erie Canal and the Lakes to Milwaukee. They tarried there two weeks and then hired a man with oxen to convey them to Washington County, Wis. The road a part of the way lay through an unbroken forest, and their axes were often utilized in chopping down trees so that the team could effect a passage.

They located in that part of Washington County now included in Polk Township, where Peter Metz unloaded his goods under a tree and provided as best he could for the comfort of his family until enabled to put up a cabin. He had no nails, doors or window sashes, his ax being the main tool available for the construction of the dwelling. Peter Metz, however, had not gone into the wilderness with his eyes shut, but had abundant faith that there would be some means at hand to carry out his purpose. Necessity became the mother of invention, and without wasting any time in bewailing the absence of a tool-chest, he proceeded to split open some basswood logs with which he laid a floor and cut down some small oak trees from which to manufacture shingles. In the absence of nails he whittled out wooden pins and the same material was used in forming hinges for the door. After the cabin was roofed over, the family felt very proud and comfortable. The next thing was the furniture. This also was home-made. Rude benches served for chairs, and the bedstead was constructed by means of poles inserted in the wall.

The family soon settled down to the routine of daily life, and Peter Metz proceeded to cultivate his claim. The nearest market and depot for supplies was Milwaukee, twenty-two miles distant, and to this point their produce was conveyed by ox-teams, which in returning, brought home the needed provisions for the family. Flour at times was a scarce commodity and corn-meal had to take its place. Wild game, however, was plenty, and the family feasted upon what is now considered in the cities a rare dainty.

They occupied the log cabin for three or four years, and then Peter Metz put up a more pretentious structure, namely, a hewed-log house, which was the admiration of the whole neighborhood. This constituted the home of the family for many years, and here the faithful wife and mother passed to her final rest, her death taking place in 1848.

After the death of his wife, Peter Metz remained upon the land which he had transformed into a good farm until declining years unfitted him for active labor, and he reluctantly abandoned the energetic and industrious life which was his second nature. In 1853, he retired from the farm and took up his abode with his son, our subject, in Lena, where his death took place in 1885, after he had rounded up the measure of fourscore years.

The children of Peter and Margaret (Dapper) Metz, four in number, were Philip, who still remains in Washington County, Wis.; John of our sketch; Elizabeth, who became the wife of A. Kapfer, and died in Dakota in February, 1887; and Michael, a resident of Northern Wisconsin.

John Metz was placed in school at an early age and obtained a good education in his native Province. The system of compulsory education there has no doubt had much to do with the reliable and substantial character of the average German citizen. Young John thus obtained a practical insight into the matters which would be most apt to concern him in after life, and which has been no inconsiderable aid to his later success. He remembers well the incidents connected with the preparation for the ocean voyage and still more distinctly the subsequent life of the family in the wilds of Washington County, Wis. He lived with his parents in Polk Township two years, and at an early stage in life evinced a worthy ambition to do something for himself and to become somebody in the world. With this in view he left home when sixteen years old and going to Milwaukee, secured a situation as clerk in a boot and shoe store, remaining with his employer two years. During this time he had been faithful to his early training, and had saved sufficient means to indulge himself in a vacation. This he employed in visiting an uncle in New York State, where he spent the summer. Then returning to Wisconsin, he was connected with different branches of trade until twenty-two years old, when he established in the boot and shoe business for himself at Mayfield, where he continued until 1869.

In the spring of that year his attention was directed to the advantages of business in Northern Illinois, and coming to Lena he associated himself with Dr. Bunson, a practical chemist, and they opened up a drug business, and operated together two years. Mr. Metz then purchased the interest of his partner and has continued alone since that time. As may be supposed, it required the exercise of more than ordinary good judgement to assume such responsibilities after the brief experience of two years in a branch which is supposed to usually require a long and close apprenticeship. The course of our subject, however, has been uniformly onward. By the closest attention to the smallest details he has made of this venture a complete success, and is now recognized as a pharmacist second to none in Stephenson County.

In addition to his business interest, Mr. Metz has given much of his time and attention in assisting to build up his community, and no man has taken a livelier interest in its progress and welfare. He has held the office of Trustee, and been the encourager and supporter of every enterprise calculated to advance its social and business status. He has assisted in embellishing the town by the erection of one of its most beautiful residences which now constitutes his home, and is located at the corner of Mason and Rantoul streets. This structure built in 1885, is finely finished and furnished, and all its surroundings indicate the taste and means of its proprietor. While a resident of Wisconsin Mr. Metz represented Polk Township on the County Board of Supervisors three years, and was Superintendent of the Infirmary eight years, which position he resigned upon coming to Lena.

When not quite twenty-three years of age Mr. Metz, in March, 1852, was united in marriage with Miss Johanna Hoffman, who was born in the little Kingdom of Bavaria, Germany, and was the daughter of Christian and Barbara Hoffman, who emigrated to America when their daughter was a young child. They located in Washington County, Wis., where the wedding of Mr. and Mrs. Metz took place. The children of this marriage, five in number, are Lydia; Carrie, the wife of William Koenig, Freeport; Bertha, the wife of John Schleter, of Lena; Robert and Cora. Our subject since becoming a naturalized citizen, has voted with the Democratic party, and both he and his estimable wife are members in good standing of the English Lutheran Church.

Contributed by Carol Parrish from Portraits & Biographical 1888 Stephenson Co IL Pg 228-232