~ Fort Hill Cemetery ~

NOTABLE PEOPLE

Edwin Dickinson Metcalf

Edwin in his youth
Born 1848, died 1915.

    Edwin D. Metcalf was born in Smithfield, RI, the son of William Metcalf and Nancy Elizabeth Crook Metcalf. William Metcalf was born in Leeds, England, November 19, 1819 and died in Camden, NJ, June 18, 1900. Nancy Elizabeth Crook was born in Plattsburgh, NY, November 14, 1822 and died in Springfield, Mass., March 2, 1881. William and Nancy were married October 13, 1845 in Newport, RI.

From "The New Century Atlas of Cayuga County New York", 1904

Col. Edwin D. Metcalf, Manufacturing, Banking, Railroad Interests, etc.
    Stands conspicuous as a business man. His birthplace is Smithfield, RI., and the date of his birth March 14, 1848. He was a small boy when the family moved to Westford, Mass., and his education was received at Westford Academy, followed by a course at Eastman's Business College. He lived two years in Virginia and served seven years with a large house furnishing establishment in Providence, RI. In 1874 he located at Springfield, Mass. and established the house of Metcalf & Luther, The Holyoke Furniture Company of Holyoke, and the firm of H. S. Martin and Company of Chicopee. In 1878 he traveled extensively in Europe. While at Springfield he became interested in many railroad and manufacturing enterprises; and was President of a construction company which built railroads in Southern states; President of the Springfield and New London Railroad; Vice-President of the John Hancock National Bank; Director of the Merchants National Bank; and Director of the Massachusetts Life Insurance Company. He took an active part in politics, and served as Representative in State Legislature two terms; and also State Senator and Mayor of Springfield. The title of Colonel was acquired by service three years as Assistant Quartermaster General of Massachusetts, with rank of Colonel on the staff of Governor George D. Robinson. In 1890 he became connected with D. M. Osborne & Co., as general manager of all the firm's extensive interests.

From "The Record of One Hundred Years of Mutual Savings Banking at the Auburn Savings Bank" by Samuel Hopkins Adams, 1949.

    "One landmark of industrialism, the Barber Carpet Mills, had been losing ground. A rising New England financier, unknown in Auburn at the time, was consulted, visited the plant, and advised its closing down. So successfully did Col. E. D. Metcalf carry through the operation that he was recalled in 1891 to be the general manager of D. M. Osborne & Co. At this time a cordage trust was in tyrannical control of the market. Unable to get the binder twine essential to the agricultural machines produced by the Osborne works, the newcomer, in order to assure the factory of a supply, started in 1892 the Columbian Cordage Company, forerunner of Columbian Rope Co."

Edwin in his middle years

The 1900 Auburn city roster records: METCALF EDWIN D., treasurer D. M. Osborne & Co, also president Columbia Cordage Co, resides 86 South Street.

Edwin and Caroline Metcalf

From the local paper, 1915:
    Auburn, Dec. 31 - Prominent resident of Auburn died to-night. Colonel Edwin D. METCALF, perhaps the most prominent business man and manufacturer, passed away at his home in South street after exhausting the services of the best surgeons of the country to prolong his life. Colonel METCALF came to Auburn about a quarter of a century ago from Massachusetts. Since that time he had amassed a fortune in Auburn realty and was head of the Columbian Rope Company, besides being identified with some of the largest concerns in the country. His wife {Caroline Walker Flint 1853-1939} and three sons survive {Edwin F 1876-1949, Harold G 1883-1971, and Stanley 1893-1980}.


Edwin D. Metcalf was a member of the Fort Hill Cemetery Board of Trustees from 1909 to 1915.
The Metcalf lot is located in the Consecration Dell section of the cemetery.

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