My Genealogy Hound

ORLANDO METCALF (deceased), in his life time one of the most prominent members of the Pittsburgh bar, honored and respected in both public and private life as a lawyer, scholar and gentleman, was a lineal descendant of Michael Metcalf, a citizen of Norwich, England, born in 1586, who emigrated, with his wife, children and dependents, to America in April, 1637, settling at Dedham, Mass., in July, same year. Another ancestor, Robert Williams, also a native of England, born in 1593, came in above-named year from Norwich to Boston, Mass.; and still another English emigrant, William Hyde, from whom the subject of this memoir descended, landed at Newton, Mass., in 1640, becoming in course of time the founder of Norwich, Conn. He was also a descendant of William and Mary (Seaton) Walworth, who came from London, England, to New London, Conn., in 1689, and was the founder of the town of Groton, in that state.

Orlando Metcalf was born at Metcalf Hill, Otsego county, N. Y., Aug. 17, 1797, the second son of Hon. Arunah and Eunice (Williams) Metcalf, former born Feb. 14, 1771, at Lebanon, Conn., and latter Feb. 13, 1775, eldest daughter of Veach and Lucy (Walworth) Williams, of Lebanon. The intermarriage of Hon. Arunah Metcalf and EuniceWilliams was one that linked together several families of note in the early history of Old England. One of the representatives of the Williams family was William Williams, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, whose wife was Mary, a daughter of Jonathan Trumbull, colonial governor of Connecticut, friend and comrade of Washington; while Lucy, wife of Veach Williams, was sixth in lineal descent from Thomas Clinton, third earl of Lincoln, being granddaughter of Susannah (Palmes) Avery, who was granddaughter of Lady Susan Clinton, a daughter of Thomas, Earl of Lincoln.

Hon. Arunah Metcalf was educated at Lebanon, Conn., and in 1794 moved to Otsego county, N. Y., where for several years he served in various official positions of trust and responsibility; was sheriff of Otsego county, 1806-1810; was a member of the legislature of New York state, sessions 1814, 1815, 1816 and 1828; was a member of the house of representatives of the XIIth United States Congress, sessions 1811-1813. Subsequently he removed to Cooperstown, N. Y., where he died Aug. 15, 1848, at the age of seventy-seven years; his wife died Feb. 28, 1844, aged sixty-nine.

Orlando Metcalf was educated at Union College, Schenectady, N. Y., where he received the degree of A. B. in 1819. Moving to Kentucky, he there met Henry Clay, who induced him to become a member of his household, with the agreement that Mr. Metcalf should be tutor to Mr. Clay’s daughters and Mr. Clay should teach him law. Two years later our subject entered the law office of Judge Gilbert, of Hebron, Conn. In 1826 he removed to Canton, Ohio, where he followed his profession until 1831, in which year he permanently settled in Pittsburgh, where he practiced law, with high reputation. May 17, 1826, he married Mary Mehitabel, daughter of Charles Knap, of New Berlin, N. Y. She was of the same lineage as her husband. Mr. Metcalf died Sept. 4, 1850; his widow, May 1, 1876. She was a lady of superior intelligence and refinement, and in social life was highly admired and esteemed.

The children of Orlando and Mary M (Knap) Metcalf now living, and all born in Pittsburgh, are as follows: William, born Sept. 3, 1838. He graduated, C. E., at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, N. Y., 1858; was afterward in charge of the Fort Pitt Cannon-foundry, in Pittsburgh, Pa. He is now a manufacturer of fine steel, and one of the owners of the Crescent Steel works, of Pittsburgh. He was married Dec. 1, 1864, to Christiana Dager Fries, and by her has six children living. He is a gentleman of great skill and ability in the branch of business which engages his time and talents, and he has recently written a treatise on steel, published by “The American Society of Civil Engineers,” which took the annual prize for its merit.

Orlando, born July 11, 1840. He married Nov. 5, 1863, Agnes, daughter of James McElroy, of Pennsylvania, and has seven children; six of these were born at Pittsburgh, and one, the youngest, at Colorado Springs. He is a successful manufacturer in Pittsburgh but resides at Colorado Springs, Colo., where he is a leading citizen and greatly respected.

Mary C., born Aug. 23, 1829, married, in April, 1865, Mr. Robert Bruce, a worthy merchant of Pittsburgh, and they have one son Robert O. M., born July 7, 1871.

Miss Emeline Eliza, born June 15, 1832, in Pittsburgh, where she resides.