Bio: Metcalf, Clara (90th - 1979)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Metcalf, Herian, Vollrath, Dallman, Blecha, Saulisberry, Groenke, Gerlach, Rogers, Schwarze

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 9/20/1979

Metcalf, Clara (90th - 1979)

Approximately one hundred relatives and friends honored Mrs. James (Clara) Metcalf, Greenwood, in celebration of her 90th birthday, Sunday, September 16. The open house was held at the home of her daughter, Bertha Dallman in Greenwood.

Mrs. Metcalf, the former Clara Vollrath, was born September 19, 1889, to William and Annie (Herian) Vollrath in the Town of Mead. She received her education in the Benjamin School and German and catechism, at the West Side Reformed Church, now the Immanuel United Church of Christ.

She was married to James Metcalf on October 20, 1907, in Hayward, where they lived for three years. Then they came to Greenwood where they homesteaded in Reseburg Township, eleven miles north of Greenwood. Her grandson, Allan Dallman and family now operate the farm. Mr. and Mrs. Metcalf moved to a farm one mile north of their first farm, where they lived until they retired and moved to Greenwood in 1952. Mr. Metcalf died in 1964. She is a member of the Zion United Church of Christ and its Women’s Guild, the Senior Citizens Club and the Suffragettes Card Club.

She has three children, Bertha Dallman of Greenwood, Everett of Pullman, Wash., and Dale of Random Lake. A son, LeRoy, is deceased. She also raised a niece and two nephews, Almira and Lee Blecha, both deceased, and Lynn Blecha of Clearwater, Fla. Joining the family are ten grandchildren, four step-grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

Her hobbies are crocheting, knitting, gardening, house plants, latch hooking and card playing. She has had a busy life of activities in dairy farming, made maple syrup, cooked at a resort and worked with honey bees, sheep, hogs and poultry.

All her children and grandchildren, but one, were present for the occasion. Attending were Everett Metcalf & Children, Pullman, Wash.; Mr/Mrs. Dale Metcalf & daughter, Random Lake; Mr./Mrs. Bernard Vollrath, Clearwater, Fla.; Mr./Mrs. Bill Saulisberry, Louisville, Tex.; Mr./Mrs. Ralph Groenke & son, Minneapolis; Ronald, Jan and Jamie Metcalf, Stillwater, Mn.; Grace Metcalf, Owen; Emma Gerlach of Neillsville; Mr./Mrs. Lyman Johnson, New London; Mr./Mrs. Ed Gerlach, Chippewa Falls; Mr./Mrs. Bill Rogers & Family, Red Granite; and Mr./Mrs. Durward Schwarze, Granton.