Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Metzger, Joseph 
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Deb Haines http://www.rootsweb.com/~archreg/vols/00003.html#0000719 February 29, 2008, 12:06 am

Author: Past and Present of Will County, IL; 1907

JOSEPH METZGER. During the early epoch of commercial and industrial 
development in Joliet, Joseph Metzger became a resident of this city and 
throughout the greater part of his business life was engaged in the 
manufacture of harness here. He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 
February 20, 1849, a son of Michael and Philasetia Metzger, both of whom were 
natives of Alsace, Germany. In early life they came to America, settling in 
Philadelphia, where his father was in active business life until his death. He 
passed away, however, during the early boyhood of his son Joseph, and the 
mother, with her three children, came to the west, settling in Joliet in the 
early '50's. Here she made her home until her death and there are but two of 
the family now living—Gabriel, who is a retired business man of this city, and 
Michael, captain of No. 2 engine house, fire department of Joliet. Joseph 
Metzger acquired his education in the public schools here and entered business 
life as an employe of Joseph Stephen, under whose direction he learned the 
harnessmaker’s trade. He remained with Mr. Stephen for several years and 
became an expert workman in the line of his chosen vocation. During this 
period he was married in Joliet to Miss Mary Link, a native of Germany and a 
daughter of Joseph and Mary Link, who were likewise natives of the fatherland, 
and on coming to America they settled at Joliet, December 31, 1855. Here Mr. 
Link began work in a stone quarry, in which he remained for a few years, 
subsequent to which time he invested his earnings in a small farm in Troy 
township. He became very successful in his agricultural pursuits and afterward 
purchased other farms in the same township, carrying on the work of tilling 
the soil and developing his places until his death, which occurred in 1888. 
His wife survived him until 1889. Their son, Natch, now resides on the old 
Link homestead in Troy township. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Metzger were born four 
children. Edward J., who wedded Mary Potts and resides on Broadway in Joliet, 
is superintendent in the steel mills here. He has three children: Harriet, 
Edward and Gertrude. Joseph N., who wedded Annie Nolan, resides on Columbia 
street in Joliet and is employed in the rod mills. He has two children, Marie 
and Joseph. Albert J. Metzger, the third member of the family, is employed in 
the mills here and resides at home. Mary E. is also with her mother. Mr. 
Metzger of this review was but sixteen years of age when he began learning the 
harnessmaker’s trade and after remaining in the employ of others for a number 
of years he began business on his own account by the establishment of a 
harness store on Bluff street, where he soon built up a large business, his 
patronage increasing as the years went by, his success being gained through 
the excellent line of goods which he manufactured and sold. Moreover, he was 
strictly reliable and straightforward in his business dealings and thus he won 
the confidence and respect of his fellow men as well as their patronage. His 
political allegiance was given to the democracy, and both he and his wife were 
members of St. John's German Catholic church. He was quite prominent among the 
old settlers of the city and had a wide acquaintance throughout the county. He 
died May 11, 1882, and is still survived by Mrs. Metzger, who owns the 
residence where she and her children make their home at No. 140 Pine street. 

Additional Comments:
PAST AND PRESENT OF WILL COUNTY, ILLINOIS By W. W. Stevens President of the 
Will County Pioneers Association; Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing 
Company, 1907

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