It is with feelings of profound regret and sorrow that we announce the death of Judge John E. Van Metre. He died at his residence, known as Pickaway, in Union Township, this County, on the morning of June 2d, after protracted illness of several months, at the advanced age of 69 years.
    Judge Van Metre was born in Berkeley County, Virginia, May 4^th, 1794, and resided there until the year 1826, at which time, he, with his family, moved to Ohio. During his residence in the latter State, he filled several offices of high public trust, to the eminent credit of his own abilities, and the unlimited confidence and satisfaction of his numerous constituents. He served two terms in the Ohio Legislature, at the conclusion of which, he was elected Associate Judge of the Court of Common Pleas. In 1855 he moved from Ohio to his late residence at Pickaway.
    He was a true type of the Virginia Gentleman, of the olden time; courteous, courageous, hospitable. Unostentatious in his manners, dignified, yet affable in his deportment, he commanded the respect and won the highest esteem of all with whom he came in contact. He was, in a word, a man of marked and decided character; high-minded and honorable to the letter, in all of his business and social transactions with men. His word once given was never broken. In short, he was one of those men that both old and young take delight in looking up to, and honoring with their confidence and their warmest friendship.
    His funeral, which took place at Pickaway, on Thursday, was attended by a vast concourse of people, from afar and near. He was a Mason of long standing, and, we believe, high up in the Order; and was buried by the members of the Vinton Lodge, with all of the touching and imposing ceremonies attendant upon a Masonic interment.
    The surviving members of the family – the aged wife, and the sons and daughters – cannot but feel keenly, this, their second bereavement. ‘Twas only a few months ago that a son, the youngest of the family, we think – Capt. Joseph Van Metre – killed in battle, at Springfield, Missouri. Two other sons – Jeptha and Isaiah – are still in the army, and when the intelligence of their father’s death reaches them, it will do so with crushing weight.

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