Isaiah Van Metre
Born: Nov. 21, 1838 - Circleville, Ohio
Died: July 5, 1914
Buried: Fairview Cemetery - Waterloo, Iowa
Father: John Evans Van Metre
Mother: Josina Van Metre
Married: Dec. 25, 1873
Wife: Eleanor Isabel Thompson
Born: Feb. 14, 1851 - Fall River, Massachusetts
Died: Jan. 3, 1934 - Waterloo, Iowa
Buried:
Father: William Thompson
Children
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Son - died at birth, 1874 - Dakota City, Iowa
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Margaret Corton - b. Jan. 17, 1875 - Dakota City, Iowa
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John - b. 1879, Cedar Falls, IA. Died age 4, Waterloo, IA
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Richard Thompson - b. 1879
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Ricker Henry - b. 1883
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Virginia Lund - b. Sept. 11, 1886 - Waterloo, Iowa
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Alice Ruth - b. Aug. 6, 1890 - Waterloo, IA. Died 1901
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Daughter - died at birth
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Horace Nelson - b. 1894
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Maurice Evans - b. 1894
Isaiah studied law with his uncle Ezra at Cedar Rapids, and after his death with D. M. McIntosh, Cedar Rapids, and Col. I. M. Preston of Marion. Admitted to the bar in 1858. Early showed interest in newspaper work. First as editor of Benton County Democrat. Sold out and while teaching in Iowa County took half interest in Marengo Democrat. Sold out and attended Cornell College, Mt. Vernon. Enlisted in Cedar Rapids on April 24, 1861 - K Company, 1st Regiment Iowa Volunteer Infantry (Sergt.). In telling of his war experience, he spoke of how hungry they got, "they would pick up bacon rinds and eat them. One soldier complained to his officer, can men tramp all over the Ozark Mountains on Mush?" Sent home because of illness at the end of three months. Tried to enlist at Leavenworth, Kansas, and was refused, went to Colorado, where he was accepted as recruit in Independent Battery, under Captain McClain. Served until end of war with good record. Received discharge July 1, 1865. After returning home he divided time between teaching and newspaper work. After trip to Rocky Mountains in search of gold, returned to Iowa and taught school near State Center, where he met his future wife. Bought Humbolt County, Independent and was editor 1870-1877. Moved to Cedar Falls and edited Cedar Falls Recorder 1877-1879. He founded Cedar Valley Tribune (afterward Waterloo Tribune) in 1879. Remained with paper until he sold in 1901. For last 20 years he was sole proprietor and editor. His widow lived in Waterloo until her death in 1934. Isaiah was a staunch Democrat all his life and upholder of the Gold Standard.
Isaiah's Bibliography from the "History of Black Hawk County".