My Genealogy Hound

JOHN K. METZ is a native of Worcester township, where he was born August 26, 1857. After leaving the township schools he engaged in farming near Wentz’s church, on the homestead. He left there when nineteen years old and worked at ordinary labor for four years. At the end of this time he married Mary A. Reiff, daughter of George O. Reiff, of near Skippackville. They have had the following children: Mattie, born August 11, 1885; Laura Agnes, born September 7, 1887; Howard, born November 12, 1888, and died February 28, 1889; Linwood, born February 20, 1892; and Ella May, born May 1, 1893. (For ancestral histonry of this subject, see sketch of his brother, William K. Metz.)

George O. Reiff, the father of Mrs. J. K. Metz, was born December 25, 1825, and died in 1888. He was a farmer by occupation. Mr. Reiff was buried in Wentz’s churchyard. He married Sophia, the daughter of Peter S. Renninger. She was born November 19, 1833, and is still living.

The sisters and brothers of Mrs. Metz are: Jacob; Irvin, who was born January 14, 1858, and died September 17, 1861; Benjamin Franklin, born May 9, 1859; Peter Ellwood, born November 25, 1860, and died December 6, 1861; Martha Ann, born March 24, 1862, wife of E. M. Geyer; Samuel, born October 27, 1863; Susanna, born January 30, 1866, wife of John F. M. Yerger; Elizabeth, born August 24, 1868, and died December 2, 1891; Milton R., born February 14, 1870; Howard, born August 31, 1873, residing at Collegeville; and John Addison, born October 30, 1875.

Jacob Reiff (grandfather of Mrs. Metz) married Elizabeth Overholtzer.

Mrs. Metz’s maternal grandparents were Peter Renninger, who was born about 1798 and died at the age of ninety-two, and Anna Mary Stauffer, born about 1815 and died at seventy- two years of age.

The brothers and sisters of Mrs. Metz’s father were: Jacob, and Benjamin, both deceased; John O., who lives in Norristown; James and Abraham, deceased. One sister is Elizabeth, widow of Abraham Detwiler, and another, Susan, died in infancy.

The brothers and sisters of Mrs. Metz’s mother were: Augustus Peter William, Samuel, Jonah, all now deceased; Lucy Ann, wife of John O. Reiff; and Susan, who died at eleven years of age.

John K. Metz is a Republican in politics. He was for seven years tax collector for Worcester township, was out of office for two years, was then elected again and still holds the position. He is one of the best known citizens of that section of the county.