Metcalfe, Oren E., 1810-1895

People
Metcalfe, Oren E., 1810-1895

Oren E. Metcalfe was the sheriff of Adams County, Mississippi during the Civil War and was an insurance agent during Reconstruction.

Born on January 28, 1810 in Enfield, Connecticut, Metcalfe moved to Natchez, Mississippi by 1840. In 1846, he opened a retail store called Mason & Metcalfe, but by 1854 he had served as a tax collector and was the sheriff of Adams County. He maintainted this position throughout the Civil War but lost the election in 1866. Metcalfe was also a trustee of Jefferson College, and by 1860, he was the enslaver of at least thirty-three men, women, and children.

After the Civil War, Metcalfe became an insurance agent. By 1868, he was an agent for the Aetna Life Insurance Company in Natchez, and he continued in the insurance business until the end of his life.

Metcalfe was married to Zulieka Rosalie (Lyon) Metcalfe, who preceded him in death in 1870. The pair had at least ten children, including three sons and two daughters who lived to adulthood. One son served in the Confederate Army and died during the Civil War. Oren E. Metcalfe died on November 20, 1895 in Natchez, Adams County, Mississippi. He was buried in the Natchez City Cemetery.

(FindaGrave; Natchez Democrat, April 12, 1854; Natchez Democrat, September 29, 1866; Natchez Democrat, July 14, 1868; Natchez Democrat, November 21, 1895; U.S. Census Record for Natchez, Mississippi, 1840; 1860 U.S. Federal Census - Slave Schedules, 29)

Oren E. Metcalfe belonged to the following social groups:

Read more about Metcalfe, Oren E., 1810-1895 at
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Letter from O. Metcalfe to Mississippi Governor John J. Pettus; June 4, 1860

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Pettus Collection. Letter from O. Metcalfe in Natchez, Mississippi, to Mississippi Governor John J. Pettus asking for a pardon for Mr. Perry who was convicted of simple assault.

Letter from George W. Koontz to Mississippi Governor John J. Pettus; May 15, 1861

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Pettus Collection. Letter from George W. Koontz in Natchez, Mississippi, to Mississippi Governor John J. Pettus regarding Koontz' appointment to negotiate warrants for the state of Mississippi.

Letter from General Charles G. Dahlgren to Mississippi Governor John J. Pettus; July 26, 1861

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Pettus Collection. Letter from Natchez, Mississippi, by Charles G. Dahlgren, General of State Troops, concerning the taking of state arms to Virginia.

Letter from O. Metcalfe to Mississippi Governor John Jones Pettus; May 1, 1862

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Pettus Collection. Letter from Natchez, Mississippi, concerning bank note paper being shipped to Jackson, Mississippi, for use in making state cotton notes.

Letter from A. K. Farrar to Mississippi Governor John J. Pettus; October 11, 1862

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Pettus Collection. Letter from A. K. Farrar in the Provost Marshal's office at Natchez, Mississippi, to Mississippi Governor John J. Pettus, concerning the guns collected from civilians for use by the Confederate Army.

Petition to Mississippi Governor William L. Sharkey; July 7, 1865

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Sharkey Collection. Petition from citizens of Adams County, Mississippi, to Mississippi Governor William L. Sharkey, recommending a number of men to be appointed to county government.

Petition to Mississippi Governor William L. Sharkey; July 25, 1865

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Sharkey Collection. Petition from citizens of Natchez, Mississippi, to Mississippi Governor William L. Sharkey, asking that John B. Dicks be named treasurer of Adams County, Mississippi.

Copy of notice from Murphy and Gairns to Sheriff O. Metcalfe; August 4, 1865

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Sharkey Collection. Copy of a notice from Murphy and Gairns, two merchants at Natchez, Mississippi, to Sheriff O. Metcalfe, claiming that it was illegal for Metcalfe to collect fifty dollars in tax from them. (This document is the enclosed notice from Murphy and Gairns mentioned in mdah_771-956-01-39).

Letter from Sheriff O. Metcalfe to Mississippi Governor William L. Sharkey; August 4, 1865

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Sharkey Collection. Letter from Sheriff O. Metcalfe at Natchez, Mississippi, to Mississippi Governor William L. Sharkey, concerning resistance to the business tax. Metcalfe states that he enclosed copies of some of his letters to Sharkey as well as a copy of a notice from merchants Murphy and Gairns who are resisting the tax. (Enclosed letters not present. Enclosed notice from Murphy and Gairns is mdah_771-956-01-38).

Letter from Woodson McMurtry to O. Metcalfe; March 3, 1863

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Pettus Collection. Letter from Sheriff of Adams County, Mississippi, Woodson McCurty, to O. Metcalfe, asking that he not take the men working at the tannery of Mr. McCowen.

Letter to Mississippi Governor William L. Sharkey; July 17, 1865

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Sharkey Collection. Letter from residents of Natchez, Mississippi, to Mississippi Governor William L. Sharkey, recommending Charles M. Benbrook for constable of district 4.

Letter from Sheriff O. Metcalfe to Mississippi Governor William L. Sharkey; July 28, 1865

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Sharkey Collection. Letter from Sheriff O. Metcalfe of Adams County, Mississippi, to Mississippi Governor William L. Sharkey, with questions concerning the state business tax.

Letters from O. Metcalfe to Mississippi Governor William L. Sharkey; July 1865

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Sharkey Collection. Two letters from Sheriff O. Metcalfe of Adams County, Mississippi, at Natchez, Mississippi, to Mississippi Governor William L. Sharkey. In the first letter, dated July 28, 1865, Metcalfe asks if any tax relief can be offered to the impoverished people of Adams County. On the reverse, Metcalfe pens a second letter, dated July 29, 1865, asking if he is correctly collecting taxes from merchants who sell liquors and groceries.

Letter from Parsens and Chambers to Mississippi Governor William L. Sharkey; July 29, 1865

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Sharkey Collection. Letter from the firm of Parsens and Chambers at Natchez, Mississippi, to Mississippi Governor William L. Sharkey, asking that their taxes be reduced.

Letter from H. Kern to Mississippi Governor William L. Sharkey; August 26, 1865

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Sharkey Collection. Letter from H. Kern at Natchez, Mississippi, to Mississippi Governor William L. Sharkey at Jackson, Mississippi, asking that he be refunded for part of the tax issued on his small grocery store. Sheriff O. Metcalfe of Adams County, Mississippi, supports Kern's claim that the tax would have been reduced before collection if Metcalfe had the authority at the time to do so.