Prescott Metcalf

Infobox Officeholder


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title = Mayor of Erie, Pennsylvania
order = 8th
term_start = 1862
term_end = 1864
predecessor = Sherburn Smith
successor = F. F. Farrar
birth_date =birth date|1813|1|25
birth_place = Putney, Vermont
death_date =death date and age|1891|10|14|1813|1|25
death_place = Erie, Pennsylvania
spouse =
alma_mater =
religion =
party =Republican Party

Prescott Metcalf (1813-01-25–1891-10-14) was a prominent businessman and one of the first Republican mayors of Erie, Pennsylvania, a post he held from 1862 to 1864. His children were Joseph P. Metcalf, Windham W. Metcalf, Fred W. Metcalf, Nellie Metcalf, and George R. Metcalf. One of thirteen children, Metcalf was born in Putney, Vermont on 25 January1813 Metcalf arrived in Erie in 1835.

Business exploits

Metcalf was well known for his role as a lake traffic manager for the steamship businessescite news|publisher=New York Times|title=Obituary|date=15 October 1891|pages=5] owned by Rufus S. Reed and Charles Manning Reed, with whom he became acquainted in 1840. The three were involved in the development and operation of the Erie Extension Canal. Metcalf held the title of director of the canal at one time and owned a fleet of canal boats labeled the P. M. Line, nicknamed by locals as the Poor Man's Line. He pioneered the establishment of the Erie and Pittsburgh and Erie and North East railroads.cite book|last=Carney|first=John G.|title=Highlights of Erie Politics|year=1960|pages=94|publisher=John G. Carney|location=Erie, Pennsylvania|isbn=] He also helped to incorporate several manufacturing firms in Erie, including the Erie Gas Works and the Erie Malleable Iron Works. Metcalf was also able to get the Burdett Organ Company to relocate to Erie by building them a plant in 90 days and employing 120 persons. Metcalf developed commercial properties in central downtown Erie. Metcalf was on the board of the Park Presbyterian Church and the Erie Cemetery (which he had helped incorporate). By 1860, Metcalf was a wealthy coal merchant and owned $43,000 worth of property ($981,000 in today's money). [1860 Federal Census for Pennsylvania, Erie County, Erie, lists Prescott Metcalf as 49 years of age, born in Vermont. He was a coal merchant with $43,000 worth of property. The two sons mentioned in his obituary in 1891 were living with him, as were three domestics, two young women from Vermont, and a "gentleman" named James Metcalf, 28 year old, born in Vermont.] Metcalf served as mayor of Erie from 1862 to 1864 and held no other political office after his term ended. He was initially a member of the Whig Party, but switched to the Republican Party. Metcalf died in Erie on 14 October 1891.

References