In 1844, at age 4, Julia and her family moved west from Ohio to West Point, Lee County, Iowa. The region was still largely a frontier, and West Point was considered a likely choice to be the county seat. That appealed to Julia's father, who was an attorney. The family set up a farm outside town. Julia received much of her education in West Point. In 1851, a cholera epidemic swept through the area, and 10% of the town's population died. Julia survived.
Julia's father, John Fitch Kinney, became a well respected attorney in the county and state, so much so that he was appointed to the Iowa Supreme Court. When Julia was 14, her father was named by the President to serve as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Utah Territory. The family was required to move to Salt Lake City, and joined a wagon train. The travelers had a harrowing encounter with a group of hostile Indians. Reportedly, Judge Kinney and another man walked out to meet with the Indians and offer them friendship or a fight. The Indians rode away.
The family returned to West Point, Iowa in 1856. The next year, however, the Kinneys sold their farm and sought a new home in eastern Nebraska. They joined a group of settlers interested in establishing a new town. Julia's father effectively became the leader of the group, and named the town Beatrice, using Julia's middle name. The Kinney family, however, decided not to stay there and settled instead at Nebraska City.
Julia's husband, Julian Metcalf, came to Nebraska City in July 1857, and engaged in banking. He was born in Charlestown, Sullivan Co., NH in 1833, and lived there until 1855. He then spent two years in Cleveland, Ohio, and then moved to St. Louis, where he stayed until he came to Nebraska. He was half owner of the Nebraska City Elevator Company, Mr. Hill owning the balance. They had eight warehouses along the Nebraska R. R. from Nemaha City to Bennet. (Andreas' History of the State of Nebraska).
FG member ASA reports: Julia was cremated at Forest Lawn in Glendale but ashes were delivered to a private residence. Her daughter, Gertrude, is in Forest Lawn.
In 1844, at age 4, Julia and her family moved west from Ohio to West Point, Lee County, Iowa. The region was still largely a frontier, and West Point was considered a likely choice to be the county seat. That appealed to Julia's father, who was an attorney. The family set up a farm outside town. Julia received much of her education in West Point. In 1851, a cholera epidemic swept through the area, and 10% of the town's population died. Julia survived.
Julia's father, John Fitch Kinney, became a well respected attorney in the county and state, so much so that he was appointed to the Iowa Supreme Court. When Julia was 14, her father was named by the President to serve as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Utah Territory. The family was required to move to Salt Lake City, and joined a wagon train. The travelers had a harrowing encounter with a group of hostile Indians. Reportedly, Judge Kinney and another man walked out to meet with the Indians and offer them friendship or a fight. The Indians rode away.
The family returned to West Point, Iowa in 1856. The next year, however, the Kinneys sold their farm and sought a new home in eastern Nebraska. They joined a group of settlers interested in establishing a new town. Julia's father effectively became the leader of the group, and named the town Beatrice, using Julia's middle name. The Kinney family, however, decided not to stay there and settled instead at Nebraska City.
Julia's husband, Julian Metcalf, came to Nebraska City in July 1857, and engaged in banking. He was born in Charlestown, Sullivan Co., NH in 1833, and lived there until 1855. He then spent two years in Cleveland, Ohio, and then moved to St. Louis, where he stayed until he came to Nebraska. He was half owner of the Nebraska City Elevator Company, Mr. Hill owning the balance. They had eight warehouses along the Nebraska R. R. from Nemaha City to Bennet. (Andreas' History of the State of Nebraska).
FG member ASA reports: Julia was cremated at Forest Lawn in Glendale but ashes were delivered to a private residence. Her daughter, Gertrude, is in Forest Lawn.
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