Jacob Mettel was born in Hesse, Hamburg, Germany, August 12, 1845. His parents removed from the “Faderland” while he was an infant, and crossed the broad ocean to the “Land of the free,” settling in Franklin county, Indiana, where he was reared and attended school. When eighteen years of age he left home and went to Harrison, Ohio, where he learned the shoemaking trade with Frederick Fisher, remaining with him two years and nine months. In 1866 he went to Cincinnati, worked for Paul Shauner for two years and a half, and, at the expiration of that time, was employed by Christopher Homan, of the same city, with whom he remained three years and a half. From Cincinnati he came to Gallatin, in 1872, and secured employment in the shop of Amos Poe, remaining with him until 1875, when he opened business on his own account and has continued to run a shop ever since.
Mr. Mettel was joined in marriage to Miss Catharine C. Bird, of Franklin county, Indiana, on the 12th of August, 1869. By this marriage they have four children; names and dates of birth as follows: Frederick Jacob, born July 13, 1872; Minnie Luella, born September 13, 1876; Oliver Otto, born December 3, 1878; and Harry H., born. May 8, 1881; all in Gallatin. Mrs. Mettel is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.