Metzler, a Lancaster Mennonite family. Yost Metzler, who came to Philadelphia on 9 September 1738, and his son Valentine, aged 12, settled in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, the father dying early. Valentine (14 February 1726-24 July 1783) was married on 19 November 1749, to Anna Nissley (3 November 1727-29 March 1793). He lived on the site east of the 1950s Stehli Silk Mill, Lancaster. He was ordained in the 1760s as minister and in 1778 as bishop. His children included (1) Maria, wife of Bishop Jacob Hostetter, (2) Abraham, who lived at Metzler Meetinghouse, West Earl Township, Lancaster County, (3) John, (4) Henry of Strasburg, a preacher, (5) Ann, wife of Christian Hess, a preacher in the Hershey (Hess) congregation in the Pequea, (6) Christian, an active church worker of Roseville, (7) Martin of Warwick, and (8) Elizabeth Fry of Landisville. At least by 1831 descendants of Abraham were living in Beaver Township, Columbiana County, Ohio, where the Metzler congregation was founded in neighboring Mahoning County. From here Noah Metzler went to Yellow Creek, Elkhart County, Indiana, where he became a preacher.

Other descendants of Abraham in Pennsylvania were Bishop Abram of Martinsburg and his sons, Isaac Metzler of Glade, Maryland, and Abram J. Metzler of Scottdale, Pennsylvania. Abram Metzler, superintendent of the West Liberty Children's Home, was also a descendant.

Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, and Waterloo, Ontario, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 3, p. 659. All rights reserved. For information on ordering the encyclopedia visit the Herald Press website.

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