Metler, Simeon Austin (Died)

Simeon Austin Metler, one of the best known men in Niagara Peninsula, was buried Monday, July 27th, in N. Pelham Cemetery, near which he had farmed for over half a century. Mr. Metler was fond of telling of his friendship for the famous outlaw, Jesse James, who flourished in the West a generation ago. When a young man, Mr. Metler went West, and lived for a time a neighbour to the James family, in a small town. He became very intimate with the outlaw. Jesse James once whittled a walking cane from a piece of stout wood, and on it carved a skull and crossbones. "When I die this cane is yours," he told Mr. Metler. When Jesse James was shot dead in his home, the cane was given to John Drennan, a neighbour, to hand to Mr. Metler. Mr. Drennan was born in Niagara Peninsula, and went West also. His widow is now living in Buffalo, and has the noted cane. Mr. Metler also owned another conspicuous walking stick. It was whittled by John Drennan from a hickory stick, and in it he bore small holes in which he plugged a bit of wood taken from trees from every State in the U.S.