Max Edward Metcalf, age 32, vanished from Princeton, Wisconsin on October 7, 1958.
Max was last seen by his wife, Katie, and their five children when he left in his pick-up truck to go have a few beers at a tavern a half mile away. I’ve been unable to find any information on whether or not he was seen there.
Max never returned, and his truck was found between 11pm and midnight that night, about 35 miles away in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, near Lake Winnebago.
The truck was initially spotted by Oshkosh Police, parked behind a storage facility on South Main Street. No action was taken immediately, as the officer had no reason to find the truck suspicious. They traced the truck to Max after learning that he was missing, about a week later. It’s been noted that the parking brake was set, which his wife found odd. She reported that the parking brake was broken and that Max never used it.
Some articles state that the truck was found a week later, as opposed to the same night he vanished. Additionally, there was a potential sighting of Max on Friday, October 10. A milk delivery man who knew Max stated that he had seen Max on the highway, but had not spoken to him. I don’t know if he was claiming to have seen Max in his truck, or on foot.
Shortly after his disappearance, an individual pointed out a spot on the northwestern corner of the Metcalf farm, where the ground appeared to be disturbed. The ground was frozen at the time, and police announced their intention to dig it up when possible, but I’ve found no indication of whether this was ever done.
Although no one has ever been named a suspect in his disappearance, it’s worth noting that a former employee of Max’s, Clarence Johnson, was charged with theft the following year. He was accused of stealing equipment from the Metcalf farm.
Max had served in the Air Force during the Korean War.
He was born in Packwaukee, Wisconsin to Walter and Jessie Metcalf, and had several siblings. He grew up on his parents farm, and had his own farm at the time of his disappearance. He’d be 92, if still alive.
Other than his children, who, based on Max’s age, would likely have been very young at the time, there are few people left who remember Max and can share his story.
I don’t want Max’s story to be lost. He was here, and although he’s likely deceased, he is still somewhere, waiting to be found.
Sources:
Oshkosh Daily Northwestern (available through Ancestry.com)
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