BIO: JOHN ETTER, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania
   
  Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Joe Patterson
  OCRed by Judy Banja

  Copyright 2004.  All rights reserved.
  http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
  http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/
  _____________________________________________________________

  >From Biographical Annals of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania,
  Chicago: The Genealogical Publishing Co., 1905, pages 320-321
  _____________________________________________________________

  NOTE: Use this web address to access other bios:
  http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/zeamer/

  
    JOHN ETTER, a well known farmer of Cumberland county, comes of a family
  of successful agriculturists. He was born in South Middleton township Feb.
  25, 1831, and is of German ancestry, his great-grandfather having come from
  Germany and located in Lancaster county, Pa., where he reared his family. The
  grandfather of John Etter learned the trade of blacksmith, which he followed
  in connection with farming all his life. Of his children there is record as
  follows: John and Isaac both died in Lancaster county; Samuel became the
  father of John; Susan and Ann died in Lancaster county.
 
    Samuel Etter was born in Lancaster county Feb. 6, 1806, and received such
  education as could be obtained in the schools of that day and neighborhood,
  his attendance being limited to such times as his services were not needed at
  home. He learned the trade of weaver in York county, Pa., and for twenty-five
  years was engaged in that line, also carrying on farming. In 1826 he came to
  Cumberland county and purchased a farm, in South Middleton township, where
  he lived until his death, in 1872. He married Barbara Sollenberger, daughter
  of John and Barbara Sollenberger, of Cumberland county; and she died in South
  Middleton township in 1863. Their two children were Annie and John. The
  daughter, born July 27, 1826, married Samuel Ginter, of York county, Pa., and
  they both died in South Middleton township.
 
    John Etter received the benefits of a public school education. At the age
  of eighteen he began to learn the cooper's trade with John Enck, of Monroe
  township, following that occupation for fifteen years, chiefly, however, in
  the winter seasons. Like his father and grandfather before him, Mr. Etter
  might have many different ways of earning a good livelihood, but he would
  always keep his farm work in the foreground. After his marriage he located on
  the old homestead in South Middleton, and at his father's death became the
  owner of the farm, on which hemade many improvements, remaining there until
  he was forty-eight years of age. Going then to Dickinson township, he bought
  a tract of 151 1/2 acres, upon which he lived for three years, moving thence
  to Huntsdale, where he lived retired for two years. Returning to Dickinson
  township, hd remained there six years, and on May 7, 1885, went back to
  Huntsdale, but stayed there only a short time when he moved to the stone
  house in Dickinson township, living there one year retired. After one year in
  Harrisburg, and three years more in Dickinson township, he in 1897 returned to
  the old home in South Middleton, at the end of four years moving to his
  present fine farm of log acres, where he is leading a quiet life. He enjoys
  the respect of all who know him.
 
    Mr. Etter has been twice married. His first wife, Sarah Rebbert, died May
  7, 1885, the mother of children as follows: Samuel, who married Annie
  Brindell, and lives in South Middleton township; Mary, who died

    CUMBERLAND COUNTY.  321

  at the age of three years; Barbara, who married Daniel Shenk, and lives in
  Huntsdale, Pa.; John, who married a Miss Gipple, and lives in Silver Spring
  township; and Abraham, who married a Miss Kitzmiller, and lives in Penn
  township. In 1892 Mr. Etter married for his second wife Catherine (Hosler)
  Vogle, of Dauphin county, a most estimable woman, who was the widow of Joseph
  Vogle. Mr. Etter is a Republican in politics, while his religious connection
  is with the German Baptist Church.