My Genealogy Hound

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 he made 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, he 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 109 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 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.