A. J. ETTER, a merchant of Madera, was born at McMinnville, Warren County, Tennessee, in 1855, the son of Henry Etter, a tanner by trade, who also attended to farming.  Young Etter lived at home until twenty-one years of age, working upon the farm and in the tannery, and in 1876 he began his mercantile career in his native town, as clerk in the store of J.F. Manford, and after six years of service was taken in as partner, and remained as such until 1885.  Mr. Etter speaks of Mr. Manford with great kindness and gratitude, not only for instructing him in business, but also teaching the rudiments of an education, of which he had been deprived in his youth.  In 1885 Mr. Etter came to Borden and bought 160 acres fo land, which he improved and cultivated.  At that time the grain was handled by the commission men of San Francisco, and after deducting freights and charges very little was left for the rancher.  Through the efforts of Mr. Etter a new era was established.  He became purchasing agent for C.W. McNear, a commission man of San Francisco, and purchased the grain direct from the rancher, which was of great benefit to the former.  Of this pioneer work he feels justly proud.  In 1885, 8,360 acres were cultivated in a radius bounded by the San Joaquin river, foothills and the Merced line, and in 1890, 160,000 acres were under cultivation.  In 1887, Mr. Etter started a small gents’ furnishing store in Madera, with stock valued at $2,000, and in February, 1888, moved into his present spacious quarters on Yo Semite avenue.  He then enlarged his stock to general merchandise, and now has about $11,000 invested in his business.

He was married in Coffee County, Tennessee, in 1885, to Miss Susie Ramsey, who has been a worthy confident and advisor.  Mr. Etter is a member of the United Foresters.  He was one of the incorporators of the Bank of Madera, has interests in city property, is an esteemed citizen of Madera, and rejoices in the possession of many warm personal friends and the confidence of the community



Memorial and Biographical History of the Counties of Fresno, Tulare, and Kern, California.  Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago, 1891

Transcribed by Liz Brase 2006 ©