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HISTORY OF NOVA SCOTIA
Vol III, 1916
A.W. Bowen & Co. Halifax
|
Biographical Sketches
of Representative Citizens
and Genealogical Records of the Old Families |
Amos Etter
It is a fortunate thing that a man be permitted to spend his old age in retirement from the exactions of a business life with the many worries it entails. It is well that a man should labor, keep busy both physically and mentally during his youth and middle age, but when the autumn of his years gathers upon him he is entitled to a respite, should have leisure to develop the mind and the soul. Amos B. ETTER, for many years a successful merchant of Amherst, Cumberland County, is taking life easy after a long and strenuous career.
Mr. ETTER was born at Mt. Watley, Westmoreland County, New Brunswick, December 7, 1849. He is a son of Peter and Jane (ATKINSON) ETTER, the father born January 15, 1813, at Westmoreland Point, and the mother was born at Nappan, Nova Scotia. Peter ETTER devoted his active life to farming. He took an interest in political affairs and held a number of county offices. His death occurred January 15, 1898; his wife died in October, 1885.
Amos B. ETTER was educated in the public schools and Amherst Academy. When eighteen years of age he began clerking in a store. In 1871, when twenty-one years of age, he engaged in the dry goods business with David T. CHAPMAN in Amherst, under the firm name of Chapman & Etter, continuing successfully for eight years. In 1882 Mr. ETTER formed a partnership with Robert PUGSLEY, as Etter & Pugsley, carrying on the same dry goods business at the old stand as occupied by Chapman & Etter. This partnership continued with ever-increasing success until 1910, when our subject retired from the firm. During many years he also engaged extensively in farming and raising standard bred horses.
Mr. ETTER was married April 24, 1878, to Clarissa PUGSLEY, a daughter of John and Sarah (MOFFATT) PUGSLEY of River Hebert. This union has been without issue.
Politically, Mr. ETTER is a Liberal and has long been influentiel in party affairs. He was a member of the town council for four years. He was chief deputy sheriff for twenty years, or until the death of Sheriff M.A. LOGAN, in October, 1895, when Mr. Etter became sheriff of Cumberland County, by promotion. He discharged the duties of high sheriff with the same fidelity and ability that he had performed the duties of assistant until in February, 1908, when he was appointed to the Legislative Council and he has since served as a member of this body in a highly creditable manner. He was president of the Liberal Association for Cumberland County, having been appointed in 1886, and has served continuously ever since. Fraternally, he belongs to the Masonic Order, and has passed through all the chairs of his lodge. He has always been concerned in whatever made for the betterment of Amherst in any way, and he is held in high repute by all who know him.