"Portrait and Biographical Record of Hunterdon and Warren counties, New Jersey"
Chapman Publishing Company, New York and Chicago, 1898
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ANDREW YETTER is a large operator in
lumber, and that, too, chiefly with various
railroad companies. It is a matter worthy
of comment that this estimable citizen of Blairstown, Warren County, has been the sole architect
of his fortunes. He started out in the journey of
life empty-handed, depending entirely upon his
native resources, and not even having had a good
education, in the ordinary sense. He, however,
possessed great will-power, and was industrious,
attentive to his own affairs, and methodical in all
his transactions. Thus in time he has become
influential and prosperous, and may well be
pointed out to the younger generations as a fitting
example of what may be accomplished by one
who has the requisite amount of pluck and perseverance.
Born in Sussex County in 1836, our subject is
a son of Jacob Yetter, a native of the same locality. He passed his whole life in that immediate
vicinity and was noted for his quiet, industrious
characteristics. He entered into his final rest
when he was about seventy-three years of age.
His father, Yost Yetter, was born in Germany,
and was among the early settlers of Sussex County. The wife of Jacob Yetter was a Miss Elizabeth Gruver in her girlhood. Of their nine children six are living, viz.: Hannah Jane, widow of
Andrew J. Rice; Christina, widow of Isaac
Keeue; Mary, wife of Isaac Sinister; Simeon,
Andrew, and George, a resident of Blairstown.
The mother departed this life when in her eighty-third year.
Andrew Yetter lived in his native county until
he reached man's estate, when he embarked in
the butcher's business, carrying on the enterprise
there for several years. In 1858 he came to
Blairstown, and for the succeeding four years was
occupied in the same line of business. Afterwards he became interested in the wholesale and
retail commission trade, buying direct from farmers and shipping produce to New York markets.
During the several years that he gave this branch
of commerce his attention he also entered into
other enterprises, as when he was for five years a
partner in the firm of A. H. Smith, of Blairstown,
for about eighteen years was connected with
Robert Craig (firm Yetter & Craig), and for a
year was concerned in a mercantile establishment
in Polina.
In 1875 Mr. Yetter commenced dealing in lumber, buying large tracts of timber, and then manufacturing all kinds of lumber and railroad ties.
His land was chiefly located in Pennsylvania and
New Jersey, and for years he has manufactured
about one hundred thousand ties, which he disposes of to the various railway corporations of
this portion of the United States. Besides, he
manufactures large quantities of special lumber
used in cars and locomotives and car-repairing.
He has been active as a builder of houses, etc.,
as well, and now owns thirteen residences in
Newton, N. J., and twelve double houses in
Blairstown. Much of his success he attributes to
the fact that he has always personally looked
after his own finances, and has been his own
bookkeeper.
In his political faith Mr. Yetter is a Democrat,
and has served as a freeholder of Blairstown for
some time with credit. His wife, whom he married in 1856, was Miss Martha J. Opdyke, daughter of John W. Opdyke, of Sussex County. They
have no children. Mrs. Yetter is a member of
the Presbyterian Church, and is respected and
loved by all who have the pleasure of her acquaintance.
(c) 2000-2013 American History and Genealogy Project
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