Gaston, Joseph.  "The Centennial History of Oregon, 1811-1912."  Vol. 2. 
Chicago, Clarke Publishing Co., 1912. p. 659.
 
JACOB SEITTER

     For more than twenty-three years Jacob Seitter has been a resident of
McMinnville and throughout the entire period has been engaged in the brick
manufacturing business, in which he still continues, under the name of the
McMinnville Brick & Tile Factory, of which he is sole owner. He made the brick
for the Yamhill county courthouse and many other of the substantial structures
of the county stand as monuments to his enterprise and business ability in the
line of activity which he has chosen to make his life work. He was born in Ohio,
January 31, 1844, and is a son of Jacob and Christina K. (Albright) Seitter,
both of whom were natives of Germany but crossed the Atlantic during their
childhood days, becoming residents of Pennsylvania. Subsequently they removed to
Ohio and settled upon a farm where they spent the remainder of their days. In
their family were nine children: William, who is still a resident of Ohio; Mary,
the wife of Solomon Kline, also of that state; Jacob, of this review; Magdalena
M., the wife of Thomas Neely, of Ohio; John, Charles 0., Edward 0., and two who
are deceased.
     Jacob Seitter spent his youthful days under the parental roof, in the
Buckeye state, and during that period acquired a good education in the common
schools. He left home at the age of twenty years to offer his services to his
country, then engaged in the Civil war, enlisting as a member of Company C, One
hundred and twenty-third Ohio Volunteer Infantry. For some time he was under the
command of General Sheridan and he participated in the battles of Cedar Creek,
Newmarket and Piedmont. While on various occasions he was in the thickest of the
fight, he was never wounded, returning home without a scratch. He was mustered
out at Columbus, Ohio, with a creditable military record, for he had ever been
faithful and valorous in the discharge of his duties.
     After the war was over Mr. Seitter assisted his father up to the time of
his marriage, when he began farming on his own account. It was in 1866 that he
wedded Miss Edith E. Snyder, who was born in Ohio and is a daughter of Reuben
and Philena (Curtis) Snyder, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania but
removed to Ohio in early life. Mr. and Mrs. Seitter have become the parents of
seven children: Mary, now Mrs. J. W. Baxter, of Yamhill county; Carl and
Randall, both deceased; Edith A., the wife of R. B. McDonald, of Yamhill county;
Ethel, the wife of Clint Pine, of the same county; Christina, the wife of George
H. Martin, of McMinnville; and Lenora, who is a college graduate and is now
engaged in teaching school.
     Following his marriage Mr. Seitter and his wife began their domestic life
upon an Ohio farm and continued residents of that state until 1874, when they
came west to the Pacific coast, settling first in Washington. After six months
they removed to Dayton, Oregon, and here Mr. Seitter established a brickyard,
engaging in the manufacture of brick at that place until 1888, when he removed
to McMinnville. Here he also opened a brickyard and made the brick to build the
Yamhill county courthouse. From his plant have come nearly all of the brick used
in the buildings of McMinnville and his business, has steadily grown in volume
and importance until it is now one of the leading productive industries of this
part of the state. For more than twenty-three years he has continued in this
line of business in this city and is now operating his plant under the name of
the McMinnville Brick & Tile Factory. It is well equipped with modern machinery
and improved methods of manufacture have been adopted by him and constitute the
basis of his continually growing success, whereby he has reached a position
among the men of affluence in Yamhill county.
     In his political views Mr. Seitter is a democrat and for some time served
as a member of the city council, in which connection he has done important work
to uphold the political and legal status and promote the progress and upbuilding
of the city. He likewise holds membership with the Knights of Pythias. He is a
splendid representative of our best type of American manhood and chivalry, and
by perseverance, determination and honorable effort he has overthrown the
obstacles which bar the path of success and has reached the goal of prosperity,
while his genuine worth, broad mind and public spirit have made him in his home
locality a director of public thought and action.


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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in June 2008 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.