John Henry Ethredge was born in Missouri, probably Schell City, in May 1883. He would only have been about 4 years old when the extended Ethredge family made the move to Oregon in 1887. Most of the family, including his parents, had returned to Missouri by June 1897, when his younger brother, Harley, was born there. Just prior to 1900, John's father moved west again, this time to the state of Washington.

1900 census, Mountain Precinct, Columbia, WA: Ethredge, Rance, head, born Sept. 1858, age 41, married for 21 years, rents, Occupation- farmer/Looking for new location, born in MO, f-NC, m-NC; wife- Rosetta, born Aug. 1858, age 41, married 21 years, 5 children born, 5 children living, born in IL, f-TN, m-IL; dau- Ettie M., born Apr. 1881, age 19, single, born in MO, f-MO, m-IL; son- John H., born May 1883, age 17, at school, born in MO, f-MO, m-IL; son- James L., born Sept. 1885, age 14, at school, born in MO, f-MO, m-IL; dau- Myrtle N., born Mar. 1889, age 11, at school, born in OR, f-MO, m-IL; son- Harley E., born June 1897, age 3, born in MO, f-MO, m-IL

In December 1907, John purchased 154.32 acres in Adams Co., WA from the government:

Accession/Serial #: WASPAA 031910 BLM Serial #: WASPAA 031910
Names
Patentee: JOHN H ETHREDGE
Survey
State: WASHINGTON
Acres: 154.32
Metes/Bounds: No

Title Transfer
Issue Date: 12/16/1907
Land Office: Spokane
Cancelled: No
U.S. Reservations: Yes
Mineral Reservations: No
Authority: April 24, 1820: Sale-Cash Entry (3 Stat. 566)
Document Numbers
Document Nr.: 6415
Accession/Serial Nr.: WASPAA 031910
BLM Serial Nr.: WASPAA 031910


Aliquot
Parts Sec./
Block Township Range Fract.
Section Meridian State Counties Survey Nr.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
E½NW 18/ 18-N 31-E No Willamette WA Adams
1 18/ 18-N 31-E No Willamette WA Adams
Remarks: LOT 1 OR NWNW QUARTER
2 18/ 18-N 31-E No Willamette WA Adams
Remarks: LOT 2 OR SWNW QUARTER


On April 12, 1910, John married Rose Marie Faerber in Spokane City.

1910 census, Newland Precinct, Adams, WA: Etheredge, John H., head, age 26, married 1x for 0 years, farmer/general farm, born in MO, f-KY, m-IL; wife- Rose, age 20, married 1x for 0 years, born in WA, f-Germany, m-Germany; Hired man- Shore(?), Theodore, age 29, married 1x for 2 years, farm laborer/farm, born in OR, f-MO, m-TN

In September 1918, John and Rose were found living in Palouse, Whitman Co., WA, when John was registered for the WWI draft.

1920 census, Precinct 3 Branham, Whitman, WA: Ethredge, John H., head, age 36, rents home, farmer/general farm, born in MO, f-MO, m-MO; wife- Rose M., age 29, born in WA, f-Germany, m-Germany; son- Floyd R., age 8, born in WA, f-MO, m-WA; dau- Phyllis M., age 7, born in ID, f-MO, m-WA; dau- Bernice E., age 4 6/12, born in ID, f-MO, m-WA; dau- Ferne E., age 1 1/12, born in WA, f-MO, m-WA

Note: John and Rose were not enumerated in the U.S. in 1930. From their son Floyd's obituary, we learn why:
"John and Rose Faerber Ethredge... moved to Grand Prairie, Alberta, Canada then to Calgary..."

At some point after 1930, John moved back into Washington state. He died in Spokane, Washington on July 27, 1960.

Obituary from The Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA, Friday, July 29, 1960, page 21:

ETHREDGE, John H. --- Survived by 1 son, Floyd Ethredge, Burlington, Wash.; 3 daughters, Phyllis Robinson, Calgary, Alta.; Berneice Egan, Cleveland, Ohio; Fern Eyles, Vancouver, B. C.; 2 sisters, Mrs. Myrtle Davis, Potlatch, Idaho; 1 sister, Mrs. Etta Hegstrom, Calif.; 1 brother, Harley E. Ethredge, Spokane. 10 grandchildren, 3 great-grandchildren. Funeral services, Fri., July 29 at 1 p.m. from the SMITH FUNERAL HOME W1124 RIVERSIDE AVE. Rev. Phillip F. Adams officiating. Interment Greenwood cemetery.