From the "The Village of Harlem: Its People, Homes and Business – 50th
Anniversary Souvenir 1856 to 1906"
"It is seldom one finds in one person qualifications for doing two things well. However, this is true of the subject of our sketch. Mr. Mette is an expert granite and marble cutter, also a photographer of unusual merit. He was born in Germany in 1862m and came to Chicago with his parents in 1867, and to Harlem when he was ten years old, which makes him practically a Harlem product. He attended the Harlem public schools, and learned his trade here. When fifteen years old he became greatly interested in art of photography, and since that time has given it considerable attention. Desiring to see the great West in 1887, Mr. Mette went to San Francisco, where he was employed by a large marble company of fine work. While repairing valuable statuary in that celebrated museum of the Golden Gate Park, and as a reward of merit for restoring parts of broken statuary, he was accorded the unusual privilege of photographing those famed works of art. After living in San Francisco a short time, he opened a photographic studio which he conducted with success. In 1898 he returned to Harlem and to his trade, awaiting a favorable opportunity to locate a studio and to follow that business exclusively, which is his heart's desire. He now has an office at 193 1/2 Madison St., and is doing a good business in group and outdoor work. He has jut completed one of the largest cameras in the country, which is 21X25 inches in size, for taking birdseye pictures of towns and landscapes. Very soon he will open a studio and make all classes of photographs.
"Mr. Mette was married in 1902 to Miss Luvina Lee of Paris, Illinois, an excellent lady. They have a bright little daughter, Esther."