My Genealogy Hound

DAVID W. GETTEL, dealer in coal, lumber and farm machinery at Shippensburg, Cumberland county, was born in this county, on a farm near Cleversburg, Jan. 25, 1852. His grandfather, Jacob Gettel, was an early settler of Cumberland county. He married Barbara Knegy.

Miley Gettel, son of Jacob, was born in Cumberland county, Sept. 27, 1824. For some years he was a teacher, and later became a successful farmer, also learning the carpenter’s trade. After his marriage, he settled on a farm near Scotland, Franklin county, but his latter days were spent at Shippensburg, where he died in August, 1880. His landed estate amounted to 300 acres of well-improved farm property. He was a man whose integrity was never called into question. Early in life he was a Whig, and later became a Republican. In religious matters he was a member of the United Brethren Church. His remains lie interred in the Spring Hill cemetery. On Dec. 27, 1849, he married Mary J. Wengert, who was born in Franklin county, near Grindstone Hill, April 5, 1827, daughter of John and Mary (Zimmerman) Wengert. She is still living and possesses all her faculties. Six children were born of this marriage: Katherine B. married George W. Plasterer, of Shippensburg; David W.; Mary J. married J. L. Martyn, of Shippensburg; John J., deceased, was a merchant at Shippensburg; W. H. is a salesman of Philadelphia; Amos died at the age of three years.

David W. Gettel spent a portion of his educational days in Franklin county, attending school while working upon a farm. He then learned the carpenter’s trade, at which he was employed for some five years, whien he took a special commercial course at Painesville, Ohio. After leaving college he entered the dry goods business at Shippensburg, and continued three years, and then for a like period was engaged in the grocery business at Shippensburg. His next venture was at carpentering and contracting, at which he was engaged three years, and from 1885 to 1888 he was in the lumber trade, at Lemasters, Franklin Co., Pa. He then came to Shippensburg and established his present extensive coal and lumber yards, which he has since conducted. He carries a large stock of hard and soft lumber, and a complete line of building material and coal. He has also added the handling of farm implements to his other lines of business, and has met with unqualified success in all his undertakings.

On Nov. 30, 1876, Mr. Gettel married Miss Emma T. Ellsrode, daughter of John and Mary (Stevick) Ellsrode. Mrs. Gettel was born in Shippensburg, and received her education in the public grammar and high schools of this place. Two sons have been born of this marriage: John R., a druggist of Pittsburg; and Traville C., in a music store at Baltimore, Maryland. Mr. and Mrs. Gettel are consistent members of the Church of God. In politics Mr. Gettel is a Republican, and for seven years he served very acceptably as a member of the school board. Fraternally he is a member of the American Mechanics, Knights of the Golden Eagle and the Royal Arcanum.

In addition to his lumber business Mr. Gettel has for some years been a builder and contractor, and among other things, erected the new church edifice of the Reformed Church of Shippensburg, as well as many handsome residences and substantial business blocks. He has been connected with several very important industrial institutions of the city, as organizer, stockholder, promoter, etc. He was a stockholder in a factory, manufacturing double acting engines, being for some time a member of the board of managers. He also was for a number of years interested in the Shippensburg Electric Light Company, acting as manager. In addition he served as secretary of the Shippensburg Canning Company, and brought to bear on all of the concerns with which he was connected, unusual executive ability, keen business judgment and unqualified energy, so that all proved remarkably successful. There has been no enterprise of any importance established in Shippensburg, since his permanent location in the city, with which he has not been connected in some way or other, and his name upon the list of stockholders or directors, insures immediate success. The people have full confidence in his integrity and business honor, and know that he would not for a moment countenance any enterprise not conducted upon strictly legitimate lines. Mr. Gettel is well informed upon current matters, and is a gentleman of pleasant, courteous manner, and genial personality.