My Genealogy Hound

GEORGE HETZEL, artist, Pittsburgh, was born in the village of Hangviller, Alsace, Germany, January 17, 1826. His parents, George and Catherine (Siegrist) Hetzel, came to America in 1828, and settled at Pittsburgh, where the father worked at tailoring for some time, and was twenty-five years toll-keeper at Mechanic street bridge. George attended the public school until sixteen years of age, when he was apprenticed to a house and sign painter. This he followed till of age, and then proceeded to Dusseldorf, Germany, where he studied the art of painting over two years. Ever since then his brush has been his capital. For a few years he gave attention to portrait-work, but now devotes his entire time to landscape-painting, and finds a ready sale for his productions in. New York, Philadelphia, Wilmington and other eastern cities, as well as at home. In 1870 he took up his residence at Edgewood, where he built his present home. In 1883, Mr. Hetzel established the Pittsburgh Art school, in company with Mr. John Beatty, and is still connected with that institution as teacher. He is a member of the Stockton Avenue Lutheran Church, Allegheny City, and in politics is a republican. In 1860 Mr. Hetzel married Miss Louise Siegrist, who was born in Mifflin, Juniata county, Pa., daughter of George and Mary Magdalene (Kaetzel) Siegrist, who came from the same locality as Mr. Hetzel. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Hetzel were James, Charles, Ella, Frank and Lila. The eldest three were in the Twenty-eighth street railroad accident in 1880, in which Charles and Ella were killed.