BIO: DAVID W. GETTEL, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania
   
  Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Joe Patterson
  OCRed by Judy Banja

  Copyright 2004.  All rights reserved.
  http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
  http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/
  _____________________________________________________________

  >From Biographical Annals of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania,
  Chicago: The Genealogical Publishing Co., 1905, pages 342-343
  _____________________________________________________________

  NOTE: Use this web address to access other bios:
  http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/zeamer/

  
    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 horn 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. Ater 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, when 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 im-
    
    CUMBERLAND COUNTY.	343
    
  plements 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 whichhe 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.