BIO: William Wallace GEETY, Dauphin County, PA

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Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of Dauphin County, 
Containing Sketches of Representative Citizens, and Many of the 
Early Scotch-Irish and German Settlers.  Chambersburg, Pa.: 
J. M. Runk & Company, 1896, pages 254-255. 
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  GEETY, WILLIAM WALLACE, was born in Harrisburg, December 4, 1831, and 
died at Dauphin, January 19, 1887.  When he was quite young the family 
moved to Middletown, but returned a few years later.  Then Wallace, a 
lad eight years of age, was sent to the school of Jacob Eyster, who 
kept the boys under strict military drill and discipline.  At twelve 
years of age he was put to Francis Wyeth to learn the book business, 
and at sixteen to Martin Lutz to acquire a knowledge of pharmacy.  He 
had also learned something of dentistry with Dr. Stough, practicing his 
profession and teaching school at intervals until 1858, when he removed 
to Coxestown and taught school until the war broke out.  He first 
enlisted as a private in the "Cameron Guards" for a term of three 
months.  This ended, he returned and helped raise a company of forty 
men, which was assigned to Colonel Good's regiment (later Colonel 
Gobin's), with James Casey, of Perry county, as captain and himself as 
first lieutenant.  He participated in the battles of Gainsville, St. 
John's Bluff and Pocotaligo, where he was severely wounded.  A grape 
shot struck him between the eyes and passing to the left destroyed the 
eye, shattered the bones of the face, injuring the nerves and lodged 
near the carotic artery.  While lying upon the field he was for a while 
given up for dead.  When able to leave the hospital he returned to 
Harrisburg, received the rank of captain and was appointed 
quartermaster, which position he held until the expiration of his term 
of service.  After that he removed to Clark's Valley, but failing 
health compelled him to relinquish a small farm he had purchased, and 
in 1879 he settled in Dauphin until his death.  Captain Geety was a 
member of the Veteran Association of Dauphin, and of Post 58, G.A.R., 
of Harrisburg, a staunch Republican, and for some years a member of the 
county committee.  Captain Geety married in 1858 Henrietta Thompson who 
with four children survive.