My Genealogy Hound

WILLIAM GETZ, a manufacturer of and dealer in lumber in Kidder Township, has been engaged in that line of business since 1874. He is one of the foremost men in the county, being active and public-spirited, and has always been faithful to the interests of his community, and as a business man has not his superior in the township.

Our subject is a native of this state, and was born in Monroe County, March 31, 1824. He is the son of Conrad and Margaret (Weiss) Getz, also natives of the above county. The first representative of this now prominent family came to America from Germany, and on landing here made settlement in Pennsylvania.

William, of this sketch, attended the public schools of Monroe County, and remained there until grown to mature years. He was then married to Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Joseph Serfuss, now deceased. To them was born a family, of whom the following-named survive: Emery, the eldest; Salome, the wife of Henry Silfies; Alice, now Mrs. Charles Baumgardner; Sabilla, who married Harrison Schmale; Millard; Ira; Ulysses; William; Clara, the wife of John Heimbach; Herbert and Eddie. Mrs. Elizabeth Getz departed this life in 1875, firm in the faith of the Lutheran Church, with which she had been connected for many years. She was a lady much beloved by all who knew her, and her death was greatly felt by all her friends.

Early in the ‘50s Mr. Getz began “logging” in Kidder Township, on contract work. This he abandoned a short time thereafter and opened a hotel at Albrightsville, which he conducted for over fifteen years. He was very popular as “mine host,” and was well and favorably known to the traveling public. He subsequently purchased a one-half interest in a sawmill on Mud Run Creek, his partner being William Wagner, with whom he was associated only a few months when he bought his interest in the plant, which he has since conducted on his own responsibility. He is a very able manager, and for thirty years has carried on a very profitable business as a lumber merchant. In addition to this enterprise, our subject owns a good farm in the township, bearing all the buildings and machinery usually found on a first-class estate, and from the rental of which he derives a good income.

In politics our subject is a firm adherent of the principles of the Republican party, and loyally supports its platforms and measures, firmly upholding its actions on all occasions; and on account of his firmness in political conviction he is a man of some prominence in the politics of his township. He has been District Road Supervisor and Township Auditor, in both of which positions he acquitted himself creditably. He is a worthy and exemplary member of the Lutheran Church, and contributes liberally to the support of the congregation which he attends.