HON. WILLIAM REED GETTY was born in 1832 in that part of Allegany County, Maryland, now embraced in Garrett County. His grandfather, John Getty, emigrated from Ireland in 1790, and settled near Cresaptown, Allegany County. He was one of the first settlers of that part of Maryland, and endured the hardships and privations of those early days. James Getty, father of William R., was born where his father first settled, but in early manhood he removed to Piney Grove, five miles east of Grantsville, Maryland, where the subject of this sketch was born and spent his youthful days.
He left home at the age of fifteen years, went to Pennsylvania, where he succeeded in saving sufficient means to enable his to attend a select school at Bedford, Pennsylvania. At the age of twenty-three, Mr. Getty married Miss Margaret Cross.
His political career began in 1859, when he was elected Justice of the Peace, to which office he was re-elected three times. In 1864, he went to St. Louis, Missouri, where he engaged in the leather business for about fourteen months, when he left that city and returned to Grantsville.Mr. Getty was a member of the Board of County School Commissioners of Allegany county, during the years 1868-9. In 1870, he was appointed Collector of the State and County taxes of Allegany County, and served two years. In 1872, when Allegany county was divided, Mr. Getty was elected the first Senator from Garrett, without opposition. PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD of the SIXTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT - MD 1898
