WILLIAM ANDREW GETT, Jr.

Sacramento County

Biographies

WILLIAM ANDREW GETT, Jr.

W. A. GETT, Jr.--It would be indeed difficult to point to a better instance of what may be accomplished by a young man of pluck, perseverance and principle, than is presented in the life history of the gentleman whose name figures at the head of this sketch. Although but twenty-six years of age, he has already risen, almost unaided and alone, to a position of ease and prominent rank in a profession where hard, honest work tells perhaps more surely then almost any other line of life, namely, the legal; that, too, from narrowest circumstances of his early days, and against serious discouraging obstacles. He is a native of Sacramento, has lived all his life in this city, and it would hardly be saying too much to state that he has not an enemy upon earth. A genial, good-hearted, honorable, honest, hard-working and talented gentleman, in the truest sense of that word, he deserves every whit of his success, and the bright future that lies before him is amply due to his energy and ability. As before stated, Mr. Gett was born in the city of Sacramento, the date being July 11, 1863. His father is Captain W. A. Gett, once a prominent business man, and still a well-known and, although reduced, an honorable resident of this city. He is a veteran of the Mexican war, where he saw much active service. He was a native of Woodford County, Kentucky, and an intimate friend of young Clay, who fell at the battle of Buena Vista. The Gett family is indeed one of the old families of Kentucky, having settled there in the early days. Upon his mother’s side Mr. Gett is sprung from the old Rogers stock of Tennessee, a family well known and prominent there. Captain Gett is a pioneer of the golden days of ‘49, and was at one time a man of wealth and position. Business reverses, more the fault of others than his own, overtook him, a disaster from which he never recovered. The subject of this article was reared and educated in this city, attending different private and public schools. For a time he devoted his attention to engineering and surveying, but being naturally of a busy and aspiring turn of mind, soon abandoned those pursuits for the study of law. He entered the law office of Jones & Martin, well-known attorneys of this city, and two weeks after attaining his majority passed a brilliant examination before the Supreme Court of California during its term in San Francisco, and was admitted to practice before the bar. He immediately “hung out his shingle,” and by his quickness of judgment, legal skill and careful study of his cases, has won a position in his profession of which any lawyer of twice his age might be proud. He believes firmly in the dignity of his profession, and will never lower its standard by any act unworthy of an adviser. He owes his great success quite largely to the effective course pursued by him of singling out the most salient point of his case, letting the rest go, and reserving all his strength for that point. Mr. Gett is a Democrat of unwavering views. He had been tendered the nomination for many offices of responsibility and honor, but has always declined them, wishing first to win the right of accepting office at the hands of the people by placing himself at the very lead in his profession. That the future has much in store for him we feel assured, for in the end offices of trust and responsibility always come to those who are worthy of them, whether they seek them or not. Mr. Gett has, nevertheless, been of great service to the party by taking the field and doing effective work as a speaker and worker during several campaigns. As is natural with a gentleman of such an active disposition as Mr. Gett, he is a member of many beneficiary orders. He is a Past President of Sacramento Parlor, N. S. G. W., and had been a delegate to several Grand Parlors. He has held several important commissions for the order, at times of great responsibility. He has been First Chieftain of the Caledonian Association; is a member of the Masonic order, holding at present an office in Tehama Lodge, and a member of El Dorado Lodge, I. O. O. F. It should be stated that he is the ordnance officer on the staff of the Colonel of the First Artillery Regiment, N. G. C. The subject of this sketch is a young bachelor.

Transcribed by: Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.

Davis, Hon. Win. J., An Illustrated History of Sacramento County, California. Pages 609-610. Lewis Publishing Company. 1890.