Version 6.01

11 February 2025

David March © 2014

CLAIR EDWIN GETTY and ELLA MARGARET GETTY née ALTHOUSE

Clair Edwin Getty was born on 17 January 1889 in Grand Rapids, Kent, Michigan to Herman Vedder Getty (1869-1922) & Minerva M. "Mae" Christie (1868-1945). Clair had four brothers, Verne Howard (1887-1956), Glen (1890-1957), Louis Eral (1892-1961) & Arthur Ward (1900-1962) and two sisters, Iva L (1894-1968) & Dora Betty (1898-1996).

Clair came to Canada in about 1905 with his family. They settled in Battleford, Saskatchewan. Clair married Ella Margaret Althouse in 1912 and by 1916 was farming at Grandview, Battleford. Ella was born on 21 March 1892 in Grimsby, Niagara, Ontario to Archibald Edgar Althouse (1864-1938) & Clarissa Ann Stewart (1868-1945). Ella had three brothers, Archibald Franklin (b 1890), Harry Edgar (b 1894) and Charles Stewart (1895-1965).

Clair & Ella had two children, Howard Clair (1912-1937) & Ruth Clarissa M (1915-1993).

It appears that Clair was not satisfied as a farmer and by at least 1924 had established himself as a woodworker. He subsequently pursued this trade throughout his life, sometimes as a carpenter, sometimes as a lumber merchant and then later as a cabinet maker. Clair and the family seem to have lived in Winnipeg, Manitoba for a period but were not listed in the Henderson’s directories. From March-August 1919, Clair was in the US, possibly visiting his family who had already returned to Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Clair, Ella and the children left Canada on 16 January 1924 and settled in Thornapple, Barry, Michigan. Clair & Ella stayed in this area for the remainder of their lives. Clair died on 29 July 1955.

This family tree can be found on Ancestry under the title 3rd Ave Getty Tree.

We have found no connection directly linking Clair & Ella with Saskatoon. There is one reference to a William Getty in Saskatoon in 1918, but we have not been able show any family relationship. Clair & Ella signed the quilt one above the other, confirming they were related. Clair signed a ‘Record of Aliens Pre-Examined in Canada’ on 16 January 1924; this signature closely resembles the name on the quilt.