Franklin

McGETTRICK, Felix William

Men of Vermont: Illustrated Biographical History of Vermonters & Sons of 
Vermont. Ullery. Brattleboro: Transcript Publishing Company, 1894, pp 265-266 
(portrait p 265)

Felix William McGETTRICK, of St. Albans [Franklin County, Vermont], was born 
20 November 1847 in Fairfield [Franklin County, Vermont], son of Michael and 
Mary (O'CONNELL) McGETTRICK. The educational facilities he enjoyed before 
the war were exceedingly limited, as he lived nearly three miles from the 
nearest district schoolhouse. He enlisted, when a lad of sixteen, in Company 
E, Second Regiment U. S. Sharpshooters, and in the winter of 1864 the command 
were in camp around Brandy Station and Culpepper, Virginia. He was present 
at the battles of the Wilderness and Spottsylvania, and in the latter 
engagement was seriously wounded. He was discharged at the close of the war.

After his return from the battlefields of Virginia he took a partial course 
of study at the New Hampton Institute at Fairfax, and then placed himself as 
a private pupil under the charge of Mr. C. J. ALGER at Burlington [Chittenden 
County, Vermont], in whose office he commenced the study of law, which he 
afterward continued with the firm of Edson & Rand at St. Albans. In 1870 he 
combined his legal studies with the teaching profession, but two years later 
he began to practice at St. Albans. He has been engaged in several important 
cases and ranks high as an able criminal lawyer, and as an advocate he has no 
superior in the state, possessing great command of language, and is both 
forcible and eloquent as a speaker.

He is actively interested in politics, being a staunch supporter of the 
principles of the Democratic party. He has been town grand juror and a 
member of the school board, and town agent for prosecuting and defending 
suits. Was sent as a delegate to the Democratic national convention in 1880, 
and seven years afterward was appointed special inspector of customs; was the 
nominee of his party for Congress in 1892; the following year received the 
appointment of superintendent of construction of the new U. S. customs house 
and post office at St. Albans. In January 1872 Mr. [Felix William] 
McGETTRICK married Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas and Mary (BURKE) MORRIS, of 
Fairfield [Franklin County, Vermont]; they have three children: Edward 
Thomas, Charles Henry, and Mary Catherine.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly