James A. Getty, Sr. was born June 19, 1810 in an obscure hamlet named Cullybackey in the Townland of Dreen in County Antrim in the state of Ulster in what is now Northern Ireland. His parents were John, Sr. and Elizabeth Getty.

He was married to Matilda M. "Mattie" McCaughey (right) who was born on July 2, 1813. They lived in the Parrish of Craigs after their marriage.

James and Matilda had nine children with the first seven being born in Ireland:

1. William John Getty, Sr
2. Nancy Ann (Getty) Downing
3. James Getty, Jr.
4. George Kilpatrick Getty
5. Eliza Jane (Getty) Underwood
6. Alexander C. Getty
7. Hugh McCaughey Getty
8. Peter McGinley Getty
9. Charles H. Getty

In 1848, their oldest child, William John, at the age of 16, emigrated to the United States. From there, he encouraged the rest of the family to join him. His father came to America in 1851 and lived with a friend, Peter McGinley, on a farm in Groveland, New York.

Although we have no direct evidence, we would suspect that the teenaged William probably also lived with family friend Peter McGinley when he first came to America.

In the 1851 local census, James was listed as a linen weaver in the local linen factory.

In early 1851, William returned to Ireland to accompany the rest of the family on their trip. Although he was only 18 or 19 years old, William gave his age as 30 so he could act as the "adult" taking care of the others while on the ship, the SS William Rathbone. He, his mother, Matilda, and the other six children born in Ireland (Nancy, James, Jr., George K., Eliza, Alexander and Hugh) arrived at the port of New York City on October 2, 1852. At that time, they would have been processed through Castle Garden Emigrant Depot since Ellis Island did not start operations until 1892.

They lived in rural New York for another year and their son, Peter McGinley Getty, was born there in 1853. His given names came from James' host who had helped in making the family's transition to America.

In late 1854 the family traveled by way of boat on Lake Erie to Toledo, Ohio and then by horse and wagon to Ridgeway Township, Lenawee County, Michigan. They first purchased a 40 acre farm in Section 36 and later added another 40 acres for $50 in 1864. At one time James, Sr. owned one half section in Milan Township and one half section in Dundee Township, right where the corners of the townships meet at the Lenawee Monroe County Line.

"When James Getty and his family arrived, the wilderness northeast of Britton was already dotted with crude farm homes, many of the residents being Irish. Some land had been cleared, and ditches were being dug to drain the swamp. It was apparent to these courageous and industrious pioneers that once the land was drained, it would prove to be very fertile and productive."

"On February 16, 1858, James declared his intention to become a citizen of the United States, and he renounced forever all allegiance and fidelity to each and every foreign Prince, Potentate, State, or Sovereignty whatever, and particularly the Queen of Great Britain, of whom he was a subject.

James' naturalization covered the family, too, automatically making his wife and children citizens."

Matilda who was born on July 2, 1813 in Township Limnahary, Parish of Ahoghill, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, passed away on October 27, 1871 at the age of 58. She is buried at the Ridgeway Cemetery in Ridgeway Township, Lenawee County, Michigan.

The following year on March 12, 1877, James married a woman named Rosa who had been born on August 4, 1851. They were divorced in 1875 and had no children.

On December 17, 1877, James, age 67, married 49 year old widow, Ann Plenckett or Plunket, in Ridgeway Township. Ann had a son, Patrick, who was born in Ohio on August 25, 1862. He passed away at the age of 24 on February 24, 1886.

They moved to Ann's home in Deerfield, Lenawee County, Michigan and George Kilpatrick took over the homestead.

James died in Deerfield on November 23, 1880 at the age of 70 and is buried in Ridgeway Cemetery in Lenawee County.
 

In 1852, their eldest son, William John, who was 18 at the time, returned to Ireland to escort his mother and six siblings on their journey to America. To appear more mature so he could be the "man" of the family, William reported his age as 30. For some reason, perhaps to show that she was old enough to be William's mother, Matilda listed her age as 50 although she would have actually been 39 at the time.

They were passengers 294 to 301 on the voyage which took nearly four weeks to cross the Atlantic Ocean. The SS William Rathbone, which was built in Mystic, Connecticut in 1849, sailed the Liverpool to New York route. It held 470 passengers.

They were listed with their age as follows: W.J. Getty (30), Matilda (50), Nancy (14), James (11), George (8), Eliza Jane (7), Alexander (5) and Hugh (1½).