Elmer Ellsworth Getchell, also known as, Electric Elmer, Prof. Getchell, and Capt. Getchell.
In 1898, tattoo artists Elmer Getchell and Sam F. O'Reilly were partners at 5 Chatham Square. However, by 1899, they had had a falling out. O'Reilly accused Getchell of profiting from his patent by making and selling machines. After Getchell and O'Reilly parted ways, Getchell moved to 11 Chatham Square. Ever since Albert Parry published his book on tattoo culture in 1933, O'Reilly has been given the credit as being the first at this address, but Getchell was definitely the first.
Elmer Getchell's granddaughter states that Elmer was scholarly and was a jack of all trades. He was a steamboat captain, horseshoer, tattooer, and water color artist. He enjoyed painting sunrises and sunsets, especially sunsets. He would always include 3 seagulls in his paintings to represent the Holy Trinity. His wife, Madeline, and children traveled around with him on the steamboat and some children were born at sea. He also kept tattoo shops in different ports (Baltimore, Washington D.C.) so he could tattoo different places during his travels. He was described by his family as a "rover." He was a very secretive about his past and didn't reveal much about his parents and life as a child. Genealogy records show that he was married three times and his second wife even joined him as a steamboat captain.
According to the family, he had a Masters and a PhD -one in Pyhsics and one in Chemistry. He went to both Harvard and MIT, but they aren't sure which college he received which degree from. He used to experiment with ointment and salves and try it out on his children. Upon doing a superficial search the Harvard registrar found no record of Elmer as a student. However, he was living in Cambridge, MA for a time which was the location of both of these schools.
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Carmen Forquer Nyssen Find-A-Grave Member #46825072
In 1898, tattoo artists Elmer Getchell and Sam F. O'Reilly were partners at 5 Chatham Square. However, by 1899, they had had a falling out. O'Reilly accused Getchell of profiting from his patent by making and selling machines. After Getchell and O'Reilly parted ways, Getchell moved to 11 Chatham Square. Ever since Albert Parry published his book on tattoo culture in 1933, O'Reilly has been given the credit as being the first at this address, but Getchell was definitely the first.
Elmer Getchell's granddaughter states that Elmer was scholarly and was a jack of all trades. He was a steamboat captain, horseshoer, tattooer, and water color artist. He enjoyed painting sunrises and sunsets, especially sunsets. He would always include 3 seagulls in his paintings to represent the Holy Trinity. His wife, Madeline, and children traveled around with him on the steamboat and some children were born at sea. He also kept tattoo shops in different ports (Baltimore, Washington D.C.) so he could tattoo different places during his travels. He was described by his family as a "rover." He was a very secretive about his past and didn't reveal much about his parents and life as a child. Genealogy records show that he was married three times and his second wife even joined him as a steamboat captain.
According to the family, he had a Masters and a PhD -one in Pyhsics and one in Chemistry. He went to both Harvard and MIT, but they aren't sure which college he received which degree from. He used to experiment with ointment and salves and try it out on his children. Upon doing a superficial search the Harvard registrar found no record of Elmer as a student. However, he was living in Cambridge, MA for a time which was the location of both of these schools.
Bio provided by
Carmen Forquer Nyssen Find-A-Grave Member #46825072
Elmer Ellsworth Getchell, also known as, Electric Elmer, Prof. Getchell, and Capt. Getchell.
In 1898, tattoo artists Elmer Getchell and Sam F. O'Reilly were partners at 5 Chatham Square. However, by 1899, they had had a falling out. O'Reilly accused Getchell of profiting from his patent by making and selling machines. After Getchell and O'Reilly parted ways, Getchell moved to 11 Chatham Square. Ever since Albert Parry published his book on tattoo culture in 1933, O'Reilly has been given the credit as being the first at this address, but Getchell was definitely the first.
Elmer Getchell's granddaughter states that Elmer was scholarly and was a jack of all trades. He was a steamboat captain, horseshoer, tattooer, and water color artist. He enjoyed painting sunrises and sunsets, especially sunsets. He would always include 3 seagulls in his paintings to represent the Holy Trinity. His wife, Madeline, and children traveled around with him on the steamboat and some children were born at sea. He also kept tattoo shops in different ports (Baltimore, Washington D.C.) so he could tattoo different places during his travels. He was described by his family as a "rover." He was a very secretive about his past and didn't reveal much about his parents and life as a child. Genealogy records show that he was married three times and his second wife even joined him as a steamboat captain.
According to the family, he had a Masters and a PhD -one in Pyhsics and one in Chemistry. He went to both Harvard and MIT, but they aren't sure which college he received which degree from. He used to experiment with ointment and salves and try it out on his children. Upon doing a superficial search the Harvard registrar found no record of Elmer as a student. However, he was living in Cambridge, MA for a time which was the location of both of these schools.
Bio provided by
Carmen Forquer Nyssen Find-A-Grave Member #46825072
In 1898, tattoo artists Elmer Getchell and Sam F. O'Reilly were partners at 5 Chatham Square. However, by 1899, they had had a falling out. O'Reilly accused Getchell of profiting from his patent by making and selling machines. After Getchell and O'Reilly parted ways, Getchell moved to 11 Chatham Square. Ever since Albert Parry published his book on tattoo culture in 1933, O'Reilly has been given the credit as being the first at this address, but Getchell was definitely the first.
Elmer Getchell's granddaughter states that Elmer was scholarly and was a jack of all trades. He was a steamboat captain, horseshoer, tattooer, and water color artist. He enjoyed painting sunrises and sunsets, especially sunsets. He would always include 3 seagulls in his paintings to represent the Holy Trinity. His wife, Madeline, and children traveled around with him on the steamboat and some children were born at sea. He also kept tattoo shops in different ports (Baltimore, Washington D.C.) so he could tattoo different places during his travels. He was described by his family as a "rover." He was a very secretive about his past and didn't reveal much about his parents and life as a child. Genealogy records show that he was married three times and his second wife even joined him as a steamboat captain.
According to the family, he had a Masters and a PhD -one in Pyhsics and one in Chemistry. He went to both Harvard and MIT, but they aren't sure which college he received which degree from. He used to experiment with ointment and salves and try it out on his children. Upon doing a superficial search the Harvard registrar found no record of Elmer as a student. However, he was living in Cambridge, MA for a time which was the location of both of these schools.
Bio provided by
Carmen Forquer Nyssen Find-A-Grave Member #46825072
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