John Grant Getty, Jr. was born in 1844 in Portglenone Parish, County Antrim, Northern Ireland . He was the son of John, Jr. and Margaret (Coulter) Getty.

On Decembr 7, 1868, he married Margaret Belle "Peggy" Agnew at Ahoghill Presbyterian Church in Ahoghill, County Antrim, Northern Ireland .

They had six children:

1. John "Johnny" Getty, IV

2. Robert Agnew Getty

3. David James Getty

4. Ellen "Nellie" (Getty) Hall

5. Sarah Ann "Annie" (Getty) Robinson

6. Dr. William Anderson Getty, DVM

The family immigrated to the U.S. in 1885 and settled in Faribault County, Minnesota.

John, III died on December 22, 1917 in Pilot Grove, Faribault County, Minnesota. He was 73 years old at the time of death.