An Illustrated History of the State of Washington, by Rev. H.K. Hines, D.D., The
Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, IL., 1893, pages 381-382
	
	MAJOR SELDEN HETZEL, a prominent law practitioner of Vancouver, is a member
of one of the oldest and most influential families of New England, and of the
ninth generation, descended from the original ancestors on this continent. The
Hetzel family were originally from Wurtemberg, Germany, and located in America
as early as 1732. The Selden's history is traceable back to 1636. The father of
our subject, A. Riviell Hetzel, was born in the old Keystone State, and at the
of his death, in 1847, was Chief Quartermaster in General Scott's army in
Mexico. The mother is now a resident of Washington, District of Columbia, where
she is Secretary of the Mary Washington Memorial Association.
	Major S. Hetzel, the subject of this sketch, was born in New Haven,
Connecticut. January 1, 1837, was reared in the city of Washington, and
completed his education at West Point, in 1858. He then studied law with his
maternal uncle, Chief-Justice Samuel L. Selden, was duly admitted to the bar in
1860, and the same year began practice in Colorado. In the following year he
returned to the East, to join the Federal forces, which he did, and received a
Major's commission in the Seventy-seventh New York Regiment. Major Hetzel served
with distinction until 1862, when he resigned his position, and again took up
the practice of his profession. From 1866 to 1877 he followed his profession in
Nevada, went thence to Bodie, California, later to San Jose, and in 1886,
through President Cleveland, received the appointment of Register at the Land
Office of Sacramento. Since 1890 he has been successfully and actively engaged
in his profession in Vancouver. Politically, the Major is allied with the
Democratic party, and during the last campaign stumped the State for Cleveland.
As a public speaker he is a man of great force and rare executive ability.
	Major Hetzel was married in California, October 18, 1874, to Miss Lenah
Dilley, a native of Indiana.
	
Submitted to the WA. Bios Project in September 2003 by Jeffrey L. Elmer
	
	
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Notice: These biographies were transcribed for the Washington Biographies
Project.  Unless otherwise stated, no further information is available on the
individual featured in the biographies.