KETCHAM, Benjamin: Died 1911

KETCHAM, LIGHTFOOT, TAYLOR, SEELEY, LYTLE

Posted By: Volunteer: Sherri
Date: 9/22/2016 at 11:37:23

Death of Benjamin Ketcham of Bonaparte.
FUNERAL AT 1 P.M. TODAY.
Was a Model Citizen and Beloved by the Community - Was 81 Years of Age.

Benjamin Ketcham, whose death is reported by our Bonaparte correspondent, occurring at 3.30 Tuesday morning of this week will be greatly missed at Bonaparte and throughout the eastern part of the county as well as by hundreds of friends elsewhere. Mr. Ketcham had long been a resident of Bonaparte and was its wealthiest as well as one of its most prominent and most highly esteemed citizens.

Mr. Ketcham was born in Alleghany county, Pa., Dec. 19, 1829, his age at his death being 81 years, 4 months and 6 days. He was the eldest of nine children of Joel and Elizabeth Ketcham, who were also natives of Alleghany county.

Mr. Ketcham came to Iowa and Van Buren county in 1855, and in 1856 bought a 240 acre tract of land in Bonaparte township upon which he resided many years and which of late years has been farmed and managed by a son - George Ketcham. By good management he increased his landed interests from time to time until he owned at his death 1200 to 1400 acres. He also owned a residence property at Bonaparte and was a considerable stockholder in the Farmers and Traders State bank of Bonaparte and was a director and vice president of the bank.

October 27, 1963, Mr. Ketcham was united in marriage to Miss Mary Lightfoot, a daughter of John Lightfoot, a prominent resident of Lee county. Mrs. Ketcham and two daughters and four sons survive him. Mrs. Murray Taylor resides at Big Mound; Mrs. W.B. Seeley resides at Mt. Pleasant; Frank is vice president and manager of the First National bank at Farmington; and Joel, George and Carl are engaged in farming in Bonaparte township.

Mr. Ketcham possessed a good academic education, and the family resided at Fairfield for a time when the children had the educational advantages afforded by Parsons college. Mr. Ketcham was a faithful Presbyterian as were his parents before him. He contributed $700 for the erection of the Presbyterian church at Bonaparte. He was also a life-long democrat. Early in the sixties he enlisted in the 30th Iowa infantry but after being in camp two weeks was rejected because of a lame ankle.

Absolute integrity marked all of Mr. Ketcham's dealings with his fellow men. Coming in contact in a business way with so many persons, as a man of his large business interests was compelled to do, yet it is doubted whether he had a personal enemy. While he was of strong virile character, he was yet of a freindly(sp), cheery disposition, and was engaging and interesting socially. It is seldom that death causes so much genuine sorrow in a community as in this instance.

Another name is stricken from the ever lessening roll of old settlers. How much the community owes him and such as he, it is impossible to estimate, though it would be a grateful task to trace his influence through some of the more direct channels of life as husband and father, neighbor and friend and to speak of the sons and daughters he has reared to perpetuate his name and emulate his virtues. But suffice it to say, he lived nobly and died peacefully at an advance age. The stern Reaper found him, "as a shock of corn, fully ripe for the harvest."

Now for him be our tears! Rather let us crown his grave with garlands; few of us will live as long or as well, and fewer yet will the Angel of Death greet with such a loving touch.

The funeral services will be held at the Presbyterian church at 1 o'clock today (Thursday), being conducted by a Presbyterian mimister(sp) from Mt. Pleasant. The interment will be in the Sharon cemetery.

**Handwritten: St. Line Dem. Thurs. 27 Feb. 1911
Benjamin Ketcham
+ + + + + +
**Handwritten: 4 May 1911
**St. Line Dem. Thurs. 4 May 1911

THE LATE BENJ. KETCHAM
Funeral Was Largely Attended.

The funeral of the late Benjamin Ketcham of Bonaparte was held in the Presbyterian church at that place Thursday last. The attendance filled every seat in church. The services were conducted by Rev. McKay, pastor of the Presbyterian church at Mt. Pleasant, assisted by Rev. James Clark of Dows, Ia., a former Bonaparte pastor. Mr. McKay's theme was, "Is Life worth Living?" from which he delivered a grand discourse. The speaker, although quite young, is certainly a very talented man. Mr. Clark read a brief sketch of the deceased and made a short address on his life and character.

The music by Mr. and Mrs. Naefie of Farmington and Mrs. R.E. Meek and Miss Katherine Cresap and Mr. A.G. Roberts, with Mrs. J.A. Johnson at the organ, and was very fine.

The casket was of solid copper with a full length plate glass cover and is said to have cost between $700 and $800. There was a beautiful floral design of a broke column contributed by the bank of which deceased was vice president and a sheaf of ripened wheat.

There were eight pall bearers as follows: B.R. Vale, J.A. Johnson, Dr. Bogle, T.A. Hanback, D.W. Riggle, Went Wilson, W.P.L. Muir, Mr. Doughty.

Those in attendance from a distance were Joseph Lytle, a cousin, Monongahela, Pa.; John Ketcham, Love Lake, Mo.; Mr. and Mrs. Wilbur Ketcham of Atlanta, Mo.; Mr. and Mrs. W.B. Seeley and children, Florence, June and Benjamin, of Mt. Pleasant; Mrs. Alice Beard of Versailles, Mo.; Mr. and Mrs. Sam Gardner, Ottumwa; Miss Nettie Israel of Hedrick, and Rev. and Mrs. Clark of Dows, Iowa.

**Handwritten: also see 74C

Source: Van Buren Co. Genealogical Society Obituary Book G, Page 203, Keosauqua Public Library, Keosauqua, IA