Benjamin Ketcham 1829-1911

KETCHAM, LIGHTFOOT, TAYLOR, SEELEY

Posted By: Volunteer - Rich Lowe
Date: 10/26/2004 at 05:12:30

Benjamin Ketcham.

Benjamin Ketcham was the oldest son of Joel and Elizabeth Ketcham of a family of nine children, four sons and five daughters. He was born near Monongahela City, Alegheny county, Pa., December 19, 1829.

His early life was spent on his father’s farm but in the year 1855 he came to the state of Iowa and there purchased land in Van Buren and Lee counties.

On Oct. 27, 1863, he was united in marriage to Mary Lightfoot and to this union three daughters and four sons were born.

He had not been long on the farm until he had shown himself to be an energetic, and industrious settler who made many friends and won the respect of his neighbors.

His family were all born on the farm and were given an opportunity of receiving a good education by their moving to Fairfield, Iowa, in order to give them college advantages. While here a daughter, Alice, died, April 16, 1890, aged eight years.

After this sad event they returned to the farm, but some years later decided to move to Bonaparte and leave the farm in charge of his sons.

Moving to Bonaparte did not mean retirement for Mr. Ketcham as he became deeply interested in the welfare of the town and was for many years a member of the city council.

He was Vice President of the Farmers and Traders State Bank of Bonaparte and of the Mt. Sterling Savings Bank. His loss will be keenly felt by his business associates and many friends.

Early in the sixties he enlisted in the 30th Iowa Infantry but after being in camp for two weeks at Keokuk was rejected because of physical disability.

During his life he always took great interest in the welfare of the Presbyterian church and was a charter member of the church at Sharon where his membership has remained all these years. During his residence in Bonaparte he has always been a faithful worker and trustee of the church here.

During the past year his friends realized that he was failing in health but he was not confined to his home until about three weeks ago, since which time all that medical skill and faithful attention could do was unavailing and he passed away at 3:30 in the morning of Tuesday, April 25, 1911 aged eighty-one years, four months, and six days.

There remain to mourn their loss two brothers, John, of Lovelake, Mo., and William of Portland, Oregon; the loving wife, two daughters, Mrs. Minnie Taylor of Big Mound, and Mrs. Elizabeth Seeley of Mt. Pleasant; and four sons, Joel, Frank, George, and Clay of this vicinity.

Funeral services were held at the Presbyterian church in Bonaparte Thursday afternoon with Rev. McKay of Mt. Pleasant making the address. The remains were placed in the beautiful cemetery at Sharon.

Source: Entler Scrapbook, vol. 5, Iowa Historical Library, Iowa City, IA