Portrait and Biographical Album of Fulton County,
Illinois: containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of
prominent and representative citizens of the county: together with
portraits and biographies of all the presidents of the United States,
and governors of the state; Biographical Pub. Co., Chicago, IL; 1890;
page 526; Transcribed by Margaret Rose Whitehurst
William H. Ketcham. The home of this gentleman is on section 12,
Lee Township, his farm consisting of one hundred and fifty acres, all
under cultivation or in pasture, and devoted to general farming. Nearly
the entire acreage was cleared by Mr. Ketcham or men whom he hired for
the purpose. It bears good buildings, adequate fences, and the usual
amount of fruit, and is further supplied with all the machinery needed
in carrying on the farm labor. The owner is numbered among the oldest
settlers in the township and is well-known throughout the county.
Our subject was born in New York, May 14, 1825, and his parents,
Hiram and Nancy M. (Austin) Ketcham, were likewise natives of the
Empire State. The family removed to this county about 1849, having
previously spent a year or two in Peoria. The father was called hence
about 1866, and the mother about 1860. The son had received his
education in the district schools of his native State, and in 1850
began to learn the trade of a carpenter, at Havana, Mason County. After
working there a year he located at Babylon, this county, where he
followed his trade a twelvemonth, after which he took up his residence
with his father on section 12, Deerfield Township. He remained with his
parents until his marriage, November 14, 1861, when he established his
own home.
The excellent woman whom Mr. Ketcham had won for his wife was
Julia Ann, daughter of Abraham and Maria Wagner. She was born January
25, 1835, and died January 30, 1868, after a brief but happy wedded
life. She was the mother of two children, one of whom died in infancy.
The survivor, Maria C., was born May 11, 1863, married John Worden and
lives in Prairie City Township, McDonough County, on a farm of their
own. Our subject contracted a second matrimonial alliance March 15,
1874, being at that time united with Mrs. Catherine (Shaffer) Ackley,
who was the mother of three children, as follows: Alice A., Ella F. and
William G. This lady was born on the 29th of June, 1838, in Richland
County, Ohio, to Peter and Regina (Myers) Shaffer, who were natives of
Pennsylvania. Mrs. Shaffer passed away in 1888; Mr. Shaffer is still
living, being an inmate of the home of our subject. The second union of
Mr. Ketcham has been blessed by the birth of one son, John Henry, whose
natal day was August 6, 1875, and who resides with his parents.
Mr. Ketcham takes no active part in political affairs, but is a
Democrat in his belief. He has served as Pathmaster two years, as
School Director one year, and was solicited to act as Justice of the
Peace, but declined. He is one of the men to whose efforts was due the
building of a sawmill at Babylon. A reliable, steady-going citizen, an
industrious farmer and a good neighbor, he is looked upon with due
respect, and his wife has also many friends.
