****************************************************************************
File contributed to the Fulton County ILGenWeb Project
Copyright 2008, all rights reserved.

These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format 
without the written consent of the author at http://fulton.ilgenweb.net.

****************************************************************************

Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Fulton County
Biographical Publishing Co., Chicago, 1890

****************************************************************************

The Biography of William H. KETCHAM 

Page 526, transcribed in full by Danni Hopkins 

[Surnames: ACKLEY, AUSTIN, KETCHAM, MYERS, SHAFFER, WAGNER, WORDEN] 

    
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 ot 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.