John Ketcham (1782)

John Ketcham b. September 10, 1782 d. 1865 was a self-taught surveyor, building contractor, member of the six children.

Native fighting

From 1809 through 1818 fighting Native Americans was almost an everyday occurrence with the few settlers in south central Indiana. Ketcham's fort was built on Ketcham's land and lay between Huff's Fort and the fort at Vallonia making it of vital importance for settlers for security and safety. Most of the fighting between settlers and Indians took place from 1812-1813.

In 1815, Ketcham was released from the service and returned to his home in Jackson County. He was honored by Gov. William Henry Harrison with rank of colonel in a regiment of the state's militia.

In 1816, before he left Jackson county, he sold to the county government 153.4 acres of ground for 8 dollars per acre, donating the block of land where the Jackson County courthouse now stands for as long as it was used for a courthouse. In, 1816 Ketcham received a judgeship from General William Henry Harrison and remained in that position until 1817.

In Monroe County

In 1818, Col. Ketcham moved to Monroe County six or seven miles from Bloomington near Victor and Harrodsburg. He built a grist mill on Clear Creek the first year and became known far and wide for his service. When the city of Bloomington was laid out in 1818, Ketcham was asked to design and contract for building of the first courthouse there.

In 1836, Ketcham was named one of General Andrew Jackson's electors for the Presidential election that year.

Ketcham was later appointed a trustee of the Indiana Seminary which would become Indiana University. Ketcham and a co-worker established a Methodist religious school on grounds at the south end of College Avenue in Bloomington.

Col. John is buried in the Ketcham Family Cemetery in Monroe County. The family cemetery is still maintained by family members.

Sources

*Charles Taylor, Ketcham family [http://iamonia.bravehost.com/taylor/ketcham/] descendant (article author).
*Brumbaugh, Gaius M., and Hodges, Margaret R., Revolutionary Records of Maryland, Part I, Washington 1924.
*Early Kentucky Tax Records: From the Register of the Kentucky Historical Society, Baltimore 1984, p. 94 & 242.
* [http://www.btownccs.k12.in.us/ftvallon/default.htm Ft. Vallonia]
* [http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/kerrey-keydel.html Indiana political graveyard]
* [http://199.8.200.229/db/markers_display.asp?ID=147 Indiana Historical Bureau]
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* [http://www.bloomingpedia.org/wiki/Col._John_Ketcham Bloomingpedia]
* [http://www.rootsweb.com/~ingreene/history/baber/bchap-23.html Rootsweb, Richland Township]