The Biographical Dictionary and Portrait Gallery of Representative Men of Chicago, Milwaukee and the World's Columbian Exposition

              BIOGRAPHICAL DICTIONARY AND PORTRAIT GALLERY.
377
located at 32 and 34 West Front street, to supply his Canadian trade, where he employs a large number of operatives. He also founded the Champion Chemical Works in 1885, located at 38 and 40 Michigan avenue, Chicago, and is president of the company, which does a large and prosperous chemical business.
He was one of the founders of the Lincoln National Bank and for several years a director. At present a director of the American Exchange National Bank and the Chicago Opera House Company;   a member of the Union League Club,
Illinois Club, Washington Park Club, and other prominent clubs, corporations and associations. He has large real estate interests in Chicago and subdivisions in Ohio to which he gives some at¬ tention. His handsorne large brownstone resi¬ dence is in the finest part of the city, 3334 Michi¬ gan avenue. In his stables are complete turnouts. He Is an attendant and trustee of Plymouth Congregational Church. Also a trustee of the Illi¬ nois College, located at Jacksonville, III. He was married July 25, 1868- Their children are Lillian May and Charley W. Gillett.
WILLIAM   PARKER   KETCHAM,
CHICAGO, ILL.
THE subject of this sketch was born April 16, 1844, In the City of Brotherly Love. His father, Samuel Ketcham, and his mother, Rose- anne, nee Pyott, were both natives of Philadel¬ phia. The father was a shoe manufacturer in that city.
In 1852 the family removed to Muscatine, Iowa, and there our subject attended the public schools until he was fourteen years old, after which he attended Stone's Academy for about two years.
In i860 he went to Marengo, Iowa, and en¬ gaged with his brother, J. P. Ketcham, in the lumber, grain and agricultural-implement busi¬ ness.
In April, 1861, he returned to Muscatine, and took charge of the furniture establishment of Messrs. Densmore & Chambers, being but seven¬ teen years old.
At the opening of the war of the Rebellion, filled with patriotism and love for the Union, he at once enlisted in Company A, Seventh Regi¬ ment, Iowa Volunteers, Infantry, and went to the front.
During the year that he was with this regi¬ ment he participated in the battles of P'ort Henry, Fort Donaldson, Shiloh and Corinth. His regiment was a part of Tuttle's Brigade, Wallace's division, and it was this brigade which held the dangerous position of the Hornet's Nest on that memorable 6th of April, 1862. Mr. Ketcham was in the battle of Holly Springs, when the Confeder¬
ate General, Van Dorn, captured that place. Of twenty-five infantrymen who escaped, he was one; all the other Union soldiers, with the ex¬ ception of the Second Regiment Illinois cavalry, were captured.
He next served as a clerk at Gen. Grant's head¬ quarters until the commander was placed in charge of the Army of the Potomac, when he was transferred to General Sherman's headquarters at Nashville. There he served the remainder of his term of enlistment and was honorably discharged August 17, 1864. He was noted for devotion to duty wherever duties called him, and earned the respect and love of his superiors by his conduct at headquarters.
Returning to Marengo, Iowa, he formed a co¬ partnership with his brother in the lumber and grain business. He remained there until 1885, when, leaving the business in charge of a manager, he removed to Chicago, whither his brother had pre¬ ceded him a number of years, and the present firm of J. P. Ketcham & Brother was formed. They located on the corner of Blue Island and Hoyne avenues, in the lumber district of Chicago. They have extensive yards and works, and do an immense wholesale business, employing over one hundred and twenty-five men. Owing to the death of J. P. Ketcham on February 15, 1892, the business was incorporated May i, 1892, as the Ketcham Lumber Company—W. P. Ket¬ cham, president, and F. D. Ketcham, secretary and treasurer.