Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Ketcham, Jerome May 2, 1904
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Patricia Currigan currigan1932@comcast.net November 25, 2021, 2:57 pm

Lake Odessa Wave-Friday May 6, 1904

LIFE HAD LOST IT'S CHARM
A Mind Unbalanced By Worry Finds Solace In Death
Jerome Ketcham, an Odessa Farmer adopts a Double Means to shuffle Off this 
Mortal Coil.
Ketcham has been despondent for a long time, and it had grown to be commonly 
known among his neighbors and friends that he was brooding over something, but 
no body could obtain from him any clue to what his trouble s were. He suffered 
with a severe attack of small pox last spring, and since that he has been 
growing gradually worse. To him it seemed that he was not getting along, and he 
looked upon everything with fear and trembling, Imaging that his crops would be 
a failure, that his stock was going to die, and all of such hallucinations that 
can penetrate a mind  in which they  once take The family feared for an end like 
this and have guarded against it as much as possible; the neighbors, have liked 
the man and his family and have tried to dissuade his mind from troubles that 
did not really  exist; but all of this seemed to have but little effect on him. 
On Sunday evening the family was all at home, and all seemed in good spirits; 
all retired about nine o'clock, after a happy day together, with nothing to 
suggest a termination as came in such a few hours after.

Mr. Ketcham was not a drinking  man.  He experienced religion at the  revival 
meetings held in the South Berlin church some time ago and he has tried to 
follow this life ever since.

"The farm on which he last lived was bought about a year ago, and it was all 
paid for but about $300, being the only debts he owed of any consequence. The 
farm is a good one, and was bought of Harvey Hansbarger. The family had lived in 
various parts of the county, renting mostly, but had lived in north 
Odessa most of the time for the last several years, and in consequence had a 
wide acquaintance, and a lot of friends. All seemed to like the man, and 
considered him a very desirable neighbor.

He leaves a widow and a boy and a girl. The boy, James is a young man, 20 years 
of age, and able to take the place of the father and care for the little farm to 
profit the bereaved family.  The daughter is only about 14 years of age. To Mr 
and Mrs K was born another daughter, who later became Mrs. Stur___, but she 
preceded her father to the spirit world.

Jerome Ketcham was born in New York state June 30th 1858, and was married to 
Miss Elizabeth Bagley, daughter of  Mr & Mrs S. Bagley, formerly of Odessa 
township, but now living near Saranac, July 23, 1871. Their married life has 
been pleasant and they have prospered quite well.

The Funeral was held on Wednesday afternoon at one o'clock from the Apostolic 
Holiness church in this village, and the sermon preached by J.H. Wilcox of the 
M. E. church. The remains were interred at Lakeside cemetery.

Additional Comments:
akeside cem.#5-575

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