Edward Ketcham, (as the name was then spelled) of Ipswich, Massachusetts, is believed to have been the first of the name in America. He was a freeman,in 1637, and had lands in Southold, Long Island, 1654. He had sons, Edward, of Stratford, John, of Huntington, and Samuel.
(II) Edward (2), son of Edward (1) Ketcham, had a daughter Rebecca, who married Thomas Taylor, of Norwalk, Connecticut, 1678, and Joseph Ketcham was a land holder there in that year. He is supposed to have been a brother of Rebecca.
(III) Joseph, believed to have been a son of Edward (2) Ketcham, married, April 3, 1679, Mercy, born December 18, 1658, daughter of Deacon Henry Tindall, of New Haven, Connecticut. Children: Nathaniel, Sarah, Joseph, twin of Sarah.
(IV) Captain Nathaniel, son of Joseph and Mercy (Tindall) Ketcham, was born in Norwalk, Connecticut, January 26, 1680, died there about 1738. He married Sarah, daughter of Deliverance and Anna (Nash) Wakeley, a descendant of Richard Wakeley, of Hartford, Connecticut, 1640.
(V) Lieutenant Joseph (2), son of Captain Nathaniel and Sarah (Wakeley) Ketchum, was born in Norwalk, Connecticut, about 1716-18. He removed to Dutchess county, New York, and lived at Oblong where he died after 1793. He took the oath of allegiance in Dutchess county, June 2, 1763, and was an associator in the revolutionary war, and a member of a Dutchess county committee. He married, March 8, 1749-50, Elizabeth, daughter of Gideon Hurlburt, and a descendant of Thomas Hurlburt, a lieutenant in the Pequot war. Joseph and Elizabeth Ketchum had eleven children.
(VI) Jonathan, son of Lieutenant Joseph (2) and Elizabeth (Hurlburt) Ketchum, was born at Oblong, Dutchess county, New York, about 1751-52. He settled at Fort Edward, Washington county, New York, during the revolutionary war, and enlisted in the Eighth Regiment, Albany County Militia, Colonel Robert Van Rensselaer. He was with other members of the Ketchum family a resident of Saratoga county prior to settling at Fort Edward, which became his permanent home. He married Betsey Bristol. Children:
- Henry, see forward;
- Charlotte,
- Betsey,
- Sarah, married Reuben Galusha.
(VII) Henry, son of Jonathan and Betsey (Bristol) Ketchum, was born at Fort Edward, Washington county, New York, about 1775, died in 1860. He removed to Hadley, Saratoga county, New York, where he owned and operated a large farm. He married, at Dummerstown, Vermont, Beulah Wilson. Children:
- Henry W., married (first) Mehitable Tefft, (second) Mary McMullen;
- Daniel B., see forward;
- George;
- Jerry, married Mary Ann Rice;
- Eliza, married Cornelius Dubois;
- Mary, married George Kenyon;
- Martha, married Stephen Kenyon;
- Cordelia, married W. W. Hicks;
- Caroline, married James Hagerman;
- Jane, married Henry Fuller.
(VIII) Daniel B., son of Henry and Beulah (Wilson) Ketchum, was born at Fort Edward, Washington county, New York, April 16, 1814, died October 19, 1897. He was reared on the farm, and received a good public school education. He was engaged in mercantile business at Hadley, Saratoga county, New York, for several years, then removed to Caldwell, Warren county, where he continued in the same lines as at Hadley. In 1859 he removed to Glens Falls, New York, where he resided until his death. In the latter town he first engaged as bookkeeper with the Glens Falls Insurance Company, remaining until 1868, when he established his own private insurance agency representing leading companies. He was a successful business man and continued in active work until his final summons. He was held in high regard by his townsmen and filled important town offices. He was elected town clerk of Glens Falls, filling that office from January 1, 1862, until January 1, 1874. He also served as school commissioner, and as assessor of the village corporation. He was an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and useful in the various departments of its religious and benevolent work. He was a Republican in politics. He married, October 26, 1843, Betsey, daughter of Nathan and Anna (Stiles) Brown. Mrs. Ketchum died August 6, 1910, aged eighty-four. Children:
- Charles L., see forward;
- Theodore S., married Frances Hawley, and had Lura and Harold.
(IX) Charles L., eldest son of Daniel B. and Betsey (Brown) Ketchum, was born at Hadley, Saratoga county, New York, November 24, 1845. He was educated in the public schools, and for a number of years was engaged as a clerk. In 1872 he established himself in the real estate and insurance business at Fort Edward, New York, as a partner of Dr. George Little, and on the dissolution of that firm continued the business. He is still actively engaged, and is in charge of a very successful and prosperous business. He is a member of Fort Edward Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, Fort Edward Chapter, Royal Arch Masons and in politics is a Republican. He married, May 11, 1876, Eliza, daughter of Edwin and Mary (Parish) Crane. She descends from the Crane family of New Jersey, tracing in direct line to Jasper Crane, who had a grant of land in that state. The line of descent is through his son Azariah:
(II) Azariah, son of Jasper Crane.
(III) John, son of Azariah Crane.
(IV) Samuel, son of John Crane, was born in New Jersey, married Keziah ————; children: Samuel, Timothy, see forward; Esther, Abijah.
(V) Timothy, son of Samuel and Keziah Crane, was born in Newark, New Jersey, May 27, 1760. He married Esther Bruen, born December 8, 1763. Children:
- Aaron, born October 13, 1782;
- Sarah, September 28, 1784;
- Mary, November 27, 1786;
- Pierson, November 16, 1792;
- Jonas, December 20, 1794;
- John, March 24, 1800;
- Edwin, September 26, 1804;
- Eliza, twin of Edwin.
(VI) Edwin, son of Timothy and Esther (Bruen) Crane, was born in Charlton, Saratoga county, New York, September 26, 1804, died November 4, 1888. In 1827 he removed to Fort Edward, New York, where for sixteen years he was engaged in the retail boot and shoe business. He served as justice of the peace for many years. His home in Fort Edward, which he built, was on East street and is now occupied by his daughters.
He was a Republican from the formation of that party, and previous to that time was a Jeffersonian Democrat; he held several township offices; he was well educated, had a retentive memory, and was held in high esteem for his sterling qualities. He married Mary Parish. Children:
- Esther, born December 7, 1832;
- Julia, September 9, 1834;
- John, December 26, 1836;
- George, December 8, 1838;
- Andrew, March 8, 1841;
- Eliza, October 2, 1843, married Charles L. Ketchum, (see Ketchum IX);
- Harriet, May 25, 1846.