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Alice is the daughter of Leander Eugene Ketchum and his wife Mary Elizabeth Nickson,
of Section 16 in Naperville township, West of Naperville, DuPage Co. Illinois.
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Alice was the seventh of eight children (five girls and three boys).
Five of these children later moved as adults, from Naperville, DuPage County Illinois, to
Buchanan, Berrien County Michigan, and are all buried in Oak Ridge cemetery.
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Alice was born in Section 16 of Naperville township, West of Naperville,
DuPage County Illinois. On her "delayed" birth certificate, she listed her parents address
as "R.F.D." Naperville,...
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Alice is the daughter of Leander Eugene Ketchum and his wife Mary Elizabeth Nickson,
of Section 16 in Naperville township, West of Naperville, DuPage Co. Illinois.
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Alice was the seventh of eight children (five girls and three boys).
Five of these children later moved as adults, from Naperville, DuPage County Illinois, to
Buchanan, Berrien County Michigan, and are all buried in Oak Ridge cemetery.
-----------------------------------
Alice was born in Section 16 of Naperville township, West of Naperville,
DuPage County Illinois. On her "delayed" birth certificate, she listed her parents address
as "R.F.D." Naperville, Illinois.
---
Note: "Statewide" registration of births were not required, and did
not begin in Illinois until 1916.
---------------------------------
Alice was born in 1892 (per her delayed birth certificate, her death certificate, her obituary, and her headstone). (The Social Security Death Index, incorrectly lists her year of birth as 1891, and the Ketchum genealogy also lists her year of birth incorrectly).
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Alice's parents were listed as being "seperated" in 1909 (per lawsuit documents).
They were divorced "about" 1910.
They are buried in separate cemeteries (about a mile apart), in Kane County Illinois
(West of Naperville).
---------------------------------
Alice Ketchum (age 17), was married to Alois Letcher (listed by his nickname of "Alex" on
their marriage certificate), on Sept. 8, 1909 at the Sts. Peter and Paul (Catholic) Church
in Naperville, DuPage Co. Illinois, by Rev. August Wenker, Catholic Priest.
Note: The "marriage register" at the Sts. Peter and Paul Church indicates
that Alice was a baptized Catholic.
Members of the wedding party (attendants), were: James and Stella Ketchum (siblings
of Alice), Mary Letcher (sister of Alois), and Herman A. F. Jordan.
(Alice and her sister Ida May Ketchum married brothers, Alois and Joseph G. Letcher).
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Alice Ketchum and her husband Alois Letcher had three sons:
1. Paul Anthony Letcher.
Listed as Paul Leroy Letcher on his
birth certificate, as Paul L. Letcher
on his baptizm certificate, then as
Paul A. Letcher in the 1930 census,
and on his marriage license in 1935.
b. Sept. 28, 1911 in Naperville, ILL
m. Aug. 14, 1935 in South Bend, IN
to Thelma Celestia Bliss, the
daughter of Lloyd Feather Bliss
and his wife Cecile Gay Upham.
They had six girls and one boy.
They first lived near Buchanan,
Bertrand, and Niles, Michigan.
They later lived (North of) Vandalia,
Jones, and Three Rivers, Michigan.
d. Nov. 2, 1987 in the
Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo, MI.
Buried: Oak Ridge Cemetery, in
Buchanan, MI (Section B, Lot 88).
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2. Russell Leo Letcher.
b. Oct. 29, 1915 in Eola, Illinois
(West of Naperville, Illinois).
Born as "Russell Wm. Letcher"
(per Russell's birth certificate).
m. Oct. 7, 1939 in Niles, Berrien Co. MI
to Margaret Marie Wickler, the daughter
of Henry John Wickler and Lena Liedy.
They had one boy and one girl.
They lived across the street from,
and then next door to, his parents on
W. Bertrand Road, S. of Buchanan, MI.
They later lived at 2817 Council Oaks Dr.,
South Bend, Indiana, and then at
52128 Friars Court, South Bend, IN.
d. May 16, 1987, in South Bend, IN
Buried: Oak Ridge Cemetery, in
Buchanan, MI (Section H, Lot 73).
-----
3. Ward Vincent Letcher.
b. May 6, 1919 in Naperville Township.
When Ward was born, his parents were
living at 1 and 1/2 mile N.-E. Batavia
Junction, (N.-W. of Naperville), DuPage
Co. ILL. (per Ward's birth certificate).
Note: Bativia Junction is "now" the
site of the Stonebridge Country Club.
m. April 15, 1944, to
Selma (nicknamed Sally) Maria Maki,
in Roseland, IN (N. of South Bend, IN).
Sally is the daughter of Victor Maki
and his wife Ida Elizabeth Autio.
They had eight children
(six boys and two girls).
They lived in Wakefield, MI
(in "Upper" Michigan).
d. Sept. 30, 1986 in Wakefield, MI.
Buried: Lakeside Cemetery,
in Wakefield, Michigan.
_________________________________
When Alice was married in 1909,
she automatically lost her U. S.
citizenship, because her husband
Alois Letcher (who was born in
Switzerland), was not yet a citizen
of the United States.
Alice had to regain her citizenship,
by taking the "Oath of Allegiance"
and becoming "repatriated", which
she did, in the Circut Court in
St. Joseph, Berrien County Michigan
on Dec. 12, 1940.
-------------------------------
Apparently, no birth certificate was
filed when Alice was born, because
she had to obtain a "delayed" birth
certificate (on Dec. 12, 1940),
in DuPage County Illinois, where
she was born, which she needed to
become repatriated. Her eldest
sister, Jennie (Ketchum) Watry
served as a wittness for Alice's
"delayed" birth certificate. [Alice
had to present both her "delayed" birth
certificate and her marriage certificate
to become repatriated].
-----
This law was later changed on
Sept. 22, 1922. After that date,
a U.S. citizen could no longer lose
their citizenship if they married
someone who was not a citizen
of the United States.
--------------------------------
Alice's husband Alois Letcher
(who immigrated from Switzerland,
with his parents and his siblings
on Dec. 18, 1893, at
Ellis Island, New York), later
became a "Naturalized" citizen of
the United States on Feb. 13, 1942
in the Circut Court in St. Joseph,
Berrien County Michigan.
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The 1910 census shows them renting
a farm in Naperville township, DuPage
County Illinois. (Alice's sister Stella
and a hired man were living with them).
In this census Alois gives his immigration
date as 1890 which is not correct.
Alice is listed as age 18, and her
sister Stella is listed as age 19.
---
They were still living in Naperville
township in 1911, when their eldest son
Paul was born.
They were living in Eola
(just West of Naperville), in
1915 when their son Russell was born.
They were living N.-W. of Naperville
(in the "Diehl Road" area),
when Alice's mother Mary died
in their home in 1917.
They were living in Naperville township
in 1918, when Alois filled out his
Draft Registration Card.
They were listed as living in Eola,
Illinois (West of Naperville), when
Alice's father died in Nov. of 1918.
They were
living 1 and 1/2 miles N.-E. of
Batavia Junction, ILL (N.-W. of
Naperville, ILL), in May of 1919,
when their third son Ward was born.
The 1920 census shows Alois and his
family living in Naperville, ILL.
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On August 15, 1919,
Alois purchased a farm at 3575 West
Bertrand Road, South of Buchanan, in
Bertrand township, Berrien Co. Michigan from
Frank ["Little Frank"] and Daisy Rough.
This farm included a large red brick
two-story home, with beautiful
woodwork, and a barn. The Letcher family
owned this farm for 47 years
(per: "The Story of Portage Prairie").
They actually owned the red brick farmhouse for 46 years, 2 months,and 3 weeks. They owned part of this origional farm (land) for 54 years, and 3 months.
"Portage Prairie" is an "area" (not a town), located south of Buchanan, in Bertrand township, Berrien County Michigan, and it extends southward, across the state line into St. Joseph County Indiana. In this red brick farmhouse, they raised their three sons, Paul, Russell and Ward.
(Paul's eldest child was born in this
farmhouse, in an upstairs bedroom).
------------------------------------
The 1920 census shows Alois and his
wife still living in Naperville, ILL,
with their three sons. Living with
them are Alice's brother Fred Ketchum
(as a "farm hand"), and his wife Elizabeth.
Alois must have let the renters stay on
the farm in Buchanan, until Alois could
move his family to Michigan.
--------------------------------
Note: This farm is located about
1/4 of a mile North of the
Michigan-Indiana state line. Back then
their mailing address was South Bend,
Indiana, even though they lived South
of Buchanan, in Berrien County Michigan.
It now has a Niles, Michigan mailing
address.
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A lady that lived in Portage Prairie for
her entire life, named Alma V. Hartline,
wrote a book titled, "The Story of
Portage Prairie". She writes in this
book of the "Rough-Letcher" farm,
on pages 350 thru 353. She tells
of the wonderful way the Rough and
Letcher families took care of this farm.
This book also has information on
the Kansas School, located
kiddy-corner from their farmhouse.
A copy of this book can be found in
the Niles District Library in Niles, MI.
Also, at the Allen County Public
Library in Fort Wayne, Indiana
(www.acpl.lib.in.us)
-----------------------------------
Several family members have retold the
story to us, of when the Ku Klux Klan
burned a cross on Alois and Alice Letcher's
front lawn, at 3575 West Bertrand Road,
South of Buchanan, Michigan.
They tell us that the spot of grass on the
front lawn never quite grew back, and you
could always tell where the burning
cross had been.
(The Ku Klux Klan were against Catholics).
Alice's sister Stella, and Stella's young
10-year-old daughter Evelyn, were staying
at Alice's home when this incident occurred.
They heard the noise, and looked out the
window, and saw the burning cross.
(Alice's son Paul was about 13 years old
at the time).
This was possibly in 1924,
when the Ku Klux Klan came to South Bend,
Indiana for a rally, and had a clash
with the students of Notre Dame.
(Google the following book:
"Notre Dame v. The Ku Klux Klan - How the
Fighting Irish Defeated the Ku Klux Klan").
-----------------------------
Alice operated a fruit and vegetable
stand, out by the road, next to
their driveway, where she sold
fruits and vegetables that they
grew on the farm. (The large wooden
stand had a roof, and the stand was
painted dark green).
She also grew "pop corn" and made
her own bar soap, which she gave to
family and friends.
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There was a large family gathering
on Sept. 8, 1934,
for Alois and Alice Letcher's
25th Wedding Anniversary
(possibly a surprise party).
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Alice and Alois were members of
St. Anthony's Catholic Church in
Buchanan, Michigan.
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Alice died in the Memorial
Hospital in South Bend, Indiana
following a six month illness.
She died of cancer of the
gall bladder at the age of
82 years, 11 months, and 15 days.
Her death certificate states that
she also suffered from heart disease.
------------------------------------
One obituary for Alice was published
in the "Berrien County Record"
newspaper in Buchanan, Michigan
on Thursday, June 19, 1975,
page 3-B, column 4.
Another one was published in
the "Niles Daily Star" newspaper in
Niles, MI on Thursday, June 12, 1975,
page 2, column 3. It reads as follows:
----
Mrs. Alice Letcher
Buchanan - Mrs. Alice Letcher, 82,
of South Bend, died at 4:40 a.m.
Thursday in Memorial Hospital there.
Mrs. Letcher was born June 27, 1892,
in Napierville [Naperville], Ill.,
where she married Alois Letcher on
Sept. 8, 1909. He died Nov. 27, 1955.
She lived most of her life ["adult" life]
in Bertrand Township and was a member
of St. Anthony's Catholic Church.
She is survived by three sons, Paul of
Jones [MI], Ward of Wakefield, Mich.,
and Russell of South Bend [IN], a
brother, Fred Ketchum of Buchanan [MI],
16 grandchildren and
22 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at
10 a.m. Saturday in St. Anthony's
Church, with the Rev. Fr. Donald
Atchinson officiating. Burial will
be in Oak Ridge Cemetery.
A rosary will be recited at 8 p.m.
Thursday in the Swem Chapel of the
Swem-Smith Funeral Home, where
friends may call after noon Friday.
------------------------------------
Four of Alice's siblings also moved
from Naperville, DuPage Co. Illinois
to Buchanan, Berrien County Michigan,
and are buried in this cemetery:
(see their memorials on this web site)
1. Ida May (Ketchum) Letcher.
2. Stella (Ketchum) Kuntz.
3. Jennie (Ketchum) Watry.
4. Frederick "Fred" Ketchum Sr.
(all of Michigan).
Also, her sons Paul and Russell
Letcher are buried here, as well
as numerous nieces and nephews,
and her eldest grandchild,
Mary Pauline Letcher.
-----------------------------------
For another photo of Alice, see the
memorial for her brother Fred Ketchum.
---------------------------------
Alice is buried next to her husband
Alois Letcher, in Section D, Lot 65.
Alois and Alice's headstone reads:
LETCHER
ALOIS
1885-1955
ALICE K [for Ketchum]
1892-1975
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Note: See the memorials for Alice's
family, on this web site:
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Paternal Grandfather,
Jesse Beverly Ketchum.
Paternal Grandmother,
Sarah Ann (Crane) Ketchum.
Maternal Grandfather,
Richard F. Nickson Sr.
Maternal Grandmother,
Mary Ann (Cooper) Nickson.
Father, Leander Eugene Ketchum.
Mother, Mary Elizabeth (Nickson) Ketchum.
(all of Illinois).
---
Also her husband and three sons of MI:
Husband, Alois Letcher, of Michigan.
Son, Paul Anthony Letcher, of MI.
Son, Russell Leo Letcher, of MI.
Son, Ward Vincent Letcher, of MI.
----
Note: Alice (Ketchum) Letcher
is my Grandmother.
Nancy (Letcher) Heib.
--------------------------------
Note: For the genealogy of "this
branch" of the Ketchum family, see:
"The Ketcham - Ketchum
Family In America" (1635-1991),
by Dorothy Jane Chance
(Pages 32, 47, 48, 70-73, 100 & 101).
Published by Gateway Press, Inc.,
Baltimore, MD. in 1991.
Located in the Allen County
Public Library, Fort Wayne, IN.
(http://www.acpl.lib.in.us)
-----
Note: Alice's year of birth is
listed in this book incorrectly,
and she is listed with only
two sons instead of three.
Copies of this book might
still be available through
"Tuttle Books", Rutland, Vermont.
Phone: (802)-773-8229.
----------------------------------
Additional Ketchum genealogies are:
---
1. Ketchum and Ketcham.
A "collection" by Marianne Elizabeth (Oberton) Ketchum and Mildred Ketchum Rice, located in the General Collections, on the 2nd floor, of the Newberry Library in Chicago, Illinois.
Call # Folio E 7 - K5035.
---
2. "Ketcham Kables presents:
The Known Descendants of Edward Ketcham/Catchum/Catcham", by Ginger (Ketchum) Stork, 1998 (4 Volumes), pages 14, 15, and pages 20 through 25. Donated to the Allen County Public Library, in Fort Wayne, Indiana, by Nancy (Letcher) Heib.
-----
3. "Descendants of Edward Ketcham/Catcham"
Numbers 172, 279, and 280.
___________________________________
Note: Sidney Ketchum (1797-1862),
and George Ketchum (1794-1853)
(distant relatives of Alice),
the sons of Seth Ketchum (1764-1839),
and his wife Lydia Keyes (1772-1842),
were the co-founders of Marshall, Calhoun
County Michigan in 1830-1831. Large
pictures of George and Sidney Ketchum
are hanging in the museum there, and
a large park there is named after them,
called "Ketchum Park".
There is also a painted murial
of Sidney Ketchum's home (which was
later turned into the hospital),
on the wall in a well known
restaurant in Marshall, Michigan
known as "Win Schuller's" Restaurant.
Sidney Ketchum came from Peru, Clinton
County New York, to Marshall, Michigan
in 1830. In early Aug. of 1831 he brought
his first wife Katharine Battey, and their
five children, his parents, and a
younger sister Eliza, to Marshall.
In 1832 Eliza was the teacher at the
first school house that was built there.
In 1833 Sidney surveyed and laid out the
lots for the "Upper Village of Marshall",
and he was one of four owners of the
"Lower Village of Marshall".
Sidney Ketchum was the first (and only)
President of the Calhoun Bank, the
county's first bank in Marshall,
Calhoun County Michigan in 1836.
In 1837, Sidney Ketchum paid to have
the origional "Methodist Episcopal
Church" built, and donated the land,
in Marshall, MI, of which he and his
parents were among the original members.
In 1837-1838, Sidney built the first
brick home in the county, which became
known as the "Mansion House". The street
was later named "Mansion Street", after
the house. This house at 215 East
Mansion St. was later used as
a dormitory for the "Young Ladies
Institute", and then it opened as
the Oaklawn Hospital in 1925.
In 1838, Sidney built the Marshall House,
the largest and most elaborate hotel
outside of Detroit. (The hotel closed
in 1859). George Ketchum was the
first Postmaster in 1831.
Sidney's brother
George Ketchum (1794-1853), later
went to California in the early days
of the Gold Rush, to build the
Tuolumne Hydraulic Company in 1852,
where he died, in 1853.
Sidney Ketchum (and his parents and
sister), are buried in the
Oak Ridge cemetery in Marshall, MI.
See the memorials for their parents,
Seth and Lydia Ketchum, on this web site.
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Click on photos to see enlargements,
captions, and additional photos.
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