Rev. Heber A. Ketchum

    Rev. Heber A. Ketchum, pastor of the Second Presbyterian Church of Portsmouth, was born in Huron County OH 27 May 1833. His parents, Isaac Sherwood and Anna (Hard) Ketchum, were both of American birth, were married in the state of New York and died in Lansing MI. H. A.  Ketchum was one of nine children, seven of whom grew to adult age.  On reaching his majority Mr. Ketchum spent about four years as salesman and bookkeeper in stores at Plymouth and Shiloh Ohio.  At the age of twenty-four, he was persuaded to appear before the committee on education of the Presbytery of Huron, with a view to entering upon a course of study for the ministry.  He complied with the request to enter upon such a study and began his preparation in the academy at Hayesville Ohio.  He afterward attended the Western Reserve College at Huron, graduating in 1806, and after three years spent in the Lane Theological Seminary, graduated from that institution in 1869.  His first call was to New Richmond OH, where he was installed as pastor of the Presbyterian Church, 20 Jun 1869, remaining until August 1872.

    From that date until the formation of the Second Presbyterian Church at Portsmouth, he was co-pastor with Rev. E. P. Pratt, D. D., in the First Presbyterian Church of Portsmouth.  With the formation of the Second Church, which was a colony from the old one, he received a unanimous call to the pastorate of the same, where he still remains.

Mr. Ketchum served three months in the Union Army in 1863. He was married 25 Aug 1869 to Anslie, youngest daughter of Joseph and Anna Blackman, of Huron.  They have four children: William F., born 05 Aug 1870; Mary Edith, 17 Dec 1872, Bertha, 07 Feb 1875; and Edith, 08 Feb 1878.

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HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY, OHIO, Together With Sketches of Its Cities, Villages and Townships, Educational, Religious, Civil, Military, and Political History, Portaits of Prominent Persons and Biographies of Representative Citizens. 1884, (p. 208)

Submitted by:  Allen Richmond at scioto@scioto.org

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