The Rev. Isaac S. Ketcham’s gravestone is the big one on the left. His wife, Sarah, outlived him but got a smaller gravestone — the one to the right of Isaac’s. BTW, up until now I have been spelling the name as Ketchum rather than Ketcham. I’ve seen it spelled Ketchum in several places, [...]
The 1875 history of Cass County (Michigan) says Ira Nash came to Michigan in December 1829, and spent Christmas Day in White Pigeon: The subject of this sketch was born in Danbury, Connecticut, August 12th, 1806. When three years old his parents moved to Chenango County, New York, where he lived until coming to Michigan [...]
My eyes didn’t light on likely targets for my questions. Then I saw it. It was right across the street from me. A sign on the building said “United States Land Office 1831-1834.” The land office itself was still standing! It was a memorable sensation.
The brick building is kitty-corner across the street from the present-day St. Joseph County courthouse. It was at this location that circuit court was held in 1834-36, where Patrick Marantette had to defend himself against the lawsuit for destroying the illegal liquor at the treaty negotiation. The location is still used for government business. I [...]
Just south of Mendon, Michigan in St. Joseph County, after climbing a small hill out of the St. Joseph River valley, there is this sign pointing to the Marantette Farms. As far as I know, none of the Marantette family owns this land any more, but I’ve talked to people who say things like, “I went to school with (insert name here) Marantette.”