The Washington herald., 1906-11-05

New York. Nov. 4-Gen. John Henry
Ketcham. who had been nominated nine
teen times for Congress by the Republi-
cans OF the TweRty-hrst New York dis
trict, and who was in Congress almost
continuously from 1896. serving seventeen
terms. died this morning, in St Eliza
beth's Hospital. in this city. after a long
illness following a third attack Of paraly-
sis
Congressman Ketcham had the unique
distinction Of a unanimous vote every
time he was nominated. He declined 10
run for election to the Fifty-third and
Fifty-fourth sessions of Congress be
cause Of i'll health. Early IN October last.
although he was then in the hospital in
a very weak condition. the Republicans in
convention at Poughkeepsie. placed him
in nomination once mvre.
Gen Ketcham was seventy-thrCe years
old, and was born at Dover Plains,
Duchess County. where he made his
home. In point Of service he was the
dean of both branches Of Congress, hav-
ing been active in politics ever since he
was twenty-five years old. At that time
he was elected supervisor Of his native
town. Immediately thereafter, in 1856 and
1857, he was chosen a member of the
state assembly. He served in the State
senate in New York in 1860 and 1861. When
the civil war started he organized the
Fifteenth New York Volunteers, and was
chosen the first colonel Of that regiment
Served Through War.
lie served actively in the entire war,
and with his regiment was engaged at
Gettysburg, ana also in Sherman's march
TO the sea. For valiant service he re-
ceived the rank Of bTigadier general, with
which he retired from the war. While
still al the front, he was nominated and
elected to the Thirty-eighth Congress.
lie was unable to serve actively, as that
election came while the war was still
in progress. For four terms thereafter,
he had no difficulty and suffered defeat
for the only time in 1877, when John .
WhiJehouse a Democrat. beat him.
President Grant made him Commission
ev Of the District of Columbia, which
Office he held from 1874 To 1871 He re-
signed to take his seat in tbs Forty
seventh Congress From then on, with
the exception of two occasions, on which
Inc refused 10 run after being nominated,
he served continuously as a Congressman
Iu the last election he achieved the dis
tincti0n OF getting a greater number Of
votes in his district, which includes
Columbia. Duchess, Greene. and Putnam
counties, than Roosevelt and Fairbanks
lie polled IL 79l votes. His two opponents
got 81 and 55S respectively.
Had Record in Congress.
Next TO Gen. Ketcham in point Of
service in the House were Speaker Can
non and Gen. Bingham, of Pennsylvania.
The latter. while not having served as
many terms as Gen. Ketcham, has had
longer continuous service.
When the matter OF nominating a Con-
gresham from the district came up this
fail. and the party men understood Gen.
Ketcham was very sick, indeed, they
agreed it would be best at any event to
name him
with the old war horse fat on his
back, probably IN his last Illness" said
one of the Republicans of the district at
the time, eve wanted 10 show him our
affection and esteem by giving him his
nineteenth nomination"
He realized at the time that he would
not be able to run
Cen Ketcham made a great hit early
in lie with his constituency by his re-