Craft Masonry in Monroe County, New York - Onondaga and ...

her books. Her first novel, Tempest and Sunshine, was published in 1854, and since that time her writings have been constantly on
the market. With the possible exception of Mrs. STOWE, no American woman has reaped so large profits from her copyrights, some
of her books having attained a sale of fifty thousand copies.
In commenting on this, the Brockport Republic said: "Her success as an author is said by some to be the result of her power of
description; others assert it was her naturalness, her clear, concise English and the faculty to hold the reader's sympathy from the
beginning to the end; others attribute it to the fact that there was nothing in her works but what was pure and elevating. We who
know her best, feel that all this has made her the successful writer that she was."
Mrs. HOLMES was deeply interested in benevolent work in Brockport and in those organizations which promote culture, charity and
patriotism. She was president of the Brockport Union Charitable Society and vice regent of the Daughters of the American
Revolution. She was indefatigable in the founding and sustaining of a free reading room and did everything in her power to
promote knowledge and culture among the young people, of whom she was particularly fond. She often talked to them concerning
art and foreign travel. on which subjects she was well versed, she and her husband having made various trips abroad, visiting the
noted art centers of the old world. As a hostess she was charmingly gracious and hospitable, having the ready tact that enabled
her to make all guests feel at home. Her benevolence was also one of her strongly marked characteristics. In early life she made it
her plan to give one-tenth of her income to charity and this she did ever afterward. St. Luke's Episcopal church, of which she was
a member, is greatly indebted to her for its prosperous condition. Her charitable work, however, was done quietly, and few people
knew the great amount of good she did. She cared not for public recognition of her benevolence, content in the consciousness of
having aided a fellow traveler on life's journey. While she had thousands of admirers throughout the country, in her home town
where she was best known she was much loved by the people among whom her daily life was passed.
The summer of 1907 was spent by Mr. and Mrs. HOLMES at Oak Bluffs, Martha's Vineyard, and while on the
return trip Mrs. HOLMES became ill. After improving to a slight degree she insisted on continuing the journey,
but lived for only a brief period after she reached Brockport, passing away on the 6th of October, 1907.
Perhaps no better testimonial of the regard in which she was held in Brockport can be given than by quoting
from a local paper, which said:
"During the many years of Mrs. HOLMES' residence in Brockport her influence for good has been constant and
unvarying, and every enterprise that made for the welfare of the village received her most hearty sanction and
support. With charity toward all, with malice toward none, she moved among us the very embodiment of
precious kindness. And so, in thousands of ways, her death will prove an inestimable loss to this community,
and today nearly every household is shadowed by a personal grief. `She went to her death wearing the white
rose of a blameless life.' The world is the poorer for her going."
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http://mcnygenealogy.com/bios/biographies010.htm
Byron C. Ketcham – b. in Sodus, Wayne, NY, 8 Sep 1837. His grandfather, Joseph A. Ketcham, was born in Pittstown, Rensselaer
county, NY, 28 May 1780; d. 14 Apr 1834, in Owego, Tioga, NY. His father [Abram F.] was b. 1 Mar 1801, in Pittstown, Rensselaer,
NY; d. in Hamlin, Monroe, NY, Feb 1878. His mother, Julia Ann Ketcham, was born in Grafton, Rensselaer, NY, 11 Sep 1805; d. in
Brockport, Monroe, NY, 17 Sep 1888.
They had seven children:
Caroline M., b. 11 Nov 1828 Pittstown, Rensselaer, NY; d. 22 Jan 1875.
Warren P., b. 14 Mar 1831 Owego, Tioga, NY; d. 12 Jun 1883, in Houston, TX.
Allen J., b. 07 Jun 1834 Owego, Tioga, NY; d. ca 1 Sep 1889, in Denver, CO.
Byron C., b. 08 Sep 1837 Sodus, Wayne, NY.
Spencer C., b. 06 Oct 1840 Sodus, Wayne, NY.
Richmond A., b. 06 Jul 1844 Sodus, Wayne, NY.
Gertrude E. b. 29 Jul 1847 Sodus, Wayne, NY.
His father in his early years was a teacher in the common schools during the winter months and farmer in summer held offices of
trust and responsibility in the town in which he lived. Byron was educated in the common schools with the exception of parts of
terms in the Academy at Sodus. In the winter of 1859 and 1860 he taught his first term in a district school in Sodus and his first vote
for Abraham Lincoln for president and ever after voted the Republican ticket.
At the breaking out of the Civil War he was engaged on a farm, but enlisted as a private 6 Oct1861, in Co. H, 64th Regt., N. Y. Vol.
Infantry. At the muster-in Byron was made 4th sergeant, promoted to 2Lt in same company 19 Sep 1862; to 1Lt and Quartermaster
24 Dec 1862, acting Adjutant of the regiment at Gettysburg in 1863, and Captain 18 Jun 1863. He was in command of the regiment
during a part of a quarter of 1864 on detached service to bring to the regiment the drafted men assigned to them 28 Jul 1863;
relieved from that duty in Nov 1863, and returned to duty with the regiment. He was wounded severely while on picket in the assault
at Petersburg, VA, 19 Jun 1864 and discharged 4 Dec 1864, by reason of expiration of term of service.
HEADQUARTERS SECOND CORPS, NEAR PETERSBURGH, Va., Sunday, June 19, 1864.
Quiet has prevailed to-day along the entire line, and less skirmishing has taken place than usual. This state of affairs will, by tomorrow,
have proved but one of those calms which precedes an inevitable storm, and which at this time must certainly be
anticipated by all who have watched closely the progress of events of late, as affecting the Army of the Potomac. Gen. GRANT
is not the man to allow the grass to grow beneath the feet of his army. . . .
ADDITIONAL LIST OF WOUNDED, FIRST DIVISION, SECOND ARMY CORPS, JUNE 19, 1864.
. . . Capt. B.C. Ketcham, H, 64th N.Y. – shoulder . . .
In the spring of 1865 he bought a farm near and adjoining his father's and lived upon it one year, after which he sold and moved to
Brockport, at which place he has made his residence. In 1867 he accepted a position in the drug and book store of Fogin & Haight,
and learned the business, and in 1873 formed a partnership with W. S. Merritt and continued until 1878 when Mr. Merritt retired and
the firm became Ketcham & Patten and continued until 1883 when Mr. Ketcham retired and entered into the business of Fire
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