Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 06.djvu/249

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KERSHAW


KETCHUM


KERSHAW, Joseph Brevard, soldier, was born iu Camden, S.C., Jan. 5, 1823. He was edu- cated at the private schools in South Carolina, studied hiw, was admitted to the bar in 1843 and practised in Camden. He was a member of the state senate, 1852-57, and was a delegate to the se- cession convention of 1860. At the outbreak of the civil war he organized the 2d South Carolina regiment and was its commander at the first battle of Bull Run in July, 1861. He was promoted to the rank of brigadier-general, Feb. 13, 1862, and commanded a brigade under Magruder at York- town, a brigade in the division of Gen. Lafayette McLaws, throughout the Peninsula campaign at Seven Pines, Savage's Station and Malvern Hill, and at the battle of Sharpsburg, Md. His brigade held the sunken road under Marye's Hill at Fred- ericksburg against the Federal troops, and the right of McLaws's division, Longstreet's corps, at Gettj-sburg. He was ordered to Tennessee where he participated in the battle of Chickamauga and in the siege of Knoxville. Upon his return to Virginia in 1864 he was promoted major-general and commanded the first division of Longstreet's first corps. Army of Nortliern Virginia, in the final campaign of General Lee's army, participating in the battles of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Cedarville, Winchester, Cedar Creek, Petersburg, Cold Harbor, and Sailor's Creek, where his divi- sion formed part of Ewell's corps and surrendered, April 6, 1865. He was imprisoned at Fort War- ren, Boston harbor, until July, 1865, and upon his release he resumed the practice of the law at Camden, S.C. He again served in the state senate, 1865-66. He prepared the resolutions adopted by the conservative convention in 1870; was judge of the circuit court of South Carolina, 1877-93, and postmaster of Camden, 1893-94. He is the author of: Kershaw's Brigade at Freder- icksburg (Vol. III., p. 95), and Kershatc's Brig- ade at Gettijshury (Vol. HI., p. 331-38), in " Bat- tles and Leaders of the Civil War" (1884-88). He died at Camden, S.C, April 13, 1894.

KERSHNER, Jefferson Engel, educator, was born in Perry township, Pa., Aug. 16, 1854; son of John and Sibella (Engel) Kershner, and grand- son of John and Catherine (Hertz) Kershner and of Jacob and Catherine (Rahn) Engel. Jefferson attended the public schools of Berks county. Pa., and the Keystone State Norinal school at Kutz- town, Pa., and was graduated from Franklin and Marshall college, A.B., 1877, A.M., 1880. He was vice-president of the Citizens' Electric Light, Heat and Power company, of Lancaster, Pa., for several years, and was appointed superintending electrician of the Edison company of Lancaster. He was chosen professor of mathematics and physics in Franklin and Marshall college in 1880. He was elected a member of the American Asso-


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elation for the Advancement of Science in 1832, and fellow in 1886. The degree of Ph.D. was conferred on him by Yale in 1885. He wrote several articles for reviews.

KETCHAM, John Henry, representative, was born at Dover, N.Y., Dec. 12, 1832; son of John M. and Eliza A. (Stevens) Ketcham; and grand- son of James and Lois (Belding) Ketcham. He received an academic education and engaged in farming. He was supervisor for the town of Dover, 1854— 55; a member of the New Yoi'k assembly, 1856-57, and a state senator, 1860-61. He served in the civil war, entering the service as colonel of the 150th New York volunteers in 1862; was brevetted briga- dier-general of volun- teers, Dec. 6, 1864, and was afterward commissioned briga- dier-general, serving until he resigned, March 4, 1865, to take his seat in the 39th congress. He was brevetted major-general, ^larch 13, 1865, for services during the war. He was a Republican representative from Dutchess and Columbia counties in the 39th, 40th. 41st and 42d congresses, 1865-73; a commissioner for the District of Columbia, 1874-77, and a representative in the 45th-52d congresses, 1877-93. He declined renomination the ensuing two terms on account of ill-health, but was elected to the 55th, 56th and 57th congresses, 1897-1903. He was a dele- gate to several Republican state conventions and to the Republican national conventions of 1876 and 1896.

KETCHUM, John Buckhout, journalist, was born in New York city, July 11, 1837; son of David Chichester and Ann (Requa) Ketchum. He was graduated at the public school No. 15, New York city, in 1851; was a student at New York university, 1852, and was engaged as a re- porter and writer on the staff of the New York Leader, 1855-57. He was married in 1858 to Rachelle A. Terhune, of New York city. He spent the years 1860-61 in the study of law and in desultory literary work, and in 1861 was asso- ciated with various movements for the temporal welfare of Federal troops. He was aide to Gov- ernor Fenton, 1864, and was elected correspond- ing secretary of the U.S. Soldiers' Christian asso- ciation in 1865, and in connection with his work as such he visited Europe in 1891 and 1895 for the purpose of observing the discipline and moral