William H. Ketcham

Wiliam Henry Ketcham (June 1, 1868 – November 14, 1921), also known as Father Ketcham or Ketchum, was the Director of the Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions, and Commissioner of the U.S. Board of Indian Commissioners. His Catholic missionary work earned him the honorary names "Wambli Wakita" or Watching Eagle in Sioux and "Apostle of the Indians."

Early life William Henry Ketcham was born in Sumner, Iowa to Alonzo Bernardo Ketcham and Josephine Shanafelt. Both of his parents were Anglicans of Puritan ancestry.

In 1885 Ketcham was sent to the Jesuit St. Charles College in Iowa and was received into the Catholic church that same year. Later on in life, his sister, Ella, his mother and his father all became Catholics. In 1889, Oklahoma was opened up to white settlers and Ketcham and his family moved to this "new country." William would remain a lifelong devotee to Oklahoma and is quoted as saying:

"I claim Oklahoma as my home — my father, mother and sister live in Oklahoma City — and I am particularly interested in the welfare of the Indian population, which to my mind is inseparable from Oklahoma. According to our Choctaw language, Oklahoma means " 'Red People,' for it is composed of Choctaw words 'Okla' (signifying 'people') and 'homa,' which means 'red'."

Father Ketcham was ordained by Reverend Theophile Meerschaert at Guthrie in 1892. He was the first priest for this Vicariate, earning him the title proto-priest. Father Ketcham was appointed missionary to the people of Cherokee and Creek Nations in Oklahoma. His dedication to his missionary work and his zeal for founding new missions did not go unnoticed and Father Meerschaert decided to transfer him in 1897 to the Choctaw Nation to continue his work. His Choctaw language skills allowed him to publish various hymns, prayers and books in Choctaw.

In 1900, Father Ketcham was sent to Washington, D.C. to serve the Board of Indian Commissioners. He served the Board until his death, of which nine years as Commissioner.

In response, Father Ketcham founded the Society for the Preservation of the Faith among Indian Children and a newspaper publication called The Indian Sentinel. He contributed an article on the Bureau to the Catholic Encyclopedia. He had been sent to the Choctaw Indian Mission of Tucker, Mississippi to compile a report for the Commissioner of Indian Affairs. After three weeks of work, Ketcham sent a letter to Washington D.C. relaying the message his return would be delayed because of an illness. The next morning at breakfast, he fell out of his chair, was quickly absolved and anointed and passed away.

Publications A catechism of the Catholic religion (Kiahlik Iksa Nana-Aiyimmika), National Capital Press, Washington D.C: 1916.